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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Non-religious boys names

64 replies

loopdeelou · 24/08/2018 13:17

DH and I are atheists and really struggling with boys names. I don't really like names that are too wacky or out-there but a lot of classic names that I like the sound of (e.g Samuel) are biblical and I'd like to avoid these if possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions of boys names which don't have religious connotations but also aren't too unusual?

Thanks!

OP posts:
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UnrelentingFruitScoffer · 24/08/2018 23:27

You could try Kester or Teddy ? Or for something more persuasive:-

Barney
Ben
Boney
Cyril
Denis
Gus
Jerry
Pate
Pablo

butlerswharf · 24/08/2018 22:40

We're atheists and nearly called our son Adam. To us the bible is a work of fiction and so no religious connotations are held for any name.

Threeandabit · 24/08/2018 22:37

Todd

wheezing · 24/08/2018 22:34

Meh I get this. My son’s first and middle names are not Christian but very traditional and I’m very happy about that. My family is quite religious and have brought up names and their religious connotations before - e.g. how hysterical that an atheist had a son called Theo Hmm

Threeandabit · 24/08/2018 22:33

Gareth
Bruce
Bruno
Bradley
Gavin

Threeandabit · 24/08/2018 22:28

EÅ•rol
Dylan
Ashley
Lance

Eric
Clyde
Dale
Erez

Alan
Rowan
Russ
Craig
Shane

Rhys
Sçott
Kirk
Travis

Quizeerascal · 24/08/2018 21:11

Theodore means God-given and Jeremy is derived from Jeremiah, its difficult entirely to get away from 'religious' influence. Apparently Jackson means God has been gracious but as thats derived from John I think its a little tenuous.

SecretWitch · 24/08/2018 21:02

Spencer
Blake
Connor
Cameron

Petalflowers · 24/08/2018 21:01

Frederick
Alexander
Guy
Rupert
Jeremy
Alfred
Robert
Theodore
Jackson
Owen
Gregory

Original poster
loopdeelou · 24/08/2018 20:58

Thanks for the people that gave sensible suggestions! I appreciate it's a difficult one but I was just interested to see what would come up.
No, I obviously would not be offended if someone thought I was a Christian 🙄.

OP posts:
auntyflonono · 24/08/2018 20:46

How about Bevan?

MrsMolehillMountain · 24/08/2018 20:25

If you name your child Samuel, no one is going to think you attend midnight mass, don't worry op

I agree with this.
I don't get why you're so determined to avoid biblical names?
If you go for Ezekiel or Abraham then people would possibly think you're Christian but names like Matthew or Joseph? Even if they thought you were Christian, would that be such a problem?
Get a grip OP 😂

Jokat · 24/08/2018 20:08

Jackson.

Quizeerascal · 24/08/2018 20:01

Attica makes a good point the names of people in the Bible will generally pre date Christianity. Most people didn't just change their names when they became a Christians, except Peter who was born Simon and then given the name Peter by Jesus. Peter is essentially a made up nickname meaning Rocky and is perhaps the most Christian name of all as it was made up by Jesus himself. Yet it wouldn't be strange at all to meet a Peter who was not a Christian. Even the name Jesus isn't a Christian name, it was a popular Jewish name years before the Christian Church was established.

Quangot · 24/08/2018 19:29

Good point Quiz, there are many people in the Bible who aren't Christian.

Judas
Herod
Nebuchadnezzar
Pilate
Goliath

... or perhaps not! Wink

AtticaRose · 24/08/2018 19:22

Other Greeks/Romans:

Alexander (helper of men)
Philip (lover of horses)
Augustus (wise/dignified)
Julius
Lucius
Anthony (eg Marcus Antonius)
Magnus (great)

AtticaRose · 24/08/2018 19:17

Some "Biblical" names are Greek/Roman names which predate the Bible. E.g. Lucas, Marcus, Paul.

girlalmighty · 24/08/2018 18:56

If you name your child Samuel, no one is going to think you attend midnight mass, don't worry op Hmm what does it matter really

Quizeerascal · 24/08/2018 18:54

There's a Felix and an Alexander (I think more than one actually) in the Bible but iirc they're not Christians and more like bit players if that helps. I'm a Christian and so love a good Biblical name but remember not everyone in the Bible is actually a Christian so giving a child a name from the Bible isn't the same as giving a child the name of a Christian. Equally some Christian parents may choose to name their children after Christians they admire who don't have Biblical names eg George Elliott so its not clear cut and I wouldn't assume someone called Samuel for example had Christian parents.

newtlover · 24/08/2018 18:54

err, Odin and Thor are the names of gods!

Quangot · 24/08/2018 18:51

There is a Felix in the Bible. He was an unpleasant character and married Herod's daughter!

auntyflonono · 24/08/2018 18:48

Utred
Thor
Odin

auntyflonono · 24/08/2018 18:47

Beowulf
Wulfric
Alaric
Idris
Arthur
Thorin
Sorin

Threeandabit · 24/08/2018 18:33

Warren
Lloyd
Ross

TroysMammy · 24/08/2018 18:28

Roy
Raymond
Ronald
Kenneth
Darrell
Leighton
Denzil
Malcolm
Keith

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