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Original poster

Joseph - religious or not?

63 replies

Hobbes39 · 04/05/2019 17:17

I like the name Joseph for a wee boy, but my DH and I are not religious and DH thinks it's a nice name but too religious... do you immediately think of Joseph and Mary? Or technicolour dream coat?! Thanks x

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Sophronia · 04/05/2019 21:25

I’m not religious and my son has a Biblical name. I wouldn’t assume a Joseph came from a religious family.

DramaAlpaca · 04/05/2019 21:22

I think of it as a classic, biblical name & wouldn't assume that someone who used it was religious.

It's one of my sons' middle name, and I chose it specifically for its meaning. We are not religious at all.

Original poster
Hobbes39 · 04/05/2019 21:14

Thanks all that's helpful! MollyYouInDangerGirl - I didn't actually ask for opinions on whether anyone liked the name or not, and given a few people on here have said they have used it, your comment seems slightly harsh.
We aren't sure yet what name we will go for, but I think it will stay on the list for now!

OP posts:
hewontstopshitting · 04/05/2019 21:05

I should also add that my boys are Jude and Ezra, and we aren’t religious

TinklyLittleLaugh · 04/05/2019 21:03

All my four have Biblical names because I like classic, timeless names with list of nick name options. We do go to church but it didn’t influence our kids names.

AloneLonelyLoner · 04/05/2019 20:59

My three sons all have biblical names-one is Joseph- and we're atheists! They are just great, solid, lovely names.

Whoops75 · 04/05/2019 20:58

Not religious here and we have a Joseph.

I love the name, good luck with your choice.

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 04/05/2019 20:57

I dont think of it as being religious at all tbh, I just think it's such a plain name.

I went to school with about 10 of them so just seems like a common/boring name tbh.

LordPickle · 04/05/2019 20:57

I am not religious to the point to where I intentionally avoided any name that was mentioned in the bible.

However, Joseph is a very common name and not one that I would necessarily associate with the bible (even though it obviously is). It's not like Noah or Moses.

clutterqu33n · 04/05/2019 20:55

no, I wouldn't assume you are religious. just as I wouldn't think that a Daniel or a Matthew is from a religious background either.

In the end, many names pop up in the Bible somewhere. you are overthinking things!

JumpingFrogs · 04/05/2019 18:50

Well for what it's worth OP, we are complete atheists but gave our son this lovely name. To me it's not the same as picking a name from a completely different culture (not that I'm criticising other people who choose to do that) - we live in a country with a Christian history and that has influenced many aspects of our cultural heritage, so it kind of belongs to all of us, regardless of our personal beliefs

ourkidmolly · 04/05/2019 18:45

Well it's atheist central where I am and we're overrun with Sams Joes etc. The association has completely disappeared.

mamaduckbone · 04/05/2019 18:44

We have a Joseph and only go to church on Christmas Eve. I don't think it's any more religious than other biblical names - Benjamin, Luke etc. which are commonly used. It's not like you're calling him Jesus!

AGoodWench · 04/05/2019 18:28

I have known Josephs/ Joe's who are not from churchgoing families.

In the public eye I can think of Joe Sugg the YouTuber, footballer Joe Cole, actor Joseph Fiennes.

Up until recently Noah and Elijah seemed far more " biblical" to me.

Joseph is just traditional to my ear.

stucknoue · 04/05/2019 18:03

It is religious but plenty of Joseph's aren't

Bunnybigears · 04/05/2019 18:03

To me it's just a normal name the same a David, Daniel, Benjamin etc. Names such as Moses and Abraham seem religious to me but not Joseph.

NameChangeNugget · 04/05/2019 18:02

Wouldn’t assume religious. It’s just a name

Bambamber · 04/05/2019 18:00

It wouldn't even cross my mind that a family may be religious because they used the name Joseph. I would just assume they like the name joseph

llangennith · 04/05/2019 17:54

I know several Josephs. All known as Joe, not religious at all.

GoldenEvilHoor · 04/05/2019 17:51

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Torsz · 04/05/2019 17:48

I think of joseph as being religious

Original poster
Hobbes39 · 04/05/2019 17:47

@GoldenEvilHoor - why the others but not John? (Matthew Mark Luke and John...)

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GoldenEvilHoor · 04/05/2019 17:44

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Original poster
Hobbes39 · 04/05/2019 17:41

@JumpingFrogs - that's how I feel - that it's not really any different to any of those other originally biblical names, but my DH is worried that more people will think more like @GoldenEvilHoor.
It's not that I mind if people think we are religious I guess I have always found it odd when people with no connection to another country choose a name associated with it (ie like someone with no connection to Germany calling their child Otto) so I worry i would be hypocritical in choosing a name that I have no connection to the origin of..?

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 04/05/2019 17:41

No. Not at all.

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