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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Boy's names - Judah and Isaiah

107 replies

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 11:01

I know several American children with these names but no British! I love them both. (Before anyone says they're very religious - I know. I like that bit )

What do you think? Are they usable in the UK or too uncommon?

OP posts:

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Original poster

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 16:38

Haha no, that was Judas. I don't mind correcting people who make that mistake. If this thread is anything to go by, the vast majority of people know that the one who betrayed Jesus was Judas. Of the 28 posters, only 2 have made that mistake, so I like my chances

As a Christian with a biblical name, from a family of Christians, many of whom have biblical names, and with many friends who have biblical names, and who also have children with biblical names, I don't think bullying a child due to having a biblical name is a 'thing', thankfully, but thank you for your concern nonetheless!

OP posts:

KirstenBlest · 24/09/2021 16:37

Strange how Onan hasn't become popular

MrsColon · 24/09/2021 16:32

@KirstenBlest

That was Judas, *@Elisemum*.

Judah was one of Jacob's sons. Quite a big difference.

Yes, one of Jacob's sons, who sold his brother Joseph into slavery.

AnotherFruitcake · 24/09/2021 16:32

Both are fine, just slightly less mainstream Biblical names. The Ezekiel I know (known as Zeke) is the son of gay atheists, and my own son has an unusual Biblical name, though DH and I aren’t believers.

BrilliantBetty · 24/09/2021 16:30

Note keen on either of OPs choices but Jude mentioned by a PP is lovely! And one I hadn't considered before. Seems like a 'happy' kind of a name

disappear · 24/09/2021 16:23

@Elisemum

I would think you are religious freak :) nothing wrong with that but kids won’t be as forgiving … Judah is a really bad name for a baby, wasn’t Judah a horrible person that sold Jesus?:) that boy will 100% get bullied, bad bad name sorry OP

I guess it depends where you live and what kind of school your DC goes to. Round here, no-one would bat an eyelid at Judah or Isaiah.

Elisemum · 24/09/2021 16:11

@KirstenBlest ohh ok sorry my bad, but I’d be worried 90% of population will make the same mistake!

TeacupDrama · 24/09/2021 16:10

Judah was one of the twelve tribes of Israel after Jacob's sons and the tribe into which Jesus was born many of the prophecies regarding Jesus refer to him as a lion form the tribe of Judah etc
Basically it means man from Judea ( the region of Israel around Jerusalem out towards Bethlehem ) the hebrew meaning is "the praise of the Lord" King David was from the same tribe
Judith is the female version and means woman from Judea

KirstenBlest · 24/09/2021 15:55

That was Judas, @Elisemum.

Judah was one of Jacob's sons. Quite a big difference.

Elisemum · 24/09/2021 15:50

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 24/09/2021 13:36

yes I wouldn't name a child Judas…….
How very dare you.

user1493494961 · 24/09/2021 13:29

I like them both, I imagine Judah will get shortened to Jude (by his friends, if not you). I know a little Obadiah (he's Obi for short).

TeacupDrama · 24/09/2021 12:43

30 out of the top 100 boy names are in the bible and for Girls it is 9 out of a 100

ofwarren · 24/09/2021 12:01

Both lovely names OP!

FriedasCarLoad · 24/09/2021 11:48

Love them. I know a coupe of Judahs. I don't know any Isaiahs, but it would have been my first choice for my son.

crumblebug · 24/09/2021 11:47

I am not religious at all so don't think I could get away with it unfortunately, but LOVE boys names like this

My personal favourites are Isaiah, Ezekiel and Ephraim

KirstenBlest · 24/09/2021 11:45

Judah is no more religious than Joseph, Levi , Asher, Reuben or Benjamin

Isaiah - no more religious than Joel Or Ruth or Joshua or Samuel...

Just less mainstream

Original poster

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 11:41

Josiah Edward nn Jed is a great name! The best names are always vetoed!

OP posts:

Original poster

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 11:40

Wow! Hephzibar and Hezekiah are bold choices!

I actually love Zephaniah but I'm too cowardly to use it.

I was actually wondering about names like this yesterday. Like, I wonder how many baby Habakkuks or baby Keren-Happuchs there are in the world.

OP posts:

babybrain77 · 24/09/2021 11:35

I like Judah. Isaiah will almost always be misspelled in my experience. Both are nicer than some of the other "unusual" biblical names I've heard recently. A friend used Hephzibah which I felt was a lot to lumber a child with!

WillaWeatherspoon · 24/09/2021 11:28

I like Judah, makes me think of Judah Ben Hur.
In a similar vein also really like Josiah, I wanted a Josiah Edward nn Jed (like President Bartlett from the West Wing) but I was vetoed

Isaiah is also nice.

NannyR · 24/09/2021 11:24

I know of two baby Hezekiahs born recently within our church community.

Original poster

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 11:17

Should have said, I loved Elijah but thought it might be too popular

OP posts:

Original poster

Balonzette · 24/09/2021 11:16

What connotations are you thinking of with Judah? I can't think of anything negative, only positive. Are you mistaking Judah for Judas?

I don't mind seeming like a religious nut, I am a bit Should have added, we are a very religious family and that's not unknown to our friends and relatives so seeming religious isn't a negative to us!

And that's true about other biblical names getting popular now. I know several non-religious Ashers and Elijahs. I loved but think it might be getting overly popular.

Isn't it funny how biblical names are too religious until enough non-religious people decide to use them they still come from the same source!

Thank you for the replies so far!

OP posts:

TeacupDrama · 24/09/2021 11:13

yes I wouldn't name a child Judas or Herod or Jezebel
but Judas is not the same as Jude or Judah or Judith which all derive from the same root
Jesus himeself is referred to as the Lion from the tribe of Judah

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