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Baby names

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

Original poster

Biblical boys names, and some help with girls!

35 replies

Creampinkblue · 24/03/2023 06:39

I know there’s been a trend for names like Noah and Moses which I’m not massively keen on, but a lot of New Testament names seem very dated to the 70s/80s such as Paul, Mark, Luke etc.

We already have a Benjamin and I like Thomas but DH knows a lot of Thomases! I’m racking my brains trying to think of a similar biblical name to Benjamin and Thomas and can’t - Matthew is OK and doesn’t seem as dated in my mind as the others but I just don’t seem to like it much, no real reason!

Girls are also proving difficult. DH likes Hannah but that also seems a bit dated to me - not sure why. We both like Anna, and Lucy. A lot of girls names we like are already taken by close friends! So any suggestions would be good.

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AmericasfavoritefightingFrenchman · 27/03/2023 09:17

Great suggestion @ZoyaTheDestroyer

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 27/03/2023 07:08

How about Asher? Brother of Benjamin in the Bible. More wearably OT than Moses etc. One syllable diminutive, like Benjamin. Ben and Ash. Very unlikely to have gone to school with you unless you are Jewish.

Ringmaster27 · 26/03/2023 17:58

I also really like Delilah for a girl and considered it for DC3….
But then my staunchly Catholic grandmother had a shit fit over it, and my mum said “Do you really want everyone singing Tom Jones at her every time they find out her name?”, and I decided against it 😂

Sadiegirl87 · 26/03/2023 15:12

Go for the names you like Lucy and Thomas both lovely names. I'm considering Lucy for my DD and was put off with how popular it is but it's the name I like the most so just going for it rather than choosing something less popular I don't like as much

RosesAndHellebores · 25/03/2023 22:13

Simon
Peter
John
Jonah?
Are all due a come back

Jane
Mary
Helen
Alice
Joan
Susan

RobinStrike · 25/03/2023 22:07

Adam
Isaac
Gideon
Gabriel

Judith
Ruth

Modestandatinybitsexy · 25/03/2023 21:58

Levi
Tobias/Toby
Timothy/Tim

Rebecca
Evelyn
Delilah

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/03/2023 11:35

Knew a little Hepzibah, suited her perfectly. Is that biblical?

Luredbyapomegranate · 25/03/2023 11:34

Michael
Matthias
Tobias / Toby
Barnabas / Barnaby nn Barney
Zachary / Zachariah
Gabriel
Marcus
Luke
Jerome
Joel

Patrick
Robert
Laurence
Rufus
Francis
Nicholas nn Nico
Philip nn Pip
Caius
Julius
Francis

Lois
Susannah
Marianne
Maryam
Maria
Annis
Annabeth
Elsbeth
Lisbeth
Annalise

Verity (truth)
Felicity (joy)
Constance
Hope
Serena

Frances
Claudia
Astrid
Jocelyn
Zoe
Jessemy
Helena

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 25/03/2023 10:54

Ezekiel
Casper
Jacob
Ezra.
Elijah
Malachi.
Gabriel
Jude
Ethan

Abigail
Leah
Elizabeth
Miriam
Hannah
Joanna.
Rebecca.
Lois
Martha.
Phoebe
Elisha.
Tabitha.
Lydia.
Rachel.
Sarah.
Eden
Chloe.
Delilah.

Original poster
Creampinkblue · 25/03/2023 09:34

Some lovely ideas here.

I am not keen on any names that remind me of boys I went to school with, so names like Mark, Stephen are out. I’m also not a fan of names that have gone a bit trendy like Ethan and Caleb! Fussy, I know! David is quite nice but is the name of a relative and I hate Dave. I also quite like Jonathan but it is a bit dated as well.

Daniel and Nathaniel are both out due to family and sounding silly with our surname. I love Nathaniel otherwise.

Girls wise, I should have been clearer sorry, I’m not necessarily looking for a biblical link there. Anna is from the New Testament though, can’t even remember where Hannah is from but I know it is biblical! I grew up with so many Ruths and Naomis and Esthers and Rebeccas that although they are nice names I don’t see them on a baby, if you see what I mean. I quite like a couple of ‘virtue’ names like faith and hope but not keen on Ope in some accents!

I think if it was up to me I’d go for Lucy or Thomas but I don’t think DH is sold!

OP posts:
17caterpillars1mouse · 25/03/2023 09:21

Joshua, Jacob and Daniel all come to mind.

I really like Hannah and don't think it seems dated at all, but then dd4 has a Hanna in her preschool class. I also like Anna (I don't know any Anna's under 30) and Lucy (I only know two young Lucy's)

Mumofgirls2017 · 25/03/2023 07:52

Samuel
nathan
gabriel
zachary
daniel
joseph
ethan
caleb
aaron
isaac
jacob

eliza
esther
lydia
jemima
sarah
eve
delilah
Abigail

AppleTree16 · 24/03/2023 12:45

Simeon/Sim?

AmericasfavoritefightingFrenchman · 24/03/2023 11:50

Creampinkblue · 24/03/2023 06:39

I know there’s been a trend for names like Noah and Moses which I’m not massively keen on, but a lot of New Testament names seem very dated to the 70s/80s such as Paul, Mark, Luke etc.

We already have a Benjamin and I like Thomas but DH knows a lot of Thomases! I’m racking my brains trying to think of a similar biblical name to Benjamin and Thomas and can’t - Matthew is OK and doesn’t seem as dated in my mind as the others but I just don’t seem to like it much, no real reason!

Girls are also proving difficult. DH likes Hannah but that also seems a bit dated to me - not sure why. We both like Anna, and Lucy. A lot of girls names we like are already taken by close friends! So any suggestions would be good.

If you like Matthew how about Matthias instead?

Or Peter, Jonathan, Reuben, Joshua. Ebeneezer??

Girls- Abigail? Lydia? Susannah?
Or if you like Greek names Chloe, Phoebe, Daphne, Sophie?

obesensitive · 24/03/2023 11:42

I love Luke, lots of Lucas around and not enough Lukes!

FayCarew · 24/03/2023 11:40

Leah
Lois
Salome
Philip/Philippa

Ringmaster27 · 24/03/2023 11:18

A friend of mine is Jewish - lots of Old Testament names are used for both boys in girls in her culture.
Her DD’s name is Leah (pronounced “Laya” as opposed to “Lee-ah”) and I think it’s beautiful 😍

FayCarew · 24/03/2023 11:12

David
Daniel
Samuel
Michael
Jonathan
Peter
Andrew
Not Theodore - not biblical and too popular

Esther
Dorcas
Mary
Rachel
Sarah
Tamar(a)
Ruth
Abigail
Anna/Hannah
Elizabeth
Martha
Jemima
Deborah
Susanna
Not Eve - Evie too popular

Amdone123 · 24/03/2023 08:28

I love Benjamin. I met twins Benedict and Joachim - I know you can't have Benedict, but Joachim ?
I love Matthew, Michael and Peter is beautiful,so refreshing @SMabbutt , ❤️
Also, Dominic, Joshua.
Girls I love Rachel, Rebecca, Miriam and Elizabeth ( my favourite).

SMabbutt · 24/03/2023 08:22

David meaning beloved
Jonathan meaning God has given and we also chose it because David and Jonathan were best friends in the bible
Peter meaning rock which we chose because we were told he might not survive birth and we wanted a strong name
Stephen which means crown
My sons chose Naomi for their sister who was a lot younger than them. It means pleasantness in Hebrew, but also has a Japanese origin which is straight and beautiful. It was only later that one of them pointed out it spells I moan backwards when she was in a bad mood 😂

handslikebirds · 24/03/2023 08:16

Thaddeus (Teddy for short?)

user1492757084 · 24/03/2023 08:14

Benjamin and ..
Joel
Thomas
Samuel
Daniel
James
John
Mark
Luke
Raphael
Jed
Joseph
Adam
Elizabeth
Mary
Sarah
Mirriam
Susanna
Anna
Hannah
Gabrielle
Ruth
Rachael
Rebecca
Leah

Lndnmummy · 24/03/2023 08:13

Elijah

Lndnmummy · 24/03/2023 08:12

Gabriel, Lucas, Isaac, Zachary, Joseph, David, Samuel

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