Name - Josiah

[BooksnTea]

Hi all, we recently found out that baby 2 is a boy! This has brought some focus to our name conversations. Our favourite first name at the moment is Josiah. I've never met anyone with that name, but we like the look, sound, and meaning of it. What do people think of it as a name?
What nicknames do Josiahs end up with? Joe? Si?

btw, what makes it 'an American name'?

I agree with pp that it sounds very Amish, like Jedediah or something.

I agree with pp that it sounds very Amish, like Jedediah or something

Can you explain why you think Josiah sounds Amish?

@TattySlippers

I agree with pp that it sounds very Amish, like Jedediah or something

Can you explain why you think Josiah sounds Amish?

I don't know exactly, it just sounds REALLY religious and... stuffy? Fuddy duddy? It just sounds really old fashioned to my ear, and straight from the bible. I immediately picture Amish country when I hear it - it's more of a feeling than something I can specifically explain.

gorgeous.
but I'm probably biased because all of our kids have Biblical names and if it was up to me I would have gone for Jethro, Zion, Micah etc

Josiah is awesome. go for it

I like it with Joss for short

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches ...that made me laugh 😅

@TattySlippers

I agree with pp that it sounds very Amish, like Jedediah or something

Can you explain why you think Josiah sounds Amish?

Summons the image of a ginger bearded young man plowing the fields in breeches in amish country. Sounds so serious and biblical and not fit for a young child.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

But much for me. I imagine a Josiah shouting things like 'Repent, devilish wench!'.

seconded!

Love Josiah (and also think of Wedgehood). You should definitely use it!

@KateTheEighth

My dog is called Jed Bartlet (but we call him Jed when we're being casual)

?? when are you ever formal with your dog?

Growing up, names such as Noah,Jacob, Eli and Zachary were only the preserves of the more -Religious folk, and you knew if you came across someone with these names that the parents were probably devout Christians. Today, these names are a lot more mainstream.

@Riverlee

Growing up, names such as Noah,Jacob, Eli and Zachary were only the preserves of the more -Religious folk, and you knew if you came across someone with these names that the parents were probably devout Christians. Today, these names are a lot more mainstream.

Rather than devoutly Christian families i would say that many of those names used to be almost exclusively used by Jewish families, in the UK at least. Even in the early 90s it used to be rare to meet a Joshua who was not Jewish.

This was my grandad’s name, he was called Joe for short. I really like it

Just to add after reading some other posts, we are welsh so not American or Amish.

I think it’s absolutely beautiful; a name with heft.