to give my child a biblical name even if we aren't religious?

[Kaitan]

Love the name Moses. Didn't think it was a problem using it until someone at work told me it was a bit disrespectful to use such a religious/biblical name if you're not religious. Do I need to rethink? I just like the name and so does DP - don't want to raise eyebrows...

Imho - of course yanbu. 80% of western names are biblical...

Although Moses is a pretty big deal to the Jewish....

Don't tell all the parents of a Michael, Hannah, Sarah, Ruth, Peter, Paul, Elizabeth, Joshua or Daniel that.

Go for it if you like it. I think I'm religious (Christian). I wouldn't find it disrespectful.

It didn't even cross my mind until my colleague mentioned it. I just think it's a nice name! I know so many Mary's. My name is biblical and so is my partners (and his daughters actually!). Apparently 'Moses' is deep rooted and I would be a strange person to use it... or maybe my colleague is the one with the problem...

I think your colleague’s take on your choice of name seems a bit odd. It wouldn’t occur to me that giving a biblical name without being religious is ‘disrespectful’ - I have a Matthew and it’s never been a concern or remarked upon. Similarly Mark, or John, or Peter, or Simon, Rebecca, Mary, Martha, Sarah etc etc. Use the name Moses!

Do you think people would automatically assume we are a very religious family? not that this would bother me!

Try David Joseph Andrew or Jacob. Tbh it can be difficult to avoid biblical names. I know a Moses. He's lovely.

All three of my ds’s have biblical names because we liked them, didn’t give the religious link a thought.

Moses is a nice name , use it

It’s a lovely name but it does sound as if you would be very religious. I know names like Mary, Sarah, Daniel etc are biblical but (and this is just my opinion) because Moses isn’t very common it might seem like you’ve picked it for religious reasons. That being said, it’s a lovely name and it’s your choice.

We've got a moses (mo) in our neighbourhood in his 20's.
Nice name.
He gets asked if it's from Mo from the Simpsons! So not biblical.

I wouldn’t assume it was religious.

I’m not keen on the name though.

He may always get jokes made about parting the sea or the Ten Commandments too.

Aside from that though it’s your choice what to name your child and Moses at least is an actual name, so go for it.

My DD2 has a biblical name. We just liked it. It's never been an issue.
Moses is a little unusual though - would it not lead to your DS being picked on at school?

I don´t think anyone will assume you are religious just because of Moses. If you call your next child Hezekiah, they might start to wonder.

I personally wouldn't have thought you were religious if I heard that name, however I'm not religious myself so I don't know whether a religious person would think differently.

I don't think it matters, it's a nice name and you like it.

I think most biblical names have become so mainstream that nobody would think you were religious for choosing them, but Moses is in a different category somehow, partly because of the special status of Moses and partly because it's not a name that has entered the mainstream. I think it would be an odd choice.

I went to school with two Moses'. One Moses, one Mo. Neither were picked on. Didn't realise this would lead to them being picked on! No more than any of the strange names I see suggested on here anyway...

Moses is in my religion...I wouldn’t assume you shared my religion nor would I be offended.

I know lots of Noahs whose parents aren’t religious.

I think anything goes these days with names.

YANBU Both of my 2 sons have biblical names as we both liked the names. Although having said that I'd probably wouldn't pick Judas

DH's family have the tradition of always giving children biblical names. This has gone on for over 100 years. As the years go by, the newer members of the family have been given very obscure biblical names, as names are not repeated in the family at the moment. There have been some instances where people have not been sure how to pronounce them, but the children soon learn how to politely correct them. If you and your partner like the name Moses, then go for it. Every name originated somewhere. Why shouldn't you use a biblical name.

It's not disrespectful

Ignore your colleague

I think if your not religious you should defiantly do it there is too much discrimination between different faiths and non-believers. No one should dictate what name you choose just because of your religious or non religious affiliation.

I'm still trying to work out why someone would be picked on for being called Moses!

I was recently thinking how many names are biblical. There's absolutely loads. Call your child Moses. I quite like Abraham, actually, but no babies to give it to, so I think I'll give it to my next cat.

Ooooh Abraham.... I like it!

Sunnymeg. I'd love to hear some of your DH's families less common names.