Biblical names

[Cataholic]

Recently talking to fiancé and MIL regarding baby names, ready for when we start a family. I brought up my love of biblical names and suggested Josiah, to which they were horrified!

Does anyone else see a problem? I'm in love with the name!

I like it. I really wanted Elijah or Micah for ds2. But dp said no as he’s not religious. Then came out with his fav name- Seth! 😂

Always look up the meanings.

Malachi wasn’t a name at all. It was a translator thinking it was a name. It meant dust.

@Frith2013 Malachi is from the Hebrew bible, with a meaning of 'my messenger' or 'my angel' to some. Not all sites have a contextual understanding of a lot of names and where the derive from.

@MoreSlidingDoors

We're atheists and initially my husband argued that he didn't want any biblical names because of the association. I then pointed out that we both have names that appear in the Bible (mine is a fairly common Hebrew one), neither of us have been christened and it had no impact on us whatsoever. Also, many classic names, particularly for boys appear in the Bible so if he could find something timeless that we could both agree on,that didn't appear, I'd love to hear his suggestions.
We have two boys, both have names that appear in the Bible. He's never mentioned it since.

I think dismissing a huge number of names, just because they appear in a book is rather narrow minded.

It’s more about the meaning than the appearance in the book. If you don’t believe in (any) “God” why would you deliberately choose a name because it has a meaning directly related to one? “God is great”/“God’s blessing” etc?

If I named a child Cushelle I’d expect the connotation with toilet roll to be pretty constant. Why is it any different?

@MoreSlidingDoors I didn't choose the name Josiah based on it's meaning, I already explained this. I chose it based on an ex-pupil of mine who was just a brilliant mind. It just so happens that the meaning is both fitting and beautiful.

You don't have to wholeheartedly believe in something to be able to appreciate the beauty of it.

I have 2 primary school age DC and I am a Cub leader. Old Testament nines are very popular amongst my DC’s peers; I know at least 2 of Elijah, Noah, Jonah, Issac, Samuel, Reuben and Malachi, and a Zebulon. I went to school with an I love that name, but have never met another.

More my son’s name is biblical (a saints name actually) but I’m not religious. My daughter’s name means bird-I don’t like birds. Not everyone cares about meanings. Some people pick a name just because they like the sound of it or it holds a specific meaning to them. Some people don’t even look up what their children’s name means prior to choosing them.

I font know any Josiahs, but I like it and it seems to fit with the other old testament names being used., it makes a change from Joshua and Joseph.

The Josiah I know is known as Joss.

You don't have to wholeheartedly believe in something to be able to appreciate the beauty of it.

This is true. But most people will assume that if your child has an obviously religious name then you and your family are religious. Or, at least, that you endorse that religion. This may not bother you. But it obviously bothers your partner and MIL which I think is fair enough if they don't want the child to be associated with any particular religion before the child has had chance to choose for themselves.

I associate Josiah with Josiah Wedgewood who had a brilliant mind and was a great artist. He was a cousin of Charles Darwin.
I love the name and much prefer it to the similar Joseph

Sorry for your loss OP. I like Josiah. As well as the Biblical association, I associate it with President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing (known as Jed) - which is a very positive association for me! Good luck with your rainbow baby 🌈

My favourite biblical name is Mahallaleel so I can't judge 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ it's not up to your in laws anyway. If you like the name go for it. Even if you end up using it as a middle name is some kind of compromise

Thomas, Peter, Matthew, James, Samuel, Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Naomi are all Biblical and I don't assume people with those names have particularly religious parents. Just like I don't assume someone is religious because they call their child Josiah. You're fine.

I plan on naming my son Mordecai when he's born. Apparently it's a Hebrew biblical name...? Everyone absolutely hates it and have made their feelings clear on it :( I don't understand why people are so horrible about it because now I'm seriously doubting myself when it's a name I loved.

@mordecaithomas actually I’d presume you were Jewish before I’d presume you were religious. Not a name particularly popular with Christians in the past but very popular with Jewish parents.
It’s funny how some names have an instant appeal to us for no apparent reason, isn’t it? Others are because of people we knew bearing those names.

@diddlediddle my partner and MIL didn't associate the name with a religion, they just didn't like the sound of the name. They said they didn't think it was a nice name, but my partner has a biblical name, as well as his sister.

My partner has since warmed to it after learning the meaning behind it and after we've talked quite a lot about baby names.

@Antonin I'm definitely not Jewish or religious. Funnily enough, everyone I've told about the name have no idea where it comes from. They just outright say it's shit and not to "do that to my son" 🤨

I love Josiah and as an atheist it wouldn't bother me if the name sounds religious. All names came from somewhere originally.

I love the name josiah. It has lots of nice shortenings too. I am a fan of biblical names in general, though. Not for religious reasons, mostly because they had some cracking names...

I'd always said if I'd had a son he'd be Ezekial or Zeke for short. It's one of the many reasons my husband and I have chosen not to procreate 🤣

I LOVE Josiah but my husband won't let me use it. I know a Micah and Caleb who happen to be brothers. Lovely names.

Um, Jacob is biblical.....

PS
💜Josiah and Mordecai