Boy's names - Judah and Isaiah

[Balonzette]

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?

I love Isaiah, but was not allowed to use it! Two of my kids have slightly ‘safer’ Old Testament names. I also liked Asher and Ezra. I think you’d have to be braver to use Judah because of the Judas similarity even though it’s a different names.
Thinking of the sons of Jacob, I also liked Naphtali and Issachar…

Also know a Nehemiah, which is the most out-there one I have encountered.

Very Old Testament!

I think they are good strong names, quite unusual in the UK too. Judah could be Jude for short.

I think I might prefer Isaac to Isaiah, but maybe that's just because I'm more used to it?

@BOOMshakeshakeshaketheroom

You might be religious, but your kids might not be. Most people are moving away from organised religion, the youth ever more so. I think it's harsh fk lumber a kid with such a blatantly religious name

We are a religious family, it's a huge part of our identity and not something we are ashamed of or planning to move away from, so not a concern of mine either. Thank you for commenting though! Interesting to hear different views!

I was thinking earlier about the number of people in my workplace with biblical names - Rachel, Rebecca, Hannah, Sarah, Adam, Ben. All good, strong names. I don’t think you can go wrong with a biblical name, whether religious or not. They are just names that have stood the test of time. I’m not religious, despite my kids having OT names, don’t think most parents nowadays of Noah’s and Reubens are either!

Balonzette

You "as a family" may not be planning to move away from religion- your children may have other ideas. Great that it is a huge part of your identity, but you can't make such assumptions for your children when they are an age to decide for themselves.

One Isaiah than the other ... I remember that from my primary school days

@celestebellman

I love Isaiah, but was not allowed to use it! Two of my kids have slightly ‘safer’ Old Testament names. I also liked Asher and Ezra. I think you’d have to be braver to use Judah because of the Judas similarity even though it’s a different names. Thinking of the sons of Jacob, I also liked Naphtali and Issachar…

Nehemiah is almost on Habbakak and Keren-Happuch level Just in terms of usability. I actually would be really impressed with the parent of a Nehemiah as it's so unusual, a brave choice!

I suppose I didn't think too much about the Judah/Judas similarity because I live abroad in a weird place where, without being too outing, all of the people I know here either

a) would hear the name Judah and know exactly where it came from and would never mistake it for Judas brcause they're all practicing Christians

or

b) would hear the name Judah and never think of Judas because they've never heard of either Judah or Judas or maybe even Jesus so there's no worry with whatever biblical/English name is chosen really!

So it's really helpful for me to see these comments from the UK as this is where most of my old friends and relatives still are, and where I might return at some point, so it's useful to hear these things from a UK point of view and take them into account.

@speakout

Balonzette

You "as a family" may not be planning to move away from religion- your children may have other ideas. Great that it is a huge part of your identity, but you can't make such assumptions for your children when they are an age to decide for themselves.

Again, really not an issue or a concern of mine, but thank you for your thoughts nonetheless!

Nehemiah is gorgeous but then I'll always regret not using Balthazar

Love both names personally and a lot of biblical names. I know many people who have names linked to a religion but only because it's part of their cultural heritage so no idea why this would be different.

With Isaiah would you pronounce it I-s-eye-ah or I-say-ah? And be aware you'll have it mispronounced a lot...

@Caszekey

Nehemiah is gorgeous but then I'll always regret not using Balthazar

Balthzar would be the coolest kid in the playground by FAR.

It doesn't even matter who else is in the playground.

Balthazar always wins.

I love the name Balthazar!

Well, I always used to pronounce it I-s-eye-ah, and I like this more! But I think it's supposed to be I-say-ah, isn't it? So I suppose I'd go with that. (but if anyone wants to come along and tell me that I-s-eye-ah is equally correct then I'd be very happy and choose that version for sure!)

I think the old testament names are great. We had Malachi & Reuben on our list despite not being remotely religious. I know a baby called Asa too, which I really like.

I wouldn't go for Titus, I know it's not pronounced like that, but would expect tit jokes in secondary.

Name your baby Balthazar!!!! I wanted Balthazar and Thadeus. We went fake biblical naming the other twin after a TV angel 😂😇

I have always thought, and heard it in church, as I-seye_ah @Balonzette

I'd forgotten Balthazar, so cool.

I know quite a lot of young Judahs and didn't realise it would be perceived as such a niche name (though I would assume someone was religious if they chose it).
I'm not a huge fan of Isaiah - the spelling errors could be annoying but the sign language for it is very cool! - but it's ok.
I prefer Ezekiel, Josiah, Amos or Ezra as biblical names.

I'm not religious so I don't really know any names in the bible save the Apostles. I never see a name and associate it with any religion.

I love the name Hezekiah !

I really like the name Judas, but I suspect it's always going to have negative connotations in the UK - being a Judas is part of most people's vocabulary. I really liked Isaiah, but DH vetoed as too religious 🙄

I've come across 3 children in the UK called Isaiah - all black children and of a religious background if that makes any difference.

I know one Judah who is 6 and a lovely little boy. He is always Judah, never Jude. Mum is Christian. I think it's a lovely name

I also love be Zephaniah
We have old testament names in our family but fairly safe ones.
Asher, Seth, Caleb, Joseph, Eli, Dan, Jude, Issac, Reuben
People think we are religious, we are a little bit.
But really I chose mine cos they were uncommon boys names but still quite traditional

DD goes to school with a Judah. I hate it and always think of Judas. His brother’s name has also been mentioned up thread which is better. But I was in a choir with a Joachim, love that and never met another one!

I love Isaiah. But I'm pronouncing it in my head eyes-eyer not eyes-ayer

I have a Jude and we call him Judas when he is being horrid