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Original poster

Unused biblical names

119 replies

Flutterflybutterby · 04/12/2021 00:14

I mean the names that you're surprised about their lack of use, rather than names like Keren-Happuch which you can quite easily understand why they're not used much Grin

For example, I adore Moses. I think it's perfect. But I've never met a person called Moses in all my life. I also think it's odd how Noah is so popular but Shem, the name of one of his sons, isn't popular. To me, Shem is a nice name and seems usable.

I also always expect Phineas to become popular considering the popularity of Finn/Finley/Finnian... Just Finn names in general which are everywhere lately.

For girls, I always think Mahlah and Noa are pretty names and they also seem like pretty cool, strong biblical namesakes too. Yet I have never heard of a Mahlah being used (maybe because a Google search declares the meaning of the name to be 'sickness' which is incorrect?) and while Noa is known and often suggested on baby name boards, it always seems to be shot down by other posters and not chosen.

Lastly my beloved Zephaniah. I think this name is soft and gorgeous and I also think Zeph is a lovely nickname. But I never hear it. Maybe it's just too long.

There's so many other bible names that I adore like Josiah, Isaiah, Silas, Esther, Martha etc but they all seem much more well-used. I want to hear the names that you feel aren't as well-used as they deserve to be!

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AdaColeman · 04/12/2021 00:26

You rarely meet a Boaz or a Beulah, but Hephzibah is my favourite biblical name.

MrsS92 · 04/12/2021 00:29

Keziah, I’ve got a Jemima which isn’t that common or people don’t realise it’s a biblical name.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 04/12/2021 00:30

Isaac, Abel.

CovidPassQuestion · 04/12/2021 00:30

Abishag

I know a Beulah.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 04/12/2021 00:31

Magdalen

GrimDamnFanjo · 04/12/2021 00:33

Lot?

I used to know a Beulah too.

viques · 04/12/2021 00:33

I met a Menelik, but based on my experience I wouldn’t choose it as a name.

Original poster
Flutterflybutterby · 04/12/2021 00:34

@AdaColeman

You rarely meet a Boaz or a Beulah, but Hephzibah is my favourite biblical name.
I am never sure if Hephzibah pronounced with an 'f' sound or a 'p' sound, like 'Hef-zibah' or 'Hep-zibah'?

I saw Beulah and also thought it looked quite pretty but then I saw it on a list of worst baby names and I am still not sure why it was there!

OP posts:
Original poster
Flutterflybutterby · 04/12/2021 00:37

Abishag 😂 I'm not so surprised by that one.

Kezia is lovely, I found one on my family tree recently from a few hundred years ago! I also found out that Kizzy is a nickname which I also love. Jemima is gorgeous too, I have a Tabitha which people also don't seem to realise is biblical. I always thought Jemima would be a nice name for her sister. Maybe it still will be! Smile

Magdalen/Magdalene/Magdalena names are beautiful in my opinion. I'd also consider one of these.

And Isaac is one of my favourite boy's names. I love Abel too, but it sounds horrible with my surname. I always feel surprised by the number of Cains I know, yet I have only ever met one Abel!

OP posts:
Jubilate · 04/12/2021 00:38

Esau.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 04/12/2021 00:38

Zebulon.

MyMagicStars · 04/12/2021 00:38

Lemuel. Wish I’d used it!

Original poster
Flutterflybutterby · 04/12/2021 00:39

Keziah, Zephaniah and Madalena, my imaginary triplets Grin

OP posts:
RobertSmithsLipstick · 04/12/2021 00:39

I really like Asher.
Deborah. (I think it's biblical?)

SleepingStandingUp · 04/12/2021 00:45

Zephaniah is beautiful.
Also Gideon, Balthazar, Malachi, Isiah

CovidPassQuestion · 04/12/2021 00:52

I really like the name Zebulon!

I also knew a Menelik @viques, but he was nice, and I'm pretty sure was named after the emperor, not the biblical character.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 04/12/2021 00:59

I think grandpa's name in the Waltons was Zebulon.
Grandma used to call him that when he was being a stubborn old man. Smile

crymeapuddle · 04/12/2021 01:07

Ezekiel

MirandaBlu · 04/12/2021 01:27

I like Adlai, Malachi, Napthali, Shoshanna, Shulamit, and Zillah and I knew an (American) Jadon which is cool but I think that might be a bit lost these days in the sea of Aidan/Braden/Jayden. Also like Akiva and Liraz, although I think those are just old Hebrew and not actually people mentioned in the Old Testament.

Lizzy1980 · 04/12/2021 01:38

Flutterflybutterby, I'm fairly sure it's pronounced Hef-zibah.
I think it's a beautiful name

toastofthetown · 04/12/2021 01:46

I love Moses]=.

Nebuchadnezzar hasn't featured in the biblical name trend.

lalaloopsy83 · 04/12/2021 01:47

I have a Delilah, have loved the name for years

IVflytrap · 04/12/2021 01:53

I've only ever heard Hephzibah/Hepzibah pronounced with a p sound: Hep-zi-bah

I really like the name Ishmael. As Ismail, it's used a lot by Muslim parents, but Ishmael is surprisingly underused by Christians.

spotsbeforetheeyes · 04/12/2021 02:01

I know children called Moses, Zephanaiah, Naphtali, Keziah (several), Tirzah (several), and even met a young Azriel but I move in churchy circles.

I don't think Beulah or Hephzibah need a revival! They're awful!

I do think the reason you get Noah and not Shem, or Jacob but not Esau is for their significance in the big picture of the Bible story and their character traits.

SE13Mummy · 04/12/2021 02:03

@IVflytrap

I've only ever heard Hephzibah/Hepzibah pronounced with a p sound: Hep-zi-bah

I really like the name Ishmael. As Ismail, it's used a lot by Muslim parents, but Ishmael is surprisingly underused by Christians.

Miriam is similar to Ishmael in that way; as Mariam or Maryam it's popular amongst Muslim families but I don't encounter nearly so many Miriams.