Unused biblical names

[Flutterflybutterby]

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

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!

How fo you pronounce Beulah @rubydoobydoo ?
I know of a house called Beulah.

Lot and Onan seemed the obvious ones, but Job is not much used.

I know a few Ezekiels, a few Joels, one Saul

Job and Lot in combination would be awesome 😁

I really like the name Asa. Not sure how it'd hold up in the UK though

@SumAndSubstance, Job is pronounced Jobe. Lot was seduced by his daughters

@vampirethriller

I've got a Keturah! I love Jabez and Jethro for boys and Hadassah for girls.

Oh Keturah is lovely ! I also think Jabez is a wonderful name.

@ILoveShula, I know that. It was just a joke!

@curlymacv, I know three Asas in the UK. It's a good name!

I also know a couple of Balthazars, but one is German.

I knew a Barak a long time ago, before Barak Obama became well known, though he pronounced it BEAR-ak instead of Bah-rak.

I completely agree with Moses. It’s such a gorgeous name!!
Esau
Linus
Joah
Kenen
Adlai
Lemuel
Lael
Shem
Micah
Jared
Enoch/Enos

Adah
Junia

If I got to name my DC without DH’s input DS would be Moses or Kenen

I like Noah, see it occasionally.

I used to attend an Evangelical church and there were children named Micah, Obadiah, Moses, Isaiah, Jonah, Ezra,Talitha, Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Deborah, Abigail, Rebekah. I also know a Mikaiyah but had no idea it was biblical!

@1WildFlower

I like Noah, see it occasionally.

You'll see it a lot more than just occasionally in the years to come, @1WildFlower. #4 baby boy name in England and Wales in 2020. Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic for a decade or so now.

I love Jedediah, nn Jed, who IIRC was the hero of the Earthsea novels.
I also love Tamar, Delilah and Tabitha.
An Abishag is a name for a hot water bottle (in the Bible she was the wife who kept Solomon warm at night in his old age).

I know an adult Malachi - a bit out of place in.deepest Devon but a very cool guy! I also love Joel, nn Joe.

I always loved the name Judas but it's been given a bad rap ! Judah also is a favorite of mine.

@LadyEloise1

How fo you pronounce Beulah *@rubydoobydoo* ? I know of a house called Beulah.

Sort of like "Bew-lah" or "byoo-lah" isn't it? It just surprises me how many people can't say it when they read it for the first time!

A lot of these are quite common in Jewish communities! I know a Tzipporah and many a Moses, Abraham, and Keren.

Ooh Shem is so cool!!