Eve - religious connotations too strong?

[CoalCraft]

Do you think Eve has unavoidable religious connotations or could it be used by a culturally British, atheist family with no problems? There are of course lots of religious / biblical names that are common in the UK and don't immediately make you think of Christianity. I'm thinking of names like John, Sarah, even Adam! But somehow Eve seems that little bit "more", perhaps because it's less common.

We're currently expecting and need a girl's name. I absolutely adore Eve and honestly, if we have a girl, we'll probably use it regardless! But I guess I want to prepare myself for what people might think with this thread. The thing is DH and I are both atheist and this is well known to our families, some of whom are devout Christians. I just wonder if it seems a bit, I don't know, hypocritical? To use such a strongly religious name in that circumstance? There'd be no symbolism attached to the name our end - we just like how it sounds and how it flows both with our surname and the middle name we've picked out.

I have toyed with other, less religious names but none seem to settle so nicely in my mind. At least none of the ones that haven't already been used by close family and that DH also likes (I would love a Jocelin but DH is having none of it).

We already have a DD with a non-biblical traditional English name, and the boy's name we've picked out (sex of baby is as-yet unknown) is along the same lines.

Honestly I'm really hoping that when we find out at 20 weeks it'll be a boy just cause I find boy's names so much easier!

I don’t think of it as a particularly religious or biblical name personally. It’s lovely.

I wouldn't have even thought of the Bible if you hadn't made the connection. It's a lovely name!

I think quite a lot of people will first think of biblical Eve, but I doubt anyone would care.

Genevieve is a nice alternative, can be shortened to Eve.

Hmm, good to hear! I'm not sure why I think of Eve as "more religious" a name than, say, Adam, but if it's just me, that's a good thing!

I wouldn’t have thought so really. I know an Eve who was born on Christmas Eve so I tend to think of that rather than the biblical name. I don’t think it’s any more of an issue than calling a baby Matthew, James, Peter, Rebecca, Jessica or Sarah. If you love the name I’d certainly not let this put you off.

I have an Eve and never think of this and it has not once been said

I also have an Eve.
No religious connotations or comments at all.
The worse issue was when she started seeing Adam. But it's well over now.

I really like Eve, simple and understated. I don’t find it overly religious. For me though it does seem quite popular, so many girls called Eve, Evie, Eva, Evelyn in the past 15 years. I guess it’s popularity dilutes the religious origins in a way.

many biblical names are just common names and were common then james Peter Joseph Jesus joshua Mary etc there are several Mary's and at least two other Jesus's in New testament John and James were so common that they had other names to distinguish them
however I think Moses Abraham Joel Esther Abigail are more obviously Hebrew / Biblical

I grew up going to church for 17 years. I recently met a lovely girl called Eve at work and the Christian connection didn’t even occur to me!

Thanks all, I am reassured

20/30 years ago, yes I think Eve did have stronger/more obvious links to the Bible than Sarah, John etc or even more commonly used Adam.

But not anymore - the strong burst in popularity of Ev- names for girls (Evie, Eva, Ava, Evelyn) that were everywhere in the last decade or two, negates that now imo - for example I doubt all those parents of say, currently Top 5 Noah are regular churchgoers either. So I'd happily use Eve currently as an Atheist/Agnostic too. I also think it's just about classic enough to work with other traditional names (Biblical or not).

Eve's my favourite of the Ev- names btw - it's beautiful, elegant, cool, simple and, as I mentioned, fairly classic sounding to me (before a brief burst of popularity in the late 90's/early 2000's, its tended to have steady use but outside top 100 popularity as far as I know - enough to count as a "classic" anyway, even if not a totally timeless one).

I think its a lovely name, I’m an atheist also and I don’t think of Eve as a religious name. If you had twins and named them Adam and Eve then yes that’d be a bit odd :) I would definitely use it if you love it becouse it’s a gorgeous name

I'm agnostic. My Dd's middle name is Eve just because I like it and it goes well with her first name.

Blimey OP there are about a million Eve/Eva/Evie/Ava/Evelyns - Eve has been one of the most popular names for years. No one will think anything (other than oh another Eve, TBH)

I'm atheist and my daughter is called Eve. Nobody has ever asked about whether we are religious or if we deliberately chose a biblical name.

I really wanted Genevieve nn Eve, but my husband said his family wouldn't be able to spell it 🙄

I think these days it's so common it's unlikely people would really make the connection with religion.
I very recently discovered the Greek translation of Eve is Zoe, which surprised me a lot. Can't stop thinking of Adam and Zoe in the Garden of Eden and am pretty sure they'd have got up to more mischief :).

I think any connotations with the name Eve are very much diluted by how popular it is. I've taught dozens of Eves and never even thought about the religious associations.

We are atheists but both our children have very biblical names - in fact, they have two each. The bible is full of lovely names which I have no problem stealing!

The only young Eve I know (in her 20s now mind) is from an atheist (and in the 90s we would have thought quite 'hippyish') family. I really don't think you need to worry.

No!

Lovely name. I dont think of it as being a popular choice for religious people though

It's such a gorgeous, simple, elegant name. I'm totally non-religious and I'd consider using it.

Thanks for the responses everyone! I didn't realise it was so common as I've literally never met one (though yes, many Evies and other variations). I don't mind either way though; the boy's name we've picked is definitely common and it doesn't bother us.

Most likely then, Eve she shall be (if a girl)!

I know a lot of Eves. And most Christians I know, if they want to go for ultra-Biblical names, choose things like Saul and Hephzibah. I know a few of those too.