Elijah? Levi? Caleb?

[Comerscroft]

Friends have named their little boy Elijah. Other baby boys at church have recently been called Levi and Caleb (all Old Testament names).

Caleb, I can handle although I mistakenly called him Cable, but Elijah and Levi are a little bit beyond me.

I am waiting for Moses to appear!

I do indeed.

That extra digit makes for mighty fine fretwork....

I really like Asher. From OT, one of Jacob's sons and therefore Joseph's (he of technicolour dreamcoat fame!)brother.
We used it as 2nd name for DS, but I wish I'd saved it for new baby. It means happy, laughing one.

Nothing obscure about Elijah (eg actor Elijah Wood). Levi more uncommon, but a lovely name.

Our friend Elijah has a brother Apollos, which I do find a little obscure, though still biblical.

I like them all. And Asher is a great name.

And Zed. Awesome.

Oh dear, maybe I should have some more DSs - I haven't used up enough good boys' names.

Zebulun is another good one - what a cool nickname Zeb is. In fact it's just on the outskirts of our list for ds, but don't think we are quite brave enough to use it.

Caleb and Elijah are fine names I think. No problems at all. I am not keen on Levi at all though.

I think Levi is weird when it's used by non-Jewish people (I am jewish, btw). In fact the whole popularity of jewish names (all those names would have marked you as jewish not long ago) is kind of odd but at least the others are actual first names. But I think of Levi as a jewish surname that means that you are part of a priestly caste. That's the Levi of the jeans, btw - just the surname of the maker - so it's the same name.

Some times ago, friends named their 3 daughters (not triplets) Rebekah, Rachel and Ruth, these being fine Biblical women.

Guess what.........the '3 RS' !!

I like Caleb and Levi. At church we have two Isaacs, two Joels, a Josiah, a Levi and a sprinkling of Joshuas.

I like old testament names, my husband's name is Saul

tortoiseShell-completely PMSL @ "ottOT"

I know a baby Caleb, apparently it's a popular name atm. So don't go for that if you want something unusual!

Have never liked Noah, because I can't get beyond the boat and the animals. What I find interesting is the resurgence of religious Old Testament names, many of which would have definitely marked you out as Jewish when I was a child, in a time when fewer and fewer people go to church. I guess it shows that the names are gradually losing the associations they had.

Of course there's nothing wrong with a 'Jewish' name if you're not Jewish, and people should choose names they like. Still, to me it feels culturally odd, just as if I'd called my child Rafiq (not being Muslim) or Sven (not being Swedish) or Niyi (not being Yoruba) or Niamh (not being Irish).

Another name I've heard of lately that is a Jewish surname is Cohen or Coen. Where has that come from and why do people like it?

Interesting point, Singersgirl, about names losing their association.

Samuel was, and is, still popular, but it was originally a Jewish name.