Why are some Biblical names widely popular whilst others are rarely used?

[DreamBeloe]

DH and I are leaning toward the name Abel for our baby, and some family members have been surprised by our choice. This made me start thinking about how certain Biblical names are disproportionately used more than others (in the UK). Some names also seem to generally be limited to Jewish communities or very insular Christian sects because the broader public does not use them. For example, John, Joseph, Ezra, and Noah are infinitely more popular than Moses, Ezekiel, Abel, and Micah. For the girls, Hadassah, Keziah, and Miriam are rarely used in comparison to Naomi, Eve, and Lydia. (It was harder to think of examples for girls, but they are there!) I understand that certain Biblical names are just too unusual to be used or have a negative association, but I'm referring to names that aren't too bizarre and have at least a somewhat positive or neutral association. I think a lot of these names (Moses, Abel, Micah, Keziah, etc.) have the potential to be popular but just aren't for some reason. Why is this?

I don't know, but I wish people would broaden their horizons and consider some of these lesser used options. Noah and Eve have been done to death for some years now. We've also had enough Johns, Josephs, Matthews, Michaels, and Sarahs (and every variation of those) over the centuries to last a lifetime. It's not that I dislike these names (because I don't), but they have been made dull by overuse. They need a break to feel fresh again.

Bring on Zebedee!

Eleazar for me. Great name!

I have a great uncle Ichabod if this helps, and he looks the part too.

Nebu “Chad” nezzar (Nebuchadnezzar)

I know a little Obadiah (known as Obie).

I have an Elkanah a few centuries back.

i see some names as faith based association.

Historically names like David, Daniel, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah I associate with Judaism, Armish, Jehovahs Witness names

Mary, Theresa, Elizabeth, Bernadette, Simon, John, Paul, James, Thomas, William, George, Edward, Anne, Catherine more Anglican and Catholic.

Obviously there is crossover, plus as stated a name association with in the bible having positive and negative connotations. Then you throw in nationality, one of my DDs has a religious name only associated with one particular country that I know of.

Given more modern naming trends, people no longer use the same small pool of names and lack of people being religious i think people have moved away from biblical names.

Thats true.
My great aunt was a Keziah, known as Kiya.

I have a biblical name (I’m an atheist!). Some of the names mentioned here, I had no idea were biblical names.

My son has one of the more unusual biblical names mentioned on this thread and I am pretty much atheist! Partner is an occasional church goer.

People do assume we are very religious (Christian) when I say his name, or occasionally maybe Jewish I think. But nope, I just liked the name!

It may be a bit self-centered to say, but I hope these sorts of names aren't put on the general public's radar. We're naming our son Moses, and I don't want it to become the next Noah. I'd like it to remain a bit uncommon and confined to certain communities. No one ever thought that Noah would become trendy, but it did!

Spelling familiarity , Some are more 'Western / British sounding' than others so feel more familiar, most people don't delve deep into the OT where many great names spring from.

Personally I like Hepzibah (had an aunt with that name - Epsy), Dc has a friend called Nehemiah - no one can spell it and he gets called Ne-marr even by people who know.

We liked Abel but with it being so uncommon you either think of the story, which is negative, or one of the companies that use it.

My DC are Onan, Job, Ham and Lot. They've had nothing but compliments on their names.

Micah is super common in the US. There were 3 of them in my primary class in the 80s, and there are 2 in my DC’s school.

Isn’t Mariam a Mary variant?

spelt maryam it’s moderately common with muslims

i have met a few Keziah’s they usually go by Kez

John and Abel were pretty much ranked the same for 2024 babies in England and Wales!
(Abel 166th John 164th)
(I can't find 2025 data but John was on a downward trajectory so Abel may now be more popular.

Eve is also not much more popular than Miriam (242nd to Miriam's 259th).

I think they go in cycles. For years John was supremely popular. Joseph was very unusual when I was at school and Noah unheard of. Now it's almost the opposite with very few Michael, Daniel, John, Peter, Simon etc. Replaced by Gabriel, Ezra, Reuben, Noah etc.

I actually prefer Zebulon ! A lovely name which I would have considered for DS if I had known it 15 years ago!

It is nice, and probably more elegant, though ever so slightly reminiscent of Fabulon ironing aid!

I think it is time John and Peter came back. Both good names.

I think Biblical names are no different to other names ~ they come in waves of popularity

DF's friends ~ David, Philip, Mark, Andrew, Simon, Nicholas, Peter

DH's friends ~ Jonathan, Matthew, Luke, Nathaniel, Paul x 3

DS's friends ~ Joshua, Noah x 2, Reuben

Miriam and Mary are variants of the same name.

The one that always amazes me is Noah. When I was young nobody had this name and when I first heard of someone using it I thought it was ridiculous, like calling your child Jehosaphat or Potiphar. Now it's a top 10 name.

Elizabeth is a good ever-popular Bible name.

Shorter, easier to pronounce names are often more popular (across all many cultures), though some names are linked with trends too.
Wasn't there a Sidney Sheldon book about siblings called Kane (sic) and Abel? Certain names don't tend to be used due to the people, eg Jezebel, Jeremiah.

Jeffrey Archer