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?

An acquaintance named their son Noah around 20 years ago and I thought 'thats unusual, hope he doesn't get teased'. Names that once seem strange and out there can quite quickly become mainstream. There's an Abel (aged 5) in my son's school. I like it.

Plenty of Moses, Keziahs and Micahs in Black communities.

Generally speaking, the most popular Biblical names among white British communities are New Testament rather than Old Testament ones, for obvious reasons. Also, most people are aware of the disciples and saints and know that they’re safe bets to name a kid after. Not many people, however, are going to risk calling a child after some obscure Old Testament figure who might have shagged his daughter or been seduced by a demon or something. The Old Testament is utterly bonkers and full of horrific people.

Is it just me who thinks Zebulon sounds like an alien invader name?

I do think they will become more popular with time, as people look beyond Noah, Reuben and Elijah. My kids go to a C of E school and there are lots of children with names like Josiah, Solomon, Keziah and Naamah.

I can see these becoming more popular:

Isaiah
Amos
Ezekiel / Zeke
Josiah
Solomon
Asher
Boaz
Caleb
Gideon
Micah
Raphael
Saul
Zachariah
Seth
Thaddeus
Silas

My Nan’s sister was called Keziah- she was our Auntie Kitty 🩷

I have a lot of church community friends and as a result know 4 Jossiahs, 3 elis, 3 Keziahs, 2 Zeks, one Zephaniah and several Miriams and Esthers. I think like all names they come and go in fashion, but certainly the names portrayed in a good light in the Bible win out.

I like Phinneas myself and Samuel 😁

IA friend called her son Jonah. I know it means dove but somehow it’s such a depressing sounding name.

Noah would have been DD’s name had she been a boy, she is also now 20. In my case it was because I loved ER and especially Dr Carter, played by Noah Wyle.

40 years ago we named DS1 Joshua which was extremely unusual at the time. Now there seems to be one in every class. Names are trends and parents are always looking in odd corners for something a bit different. The Bible offers hundreds of names to go at so some of the more unusual ones will turn up eventually.
I was chatting to one of our neighbours earlier, his name is Les (Leslie). That’s never coming back.

This. Names go in and out of fashion.

28 years ago my mum, a primary school headteacher, talked me out of the name Noah for DS on the grounds that it was so unusual and awful that he would be teased and bullied for it. Within a few years it was the most popular boys name in the UK.

We were going to call our daughter Noah had she been a boy. This was 37 years ago and people were either horrified or sneery and rude about it.
Her name was also one that people were funny about. Now, both of the names are hugely popular and seem to be i. The top 20 every year for about 15 years. Crazy how names ebb and flow

Abel means ‘fleeting’ because he was the first person in the Bible to be murdered (and by his brother). It’s not a name I’d choose!

I love Abel. You’re right tho but it’s the same as fruit names, clementine and olive for example are really popular but lemon or strawberry aren’t. Days of the week, Wednesday and Sunday are known names but I’ve never met a Friday or Saturday! Did know a Tuesday once tho

Abel sounds like an old man to me

i now not strictly biblical and only a saint - but I love Aloysius!!

I am not Jewish but am drawn to the names. Our baby is Jemima. If she had been a boy we were seriously considering Lemuel

I have never come across anyone called God

I was always disappointed that we had to do the New Testament all the time in bible study at school - the Old Testament looked so much more interesting.

I think in the 1950s-2000s you're right about new Testament names being favoured by white British communities- but aren't a lot of the current trends more old Testament? Ezra, Reuben, Isaac, Isaiah et al? It's been a long time since those bible study classes so I might be wrong!

Some names are just less complicated and sound nicer. Others have negative connotations because of their story, eg Herod, Judas so are less well used. Not sure about Abel. I don’t hate it, but I’m not sure. Abel was murdered by his jealous brother, so he was the first human to die and the first murder victim.

I don't understand what you say about it being harder to find girls names in the bible.... Elizabeth? Ruth? Rachel? Mary? There's loads

I know someone whose 3 sons have middle names of Zacharia, Zebedee & Zebulon!

I wanted to use the name Jedidiah but was vetoed! Still think it's a lovely name.

Noah is so overused now,really popular. I like Malachai,Saul,Jacob.

I knew a Boaz at school

I liked Salome and Tamar for a girl but felt they were a bit too unusual

I know a teenage Boaz, he has three brothers who all have biblical names too.