Too biblical?

[Lovage]

DS is called Isaac and if Bump turns out to be a boy we both really like the name Reuben. The only thing we're not sure about is whether it sounds very godly to have two biblical names. We are not Christians (or Jewish) and don't want to give the impression that we are. If you met a family with two children called Isaac and Reuben would you assume they were Christian? Or Jewish? (I don't think I mind so much if people assume we're Jewish). I also have a (more common) biblical name, which might add to the impression. DP's, thankfully, is entirely secular.

I have a James and a Luke
They are quite biblical but I'm not religious

no I think they make a lovely subset

Thanks. I think because James and Luke are relatively common names, they come across as less biblical, even though that is where they come from, IYSWIM

I think it sounds rather lovely to have a kind of theme running through your children's names. What does 'too' Biblical mean anyway? Any name from the Bible is going to have a meaning which goes back centuries, and to me, and to many people, the meaning of a name is extremely important. I think Isaac means laughter doesnt it? Most Biblical names have beautiful meanings (there are just a few dodgy ones like Rebecca (noose) and Leah (cow!)). If I came across someone whose children had the names you've chosen I'd just think they had very good taste! Far nicer than some silly made up name with no meaning, or an abbreviation of a name, which so many people seem to opt for these days.

I think I would assume that you were religious, and whether Christian or Jewish would probably depend on the surname.

well I think they're lovely names, obviously. But am wondering whether something non-biblical for the baby would make a subset that was more representative of our lives...

I wouldn't assume anything.

I wouldn't assume you were religious. I think they are both lovely names, I'd go for it

I think they're lovely names. I have a Seth and no one ever questions whether there's any religious context.

one of my girls has an italian name and the other's is greek

I'm scottish and dh is irish

don't over think it, they're lovely!!

Findtheriver - by 'too biblical' I mean too biblical for us by giving an impression of the sort of people we are that isn't true. Yes Isaac means 'laughter' and that's one of the reasons we chose it. Haven't looked up the meaning of Reuben yet because have lost my Oxford English Dictionary of Christian Names, annoyingly.

Allbuggiedout - thanks, that's really useful

BrownSuga -well you're a better man/person than me! I make all sorts of probably unjustified assumptions about people based on the names they have chosen for their children! I'm not proud of it though!

they are names that belong to your cultural heritage, ie to the jewish-christian tradition- as are the vast majority of western names. so no, i wouldn't assume anything at all!

Not at all, in my siblings we have two very biblical names and two totally not, I don't think people see it that way so much anymore. My friend has 3 kids, the first is Faith and the other two on the same theme. she is religious and her kids' names show that much more than if they were called Mary, Rebecca and Joseph! Biblical names are part of our heritage as British people (as well as middle eastern, muslim, jewish etc...lol) and cross over many cultures.

Biblical names are also names that have stood the test of time. which must be part of their appeal.

I am considering "Peter Paul" as middle names after another biblical first name. But all the names have family connections, those names are so established in British/Christian culture now.

People do tend to assume DP is Jewish, as he has a Jewish name and both Inferiorettes have biblical names.

they're both in top 100. agree with dizzy, people won't be analysing it as they are popular enough names at the moment.

Peter is a lovely name, not with paul tho! Peter and Saul great names imo

I would make no assumptions either way. Both good names with an honourable long history behind them.
The most hair-raising proselytising evangelist couple I ever met called their first child Freya. I did wonder if they ever had a son and called him Loki, but luckily we shook them off lost touch before my curiosity was satisfied.

I think you have to go far more prophety tbh.
Hosea, Micah and Jonah would maybe make me curious about faith/religious affiilation.

Obediah might be nice. Also Jehosephat.

I was going to call DD2 Reuben if she'd been a boy. My nephews have Biblical names to, as it happens.

We're none of us religious