We like biblical names. Miriam or Esther?

[sadiemcgrady]

Boy will probably be Peter.

For a girl we quite like Miriam and Esther. I am all in favour of giving straightforward traditional names and deliberately steer clear of 'popular' names, but are those two just too uncommon? I don't know anyone IRL called either of them.

I LOVE Miriam - beautiful name. Go for it.

Esther.

Although Anne, Ann, Anna, Ana, etc. are modern forms of the true biblical (Hebrew) version which is Hannah.

Miriam is lovely. I like Esther because it's a bible name and it's unusual, btu I don't like the sound of it. Miriam is the same but prettier.

Actually Anna is not the modern day version of Hannah, in the New Testament there was a Jewish High Priestess called Anna.

Anna, prophetess mentioned in the New Testament. We have an Anna

Sorry, prophetess!

I think you will find that the Old Testament use of "Hannah" predates the New Testament use of "Anna". (although I am no biblical scholar and don't claim to be) And I have read in many places that Ana, Anne, Anna, etc. are Eropeans forms... which I believe post date the Herbrew Old Testament version.

But Anna the prophetess was Jewish so was Hebrew. Although she is mentioned in the New Testament it is early on and when Christianity had not formed.

Both lovely names. I prefer Miriam by a whisker, as love Miri or Mimi as nicknames. Esther is great too, though.

missmem and athene i think it is jsut a variation of the same name - and everyone in the bible was jewish until jesus showed up!
I like Anna and also Hannah, and Miriam is lovely, and Ohhhhh Naomi - that is just beautiful. I love biblical names... I love Evie too.

All Miriams I have known / know have been / are lovely. I went to school with a not so lovely Esther.So Miriam wins!

I like Esther, Naomi or Abigail

Esther and Miriam are my names of two of my closest relations. My sister and my dd. They both seem to be very popular biblical names but both lovely.

On the contrary op, I believe that Esther is probably coming back in fashion. I knew at least 3 Miriams whilst at college/ university and yes, we have now shortened our Miriam to Mim! Before it was always Miri.

Both nice choices. Also how about:

• Rebekah (Biblical spelling of Rebecca, although might confuse some people)
• Salome
• Zillah (although perhaps a bit too much like Godzilla!)
• Eve
• Rachel
• Dinah
• Diana
• Joanna
• Artemis (Greek) - Acts 19:24
• Claudia
• Damaris
• Keren
• Jemima
• Phoebe
• Kezia
• Leah
• Martha
• Sapphira