Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Biblical girl's names please

99 replies

estar · 16/11/2009 16:49

So far all our children (and most of my side of the family) have names from the bible, because of the great meanings and inspirational characters. I have loads of boys names lined up, because there's loads of males in the bible but not so many females!

Esthers, Naomi, Lydia and Hannah have already been used in the family so they're not an option.

My absolute favourite is Eva but people are saying that's too popular at the moment (I don't know any in real life though).

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Fossie · 16/11/2009 21:58

Rahab from Joshua chapter 2 is a great woman of faith if you can overlook her profession.

fridascruffs · 16/11/2009 22:47

I love the name Tamar, really wanted it for DD, but found out that Tamar in the bible was a woman who got raped by her brother and I went off it. I liked it because of the river.

fridascruffs · 16/11/2009 22:47

Oh there's Keren Heppuch as well.

cheapskatemum · 16/11/2009 22:47

Hepzibah, Keziah and Esther are all friends at our church! My favourite is Leah, but also like Sapphira.

lwfhthevampireslayer · 16/11/2009 23:09

Hope
Isabel (Elizabeth in Spanish)

and have you considered saints names rather than biblical ones? Widens the choices a bit.

here are some suggestions

mommymeggie · 17/11/2009 00:36

My vote is with Eva...so pretty! I have a unique one....my cousin is very religious and named her lil girl Nevaeh (ne-vay-uh) it means Heaven spelt backwards. Its getting popular in the states and its different.

MatthewBellamysMuse · 17/11/2009 00:39

I like Rebekah and Sarah.

colditz · 17/11/2009 01:05

Evangelina

CheerfulYank · 17/11/2009 02:42

There is a Julia mentioned in Romans. I love Julia!

sleepychunky · 17/11/2009 06:27

Nobody has mentioned Keturah yet - she was Abraham's second wife after Sarah died. My sister's best friend is called Keturah -admittedly people probably won't know how to spell it, but I think it's a beautiful name and you're not likely to find your dd is in a class with 5 others!
I think it's a beautiful name, maybe because the one I know is such a lovely person, but worth thinking about maybe? There is also Lois, which I didn't actually realise was a biblical name until very recently but is in Paul's letter to Timothy (she was Timothy's grandmother). The only problem with Lois is I either think of Superman or Family Guy, so depends if you want people to think you've gone biblical or cartoon!

brockleybelle · 17/11/2009 08:40

Jemimah? (one of Job's daughters).

I also love Tabitha.

Apphia?

peacockparty · 17/11/2009 09:13

I know a little Miriam, who has it shortened to 'Miri' by pretty much everyone. Really sweet name I think!

MaryBS · 17/11/2009 09:56

Here's a list of all the biblical names:

biblical names for girls

Mary, of course, is a good name...

Deborah is one of my favourite women from the bible, because she was a strong leader, and strong women leaders (as opposed to strong women) in the bible are few and far between!

Jael (of tent peg fame) would be an interesting choice

ilovepiccolina · 17/11/2009 10:04

Yes, Jael is a nice name, but see above!

My favourites are Tabitha and Tamar.

tasmaniandevilchaser · 17/11/2009 10:38

was just about to suggest Abigail! great minds bosomforapillow!

FishInMyHair · 17/11/2009 10:54

How about Anna- she prophesied over Jesus in the temple. It means gracious.

lolpop · 17/11/2009 10:56

We were going to use the name Eden if we'd had a girl, as we wanted something Biblical but not too popular.

woowa · 17/11/2009 11:42

Keturah (Moses' second wife), shortened to kitty maybe.

Dorcas' other name was Tabitha - no teresa in the bible AFAIK

Elisheba (hebrew version of Elizabeth)

Joanna

Eunice - normally pronouced YOU-Niss, but sounds really lovely pronounced You-NIECE-ee, which I think is gorgeous

Madeleine (french for Magdalene, as in Mary)

If our DC1 is a girl she's having a name from the bible, but it's a place name not a person's name - and it's not Bethany! Can't say though as it's a surprise. As far as I can tell no-one in the world has used this name for a person before.

Then there are words like

Grace or Charis in greek
Anastasia (greek for resurrection)
Faith
Mercy

Which are all interesting, though lots and lots of graces and gracies about at the moment.

bebejones · 17/11/2009 11:49

Ooooh Katsh I have a Phoebe & Tabitha is my favourite name should we ever have another girl! I love the name & love the names together

We too joked about Jesus for a boy but Jesus Jones was far too cruel!

Also like Miriam & Johannah

ilovepiccolina · 17/11/2009 12:13

So not Abishag, then?

ilovepiccolina · 17/11/2009 12:14

Woowa, it's Sharon, is't it!

ilovepiccolina · 17/11/2009 12:15

Oooh, I've just thought of another one - Delilah!

Dragonfly73 · 17/11/2009 14:02

We are not religious at all (proud members of the humanist brigade) but our little girl who is due in March next year will be called Eden.

It is not a traditional biblical name as such and we certainly were not looking for a name with religious overtones but i love it.

It means paradise or delight in Hebrew.

mathanxiety · 17/11/2009 14:51

How about Aoife (Eve/Eva in Irish).

dizietsma · 17/11/2009 14:58

See the thing that always puts me off biblical names is the meanings-

Mary- sea of bitterness
Leah- weary
Rebecca- a snare
Rachel- Ewe
Bethany- house of figs (!)

Tabitha at least means gazelle, a touch more flattering!

And for all of you so down on Salome, it's derived from Shalom, you know the Hebrew word for peace.

Eva is a lovely name, and is derived from Eve which has a poetic meaning, and if you feel it's your DD's name, then give it to her.