Posted on 01/08/2014 3:26:57 PM PST by NYer
“Biblical names surging back into our culture is a great turn for the better. After many years, it shows that people are feeling stronger about their faith, and that they have hope once again,” Lucie Wisco, editor of social baby naming website Belly Ballot, told CNA.
The site is set up so that anyone with internet access can share the choices for their soon-to-be-born baby with friends and family via social media. Friends and family then vote on their favorites and when the voting is done the parents have a “winner,” which can help them make a final decision.
Based on the data gathered from some 3,500 parents, along with 25,000 votes of their families and friends who use the website, Belly Ballot is predicting that Biblical names will be more popular in 2014 than they have been in recent years.
Wisco said the reason this is happening “is actually quite simple.”
Over the past few years, she said, parents have been “experimenting” with baby names by “inventing names” and using “bizarre spellings.”
The return to Biblical names shows a desire to “go back to original values and traditions to find the comfort and peace once again.”
While names such as Noah, Ethan, Michael and Abigail continue to appear on the Social Security Administration's top 10 most popular names, parents are now being drawn to less frequently used names from the Bible such as Naomi, Caleb, Judith or Levi.
Wisco even attributed this new trend to Pope Francis' election last March, saying that naming children after Biblical characters is a way for parents to “honor” the new Holy Father.
“Pope Francis is focusing more on the need for humility, mercy and compassion, and thus bringing ordinary people much closer to the Church again,” she said.
Data from the site also shows that names ending in –den, such as Brayden or Jayden, are fading in popularity, as are names featuring the letter “x,” such as Axl or Xander.
Not sure what your parents named you but my basset hounds have all had proud names: Pluto (for the planet), Lucy (a rescue), Moses (another rescue and with a biblical name!), and now, Lilly (another rescue whose name I changed from Princess). Two fosters were named Barney and (now this one was bizarre) Ambu. The owner explained it was for some medical device. Ambu was adopted by a couple in Manhattan and went on to fame, appearing in an Animal Planet program on basset hounds.
Perhaps it was some other characteristic that set your friends off?
There are no words for the inexplicable delusions of some black people regarding the ‘fancy’ and ‘sophisticated’ sound of names. They really think it sounds French and classy to hyphenate ANYTHING: Pa’jama, La’cy,De’licia. Reading the obits locally can be hysterical. The deceased usually has all children and grandchildren with unpronounceable, contrived names. And of course, they will go on to name their kids the same way. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent reading the local phonebook, astonished by names such as ‘Hiawatha’, ‘Cinderella’ and Sha’lalananay-that last one from the obits.
Cars and booze! Just this past week- in the crime reports- I’ve seen perps and family members named : Celica, Char’donay,Lexus and Camry.
I’m glad to see the Braden, Caden, Jaden, Aidan trend finally go away.
“Unique Blow”. A real name. Her mother had no control over the last name. She should have been shot for the first.
His name shall be... John!
Biblical girl’s names are harder to come by, but some nice ones include:
Abigail
Anna/Anne/Hannah (biblical, but also the mother of the mother of our lord)
Adina
Ariel*
Bethenny
Bernice
Beulah
Candice
Carmella
Claudia/Claudine (the biblical name is Claudia, but this means “lame.” Claudine means “related to [St.] Claudia.)
Diana
Deborah
Dinah
Eden/Edna
Elizabeth
Esther
Eunice
Eva/Eve
Joanna
Judith
Julia
Leah*
Lydia*
Lois
Mary/Mara/Maura/Moira/Marie/Miriam
Martha
Naomi
Olive/Olivia
Pheolbe
Priscilla
Rachel
Rebecca
Rhoda
Ruth
Sharon*
Seraphina
Sarah
Susana/ Susanna
Tabitha
Talitha
Tamara
Terah*
Zina
Related to English words from the bible used as names:
Angela
Faith
Hope
Charity
Grace
Rose
Victoria
Olive
Chastity
Jewel/Jewell
Evangelina
Watch out for:
Drusilla (Now famous as a slutty groupie Vampire from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Elisha (actually a man’s name)
Prisca (contrary to legend, a man’s name)
Saphirra (Somehow, this is related to Lesbians?)
Hagar (as in Hagar, the Horrible)
Ezra (a man’s name)
Dorcas (if I have to say why this is a bad name, ...)
* also, technically, a man’s name, but by now it’s common as a woman’s name.
My kids too:)
“Watch out for:
Drusilla (Now famous as a slutty groupie Vampire from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Elisha (actually a mans name)
Prisca (contrary to legend, a mans name)
Saphirra (Somehow, this is related to Lesbians?)
Hagar (as in Hagar, the Horrible)
Ezra (a mans name)
Dorcas (if I have to say why this is a bad name, ...)
* also, technically, a mans name, but by now its common as a womans name.
I had friends named Dorcas and Drusilla. Nice people.
.
That’s funny. When we named our oldest son Zachary, we didn’t know of any others.
Cain and Judas are neck and neck for last place.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.