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Biblical baby names set to make a comeback in 2014
cna ^ | January 8, 2014 | Hillary Senour

Posted on 01/08/2014 3:26:57 PM PST by NYer

Baby by Amy Quinn (CC0 1.0).

Baby by Amy Quinn (CC0 1.0).

Denver, Colo., Jan 8, 2014 / 04:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A baby name website has predicted that more parents will be choosing traditional Biblical names for their children this year, a trend that one expert says is a sign of people's renewed hope in their faith.

“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.


TOPICS: Religion & Culture
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To: aubreys_mom; F15Eagle; Larry Lucido

***** We haven’t decided on a middle name yet. Any suggestions? We are so excited!*****

7.

Seriously, congrats!


21 posted on 01/08/2014 4:00:50 PM PST by Gamecock (Celebrating 20,000 posts of dubious quality.)
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To: NYer

I like the pagan Scandinavian names. With names like Thor (thunder) and Hilda (battle), you can go through life kicking a.


22 posted on 01/08/2014 4:01:27 PM PST by Born to Conserve
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To: cripplecreek

The amazing thing to me is that, after centuries of popularity lasting right up to the 1960s, John has fallen off the map in terms of popularity as a baby name.


23 posted on 01/08/2014 4:01:52 PM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: cripplecreek

The amazing thing to me is that, after centuries of popularity lasting right up to the 1960s, John has fallen off the map in terms of popularity as a baby name.


24 posted on 01/08/2014 4:01:52 PM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: Klemper; PowderMonkey
That was hilarious!
25 posted on 01/08/2014 4:02:24 PM PST by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs assist!)
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To: NYer
Over the past few years, she said, parents have been “experimenting” with baby names by “inventing names” and using “bizarre spellings.”

I named my son a biblical name because I wanted him to have a decent, traditional name, vs. one of the ridiculous names considered "popular". I've heard some names that are truly cringe-worthy.

My mother thought it appropriate to make my first and middle names sond "cute" together. In reality, they sound atrocious together. What might seem "cute" for a baby doesn't sound so cute when the guy is in his 40s.

26 posted on 01/08/2014 4:03:04 PM PST by SIDENET
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To: Salvation

My children’s patron saint names:
Anne
Marie
Louise (Louis)
John David
Patrick


27 posted on 01/08/2014 4:04:20 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

I went for “Joseph” for my son.


28 posted on 01/08/2014 4:04:35 PM PST by SIDENET
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To: oblomov

When my late Dad got into his 90’s and dementia started affecting him, he’d often reply with “Holy Jumpin’ Jehosophat” when I’d tell him something that surprised him......never had he ever uttered anything like that during his earlier years.


29 posted on 01/08/2014 4:05:52 PM PST by ErnBatavia (The 0baMao Experiment: Abject Failure)
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To: aubreys_mom

What is the first letter of the last name?


30 posted on 01/08/2014 4:05:57 PM PST by oblomov
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Globally the various forms of John probably still rank it near the top. Ivan, Sean, Ian, Juan etc.


31 posted on 01/08/2014 4:07:27 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Mary fell off in the 60s too, replaced by names like Karen and Linda of all things.


32 posted on 01/08/2014 4:07:36 PM PST by oblomov
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To: NYer
But please no more Zachary's or Joshua's.

Every other guy I met in the 90's was called Zack or Josh.

33 posted on 01/08/2014 4:14:36 PM PST by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: NYer

Biblical names are nice, as are old standards like Kathryn and William.

I know a nice black woman who does numerology, she’s really upset with the names black women give their poor babies, like N’kneisump. They have nothing to live up to.


34 posted on 01/08/2014 4:21:10 PM PST by Veto!
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To: oblomov

Actually Linda was popular in the 40’s and 50’s. Probably because of Linda Darnell.


35 posted on 01/08/2014 4:37:12 PM PST by heylady (“Sometimes I wish I could be a Democrat and then I remember I have a soul.”( Deb))
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To: NYer

NABAL

36 posted on 01/08/2014 4:41:44 PM PST by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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To: PowderMonkey

Good thing your first name isn’t Porch, or that might’ve caused quite a ruckus.


37 posted on 01/08/2014 4:43:25 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: NYer

I’ve taught for 32 years and never taught a girl with the name Martha.


38 posted on 01/08/2014 4:43:28 PM PST by mware
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To: mountn man

Laban?


39 posted on 01/08/2014 4:43:46 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NYer

I am prejudiced in favor of persons with biblical names.


40 posted on 01/08/2014 4:43:54 PM PST by matt1234 (Hitler blamed the Jews. Obama blames the Tea Party.)
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