Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last
To: LucianOfSamasota
We were going to rename the President and first lady as ‘Ahab’ and ‘Jezebel’.

Better to rename her Balaam and that would make Obozo....

61 posted on 01/08/2014 5:33:10 PM PST by verga (Poor spiritual health often leads to poor physical and mental health)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: NYer
I wonder who is going to take ... wait for it ... Nimrod ...
62 posted on 01/08/2014 5:34:51 PM PST by Lmo56 (If ya wanna run with the big dawgs - ya gotta learn to piss in the tall grass ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lmo56

Right up there with Onan.


63 posted on 01/08/2014 5:41:39 PM PST by stormer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

It’s a “T”.


64 posted on 01/08/2014 5:48:00 PM PST by aubreys_mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Grandchildren

Hillary (prior to Clinton)
Savannah
Katelynn
Kyle
Evan
Felicity

I will confess to having named my 52 yo daughter Kenya. Who was to know all those years ago?


65 posted on 01/08/2014 5:48:43 PM PST by Coldwater Creek (")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Heart of Georgia

Thank you! I just can’t wait for her to get here!


66 posted on 01/08/2014 5:53:18 PM PST by aubreys_mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

Saw a black girl with a fast food nametag...Toi`let. She was on cellphone pronouncing it Twa Lay!


67 posted on 01/08/2014 5:56:38 PM PST by ClearBlueSky (When anyone says its not about Islam...it's about Islam. That death cult must be eradicated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Heart of Georgia

Congrats! We wanted a girl. My daughter is the sweetest and she is going to be a fantastic mom. Daddy is already planning for college :).


68 posted on 01/08/2014 6:14:25 PM PST by aubreys_mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: ClearBlueSky

How someone could saddle their child with a name like that...wow.


69 posted on 01/08/2014 6:16:01 PM PST by aubreys_mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Gumdrop

Two of my friends from school were Gabriel and Paul. And ironically, my own first and middle names are saints’ names, even though my parents aren’t Christians.


70 posted on 01/08/2014 6:36:03 PM PST by darkangel82
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: conservaterian
I have demorat, commie neighbors with a son named Christian.

I've found that people named "Christian" seem to be anything but --same with girls named "Chastity".

71 posted on 01/08/2014 6:42:26 PM PST by Drew68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: LucianOfSamasota
We were going to rename the President and first lady as ‘Ahab’ and ‘Jezebel’.

I see no reason to insult Ahab and Jezebel, by bringing them down to the level of the Obungler. (smile)

72 posted on 01/08/2014 6:45:23 PM PST by Mark17 (Chicago Blackhawks: Stanley Cup champions 2010, 2013. Vietnam Veteran, 70-71)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ClearBlueSky

No doubt named for where she was conceived.


73 posted on 01/08/2014 6:48:50 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: NYer

How about Philemon?


74 posted on 01/08/2014 6:51:18 PM PST by Old Yeller ( Salvation is by grace through faith in the completed work of Jesus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PowderMonkey
As a kid, I hated my name. I never once, ever met any one else with my name. Playground taunts were constant. I would cringe whenever my mother stood on the porch, and screeched my name, telling me to come inside and wash up for supper. The neighborhood would suddenly erupt with every kid mimicking her call. To make it worse, I was a “junior.” My entire life, I only met one other that shared my name. It was a Basset hound. Perfect name for a Basset hound, come to think of it.

Well yeah, Powder Monkey isn't very common.
75 posted on 01/08/2014 6:53:20 PM PST by Old Yeller ( Salvation is by grace through faith in the completed work of Jesus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NYer

My kids names are John and Joseph. John was going to be Mary had he been a girl. My last 3 grandchildren, born in the last 6 months, are Jaxon, Aria, and Adelynn. It will be hard to find pencils at the Family Dollar with their names already printed on them for stocking stuffers for Christmas.


76 posted on 01/08/2014 7:00:23 PM PST by murron (Proud Mom of a Marine Vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Impala64ssa

I have a friend who she and her daughters named their dogs with car names: Mercedes, Benz, Bentley.


77 posted on 01/08/2014 7:02:45 PM PST by murron (Proud Mom of a Marine Vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: heylady

Debbie was another name popular in the 50s, because of Debbie Reynolds I guess.


78 posted on 01/08/2014 7:05:37 PM PST by murron (Proud Mom of a Marine Vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Klemper
I knew a guy named PowderMonkey once, and I loved that guy! Now that I think about it, he had a son, named PowderMonkey Jr.!!!!! Small world.... small world.... =) My room-mate’s grandmother’s friend’s grocery bag boy, had a dog named PowderMonkey.... That was an awesome dog!

I don't believe you...No one would name a dog PowderMonkey...

79 posted on 01/08/2014 7:08:27 PM PST by Iscool
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: NYer

My poor sister, born in 1949, was named Gay. How was my mother to know how the meaning of that word would so drastically change? She can’t even wear a T-Shirt with her name on it.

Another name that became popular because of a song is Brandy, (sometimes spelled Brandi). That name didn’t exist as a name before the song Brandy came out in the early 70s.


80 posted on 01/08/2014 7:10:15 PM PST by murron (Proud Mom of a Marine Vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson