Okay, so I love a lot of Biblical names, especially the slightly-less-mainstream ones (like [name]Abram[/name] and [name]Ezra[/name]). However, I’m an atheist and I feel like it would be odd to use names like that because most people know the more obscure ones solely as Biblical characters…as opposed to names like [name]Samuel[/name] and [name]Jacob[/name] which are very familiar to most people, theists and non-theists alike, and have a wider history of use separate from Christianity. I tend to avoid making combos like [name]Ezra[/name] [name]Malachi[/name] (for example) because I almost feel like it would be disrespectful of me if I named a child of mine something similar and then was like, “Oh, yeah, but I’m an atheist.”
As a [name]Christian[/name], it would not offend me to meet a child with a Biblical name and the family were atheists. I would find it very strange as to why someone chose names that have such a tie to Christianity if they aren’t Christians, but I would not find it offensive.
As a [name]Christian[/name], I wouldn’t be offended. However, if I met a child with a lesser used biblical name like [name]Malachi[/name], for example, I would assume the family was [name]Christian[/name]. But I see no problem with using the Bible as inspiration for names.
It wouldnt bother me at all. [name]Even[/name] though [name]Ezra[/name] is a biblical name…for all I know you could have named him after a family member or after a character in a book/movie. I wouldnt necessarily assume you’re christian.
I dont think its any different from someone choosing an Italian name when they have no Italian heritage. I mean, if you like the name then use it.
It doesn’t offend me or bother me, but it does puzzle me when non-Christians use certain names, ones that are still deep-rooted in the Bible and aren’t “mainstream” yet.
By mainstream, I mean names like [name]Sarah[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]James[/name] and [name]Peter[/name], names which have become so ingrained in our society they are no longer just Biblical names.
Examples of names which I still see as deep-rooted in the Bible are [name]Ezra[/name], [name]Abraham[/name], [name]Esther[/name] and [name]Miriam[/name].
Dude, calm down. [name]Do[/name] what you want, even the less common names are still in fairly heavy circulation…
Additionally there aren’t many strictly atheist names to choose from and those that are will likely be from different languages/cultures.
I am neither Greek nor [name]Christian[/name] but no one would bat an eyelid if I called a daughter [name]Sophia[/name] (except people who knew me).
*I know a couple of secular Miriams, I suppose it depends on your background, it’s been quite a popular mainstream name in some European countries I think?
I’m an atheist yet I have a [name]Mary[/name], which while not obscure is a name that is really closely associated with Christianity especially Catholicism especially when you add her brother [name]Patrick[/name] to the mix. I’m sure a lot of people will assume you’re religious and if you’re the type of person who would be offended or want to shout it from the rooftops that you’re an atheist then perhaps you may want to choose a non-biblical name. But if you’re the type who is fine with people making assumptions and won’t feel the need to explain to everyone you meet that little [name]Ezra[/name]'s name wasn’t chosen for religious reasons then I think you’ll be fine.
Apart from religion, the Bible is still literature…Saying an atheist can’t name her son [name]Noah[/name] is like saying a grocer can’t name his son [name]Atticus[/name] (because a grocer isn’t a lawyer).
I’m not offended when non-religious use biblical names but it does bother me, especially when the names are uncommon (so not [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Peter[/name], etc.).
I’m an atheist as well, and I specifically wouldn’t use a name closely tied to the Bible in the same way I wouldn’t use one tied to any other religion. I agree there are common “biblical” names that aren’t really associated with religion anymore, like [name]John[/name] and [name]Elizabeth[/name], but I’m not gonna use [name]Ezekiel[/name] or [name]Levi[/name], even though otherwise I might like those names. Especially [name]Levi[/name]. My SO (also atheist) mentioned he liked [name]Gideon[/name], and we ultimately agreed that it was too biblical as well.
I don’t know, it just seems a little inconsistent to me. And I think people will make assumptions, just because people are judgmental and think they have the right to. But any real name with a normal spelling is ok with me and should be with anyone else.
I don’t think it should be a problem. I’m an atheist, yet I love many biblical names, such as [name]Miriam[/name], [name]Lydia[/name], [name]Dinah[/name], and [name]Ruth[/name].
I think it’s fine. I’m a [name]Christian[/name] attending a graduate theology school and it wouldn’t bother me if an atheist used a biblical name. I would probably assume someone who used a more obscure biblical name is [name]Christian[/name]/Jewish, however. I find that such names are most often used by conservative evangelical [name]Christian[/name] or (in the case of Hebrew names) Jewish families.
If you like a name, go for it. The Bible is a foundational piece of Western literary/cultural heritage and has significance even if you aren’t religious.
I really think it depends on how closely they’re associated as well as if there are other well known namesakes.
So a name like [name]Abraham[/name], while it’s very associated with Judaism, is also held by some very famous namesakes. So if I met someone named [name]Abe[/name], I’d be just as likely to assume their parents admired [name]Abraham[/name] [name]Lincoln[/name] as to assume they were deeply religious.
I’m not really sure where the line is, but I certainly wouldn’t be offended in any way, except maybe if someone used [name]Judas[/name]. Like others have said, it’s more an issue of assuming you’re religious because of [name]Malachi[/name] or [name]Zachariah[/name]. But names like [name]Esther[/name], [name]Ruth[/name], [name]Lydia[/name], [name]Felix[/name], and others…weren’t even originally part of Judaism or Christianity–they were from other nations, so just because they happen to be in the Bible doesn’t mean they’re unusable.
I wouldn’t be offended, but like others said I would probably assume that you were religious. If I knew that you weren’t religious, I would probably think it was a little odd, but if that doesn’t bother you then go for it.
I completely agree with this. Some people may assume you’re religious if their only experience with that name is from the bible, but so what? It certainly shouldn’t matter to anyone whether you chose the name [name]Ezra[/name] from the bible, as a nod to [name]Ezra[/name] Pound, to honor your great-great-grandfather [name]John[/name] [name]Ezra[/name], or just because you like the teacher from Pretty [name]Little[/name] Liars. Use the names that You love. =]
I agree with the poster above – as an atheist, I believe the Bible is just another book (albeit one that’s had undue influence over Western society). The reason Biblical names are in the mainstream name pool is because we live in a culture dominated by Christianity. I like the idea of secularizing these names as an act of rebellion!
As a [name]Christian[/name] (Southern Baptist) myself, I would not be offended. However, I would assume that your family was [name]Christian[/name] judging by the name.
ETA: As a previous poster stated, it may be a bit odd. But if it does;t bother you, go for it.
Also – I’m shocked to see so many people claiming they would assume a person is [name]Christian[/name] if they used these names. Seriously? I actually know two Ezras, neither of them from [name]Christian[/name] families. I know non-[name]Christian[/name] [name]Marys[/name] and [name]Christian[/name]/Christinas. And my friend [name]Abram[/name] is a secular Jew. Honestly, it seems like people tend to assume others share their beliefs for very little reason – and that’s their problem, not yours.
As Christianity’s cultural aspects have been aggressively imposed on most of the world, I don’t think you have to worry about a biblical name coming across as automatically religious, and in the same vein, I don’t think any [name]Christian[/name] gets to complain. It’s not appropriation if it’s been forced into your culture for centuries. [name]Malachi[/name] might get some eyebrows. A name like [name]Levi[/name], some people might assume you’re religious. But [name]Ezra[/name], I would think Jewish (and not necessarily religious) first. Other more mainstream biblical names ([name]Abram[/name], [name]Asher[/name]), I don’t think anyone would even bat an eye. I just wouldn’t worry about it. If you love it, that’s all that matters.
and those that are will likely be from different languages/cultures.
