[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,
I do realise that this name is “different” and there will be a lot of different opinions about it. I do however really love the meaning behind it and really love the biblical aspect without it be a biblical “name” such as [name_m]Christian[/name_m], Jospeh, [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Eden[/name_f] etc etc.
I’m purposefully looking for a different name, that’s biblical.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you know a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] in person?? How does the name go down.
I get she will get the nn of either [name_f]Halle[/name_f], [name_f]Lu[/name_f] or [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] - I don’t like these names on their own though, but as nn I don’t mind them.
I’m keen to give her a normal middle name to balance it out, but I much prefer [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] as a first name rather than a middle.
Thoughts?
1 Like
I haven’t met a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] but I have met people with names with an equivalent feel (think like [name_m]Blessing[/name_m] or [name_f]Rejoice[/name_f] but a bit bolder) - so names like this are definitely in use.
On first encountering them, I’ve found them surprising, but I like to be surprised by names so 
Several of them have gone by nicknames but people do just read their names and get on with it, having known them for a while
A plus to [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] is it sounds like familiar / popular names (Harriet, [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], Hallie) and has grounded nicknames (those you mentioned) - so while very bold, it feels more wearable?
1 Like
I friend of mine knew a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f]. She was from a culture where bold Biblical-esque names are pretty common. Her sister was [name_f]Bethlehem[/name_f]! I don’t believe she used any nicknames, at least not as the primary thing she went by.
No, I don’t know any Hallelujahs. I do know someone with the middle name [name_f]Hosanna[/name_f], which feels like a more wearable alternative to me.
I have not personally met anyone named [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f], however Im pretty sure someone on here used [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f].
That being said if I were to meet a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] it would be surprising, for a minute, but with names like [name_m]Messiah[/name_m], [name_m]Saint[/name_m], [name_m]Deacon[/name_m], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_f]Glory[/name_f], [name_f]Heaven[/name_f], [name_f]Miracle[/name_f], [name_f]Destiny[/name_f], [name_f]Dream[/name_f], [name_f]Journey[/name_f], [name_f]Haven[/name_f], [name_f]Genesis[/name_f], [name_f]Sunday[/name_f], [name_f]Eden[/name_f], etc. on the rise I dont think it would be too surprising
I haven’t met a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] yet – no doubt I will, as I’m a teacher – but I did have a student named Praises and I had one student name her son [name_f]Majesty[/name_f].
Not personally. I know a [name_f]Hosanna[/name_f] and people who have used/considered [name_f]Selah[/name_f] and someone who has used [name_f]Praise[/name_f] as a nickname.
I knew a baby named [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] who went by [name_f]Lulu[/name_f]. It was really sweet! I’ve known a few people, now adults, with strong [name_m]Christian[/name_m] word names. They wore them well and honestly they were just their names - it didn’t feel strange at all as you got to know them.
I know a [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f], who is now in her twenties. We attended the same parish growing up, though I was closer to some of her sisters. She pretty much exclusively goes by [name_f]Halle[/name_f], and has her whole life. I remember finding her full name really over the top, especially as her sisters all have classic names, like one of them is named [name_f]Ella[/name_f], so [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] felt really out of place to me. That style of religious word name also wasn’t seen in the community as most people who wanted a religious inspired name opted for a saint or something Biblical.
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] also seemed like a really heavy name to wear given that some denominations (Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and maybe a few others) have a prohibition on saying the word Alleluia during the six weeks of Lent, as it is considered to be far to joyous for such a solemn time. Our denomination is one of these, and Halle’s full name was a bit of a gray area. It is different than outright exclaiming or singing Alleluia during mass, as it was a name not an exclamation of praise. But this was still something, that while sidestepped by the nickname, we had to tip toe around and get clarification on. I remember people who even though knew they could technically say her full name, felt really uncomfortable doing so as it went against what they were taught over a lifetime based traditions passed down from the Middle Ages. Heck, I feel kind of weird even typing it now as it is Lent. For this reason I’m reluctant to recommend using [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] as a name, even if your denomination doesn’t have this rule. There is a significant portion of the population that feels very uncomfortable saying it during 6 whole weeks of each year. That portion of the population might include her teachers, her doctor, the receptionist at the dentist, and all sorts of other people that would need to call out her name.
There’s also the issue with [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] growing up to be less religious than her parents were when they named her. Like she’s still believes, but things have also changed at a community level, in a way I’d rather not rehash as I’d get too off topic and probably require a different heavily moderated discussion. I feel like really explicitly religious names make it harder to step back as need be.
I actually really like it. I think the nickname options are really usable and more common like [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], [name_f]Allie[/name_f], LuLu, etc. I think it’s a really fun twist on the traditional biblical names like you said. I’ve never met anyone named [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] before. I’ve never even heard it considered for a name before. I know some songs with [name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] in the title which is what it makes me think of as well as the religious meaning obviously.
For middle names, I’d go more traditional and stay away from other word names (ie [name_f]Joy[/name_f], [name_f]Savannah[/name_f], [name_f]Faith[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], etc). Some middle name ideas…
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Evelyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Naomi[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Leilani[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Serenity[/name_f] (This doesn’t follow my initial thought of no words, but I just love the flow of this one)
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallelujah[/name_f] [name_f]Reese[/name_f]