So, my youth pastor and his wife are expecting their first child in [name]March[/name]. They said that we (the teens who go to the program) can help come up with names. Can you help me help them?
Their last name is [name]Yardley[/name], and both of their first names were very popular in their birth years, so they don’t want anything too popular. They would like not-too-common, not-too-unusual, though. Maybe names between the top 200 and top 700? They would also like positive, uplifting meanings or Biblical names. [name]One[/name] that they are considering is [name]Ezra[/name].
They dodn’t know the gender yet, so can I get lists for both, or some unisex?
[name]Ezra[/name] is a nice name, but I wonder if it’s the best pick. It’s 204 currently and rising, so, depending on just how concerned they are with popularity, it might be risky.
Furthermore, [name]Ezra[/name]'s role in the OT was to break apart families - Jews and non-Jews had married, and [name]Ezra[/name] “purified” the Jewish population, sending away the non-Jewish wives and children. Given that your youth pastor is a pastor, he may realize this and be OK with it. For religious people, it had its historical context. However, to me it speaks against the idea that in [name]Jesus[/name] “there is neither Greek nor Jew,” etc. Of course, this all happened before [name]Jesus[/name], and [name]Jesus[/name] at various points in the NT points out his willingness to break up families, so perhaps it’s something of a moot point. I just know I have liked this name a little less since another poster on here reminded me of that.
Here are some suggestions:
[name]Eve[/name] (#546): although she caused the Fall, she’s basically regarded well as the mother of us all…
[name]Junia[/name] (not in top 1000): another prominent early [name]Christian[/name] mentioned in the NT. [name]June[/name] is at #470, which I think makes this name relateable.
[name]Phoebe[/name] (#310): a prominent early [name]Christian[/name] mentioned in the NT
[name]Priscilla[/name] (#487): a prominent early [name]Christian[/name] mentioned in the NT
[name]Sarai[/name] (#443): [name]Sarah[/name]'s birth name
[name]Tabitha[/name] (#676): a woman restored to life by St [name]Peter[/name] in the NT
[name]Talitha[/name] (not in top 1000): [name]Jesus[/name] restores life to a young girl saying “[name]Talitha[/name] cumi”. I think [name]Talitha[/name] is a relatable, pretty name.
I like pp’s suggestions of [name]Lydia[/name], [name]Eden[/name], and [name]Miriam[/name]. [name]Lydia[/name] is #96 though, and [name]Eden[/name] 181. [name]Miriam[/name]'s in the 300s. [name]Susannah[/name] is not in the top 1000, and I don’t believe is actually a Biblical name - just evokes the Bible with its image of lilies.
[name]Abraham[/name] (#192 and rising a bit): this name is on an upswing, but it’s been tremendously stable the past 130 years!
[name]Abram[/name] (#444): [name]Abraham[/name]'s birth name
[name]Matthias[/name] (#774): a little low in popularity, but familiar enough especially with nn [name]Matt[/name]
[name]Paul[/name]: (#187): and it is falling, so it will not be too popular. But it might be a little dated/passe. I love it though!
[name]Peter[/name] (#196): ditto!
[name]Solomon[/name] (#449): very handsome if clunky name
[name]Micah[/name] [name]Emmanuel[/name] - it means “who is like the [name]Lord[/name], the God who is with us”
[name]Caleb[/name] [name]Elijah[/name] - it means “devoted to Yahweh, for he is God”
[name]Josiah[/name] [name]Daniel[/name] - it means “God is my healer and my judge”
[name]Simeon[/name] [name]Ezra[/name] - it means “God is listening and will help”
[name]Amos[/name] [name]Elisha[/name] - it means “carried by God, he is my salvation”
[name]Eve[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] - it mean “life pledged to God”
[name]Moriah[/name] [name]Naomi[/name] - it means “the [name]Lord[/name] is my teacher, my joy, and my delight”
[name]Emmanuel[/name] and [name]Gloria[/name] are great suggestions! (Glori/Glorie/[name]Glory[/name] are all OK too, but [name]Gloria[/name] seems most classic).
[name]Hi[/name], everyone. Status update: I was wrong about the due date (it is February, not [name]March[/name]). Anyway, they are fining out the gender today. I will be able to tell everyone on [name]Tuesday[/name]. Anyway, ther top names are [name]Ezra[/name], [name]Tobias[/name], and [name]Leah[/name] [name]Gabrielle[/name].
I like [name]Hezekiah[/name] a lot (guilty pleasure), [name]Gideon[/name], [name]Boaz[/name], [name]Zaccheus[/name], [name]Ezekiel[/name]… and yes, [name]Ezra[/name]. Biblical names with Z’s are great!
here are some names with biblical meanings:
[name]Abiel[/name]- God is my father
[name]Adam[/name]
[name]Ariel[/name]
[name]Andrew[/name]
[name]Barak[/name]
[name]Candace[/name]
[name]Daniel[/name]
[name]Dinah[/name]- judged
[name]Elisha[/name]
[name]Gabriel[/name]