[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t get me wrong, I love classics like [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], [name_m]Nathan/name_m, [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_m]Daniel[/name_m], and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. I even like some of the ones that have caught on and have raced up the chart to become familiar, like [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_m]Ezra[/name_m], [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Elijah[/name_m], and [name_m]Josiah[/name_m].
But lately I’ve been thinking about unusual Biblical names that are both really spunky, but also gentle and fun, and almost unheard of. [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] is sort of the inspiration, here, and I sort of see [name_m]Judah[/name_m] and [name_m]Absalom[/name_m] fitting under this category, too, although I’m not sure about using [name_m]Absalom[/name_m], cool as he is, because I’m not sure about his Biblical story.
Can you think of any others that would fit in well with [name_m]Judah[/name_m] and [name_m]Boaz[/name_m]? I’ve considered [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], but I can’t decide if he fits with [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] and [name_m]Judah[/name_m] or [name_m]Asher[/name_m] and [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]…
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Sol[/name_m]’ & [name_m]Abram[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Bram[/name_m]’ are two of my favorites. I love the -m ending for boys names, and the nickname potential is great too.
To me, [name_m]Amos[/name_m] is cool but friendly, and I recently met an [name_m]Efrain[/name_m], the Spanish version of [name_m]Ephraim[/name_m]. I like the sound of it.
Also:
[name_m]Jabez[/name_m]
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] (not unheard of, but certainly not popular)
[name_m]Lazarus[/name_m]
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m]
[name_m]Uriah[/name_m]
[name_m]Zebulun[/name_m] ([name_m]Zeb[/name_m] would be such a cool nickname!)
There are some amazing and lovely Bible names in there once you start looking!
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f]
[name_m]Belshazzar[/name_m] (ok, this is maybe a bit beyond what you’re looking for. But a fun name!)
[name_m]Cain[/name_m] (not the best Bible story either)
[name_m]Canaan[/name_m] (a handsome place name)
[name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]
[name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]
[name_m]Darius[/name_m]
[name_m]Eleazar[/name_m]
Elkanah (I really love this name, I’d love to see it used)
[name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Enoch[/name_m]
[name_m]Gamaliel[/name_m] (again, maybe a bit extravagant for you. But I’ve really taken a liking to this name lately)
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m]
[name_m]Gilead[/name_m] (another stunning place name)
[name_m]Hezekiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Hosea[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaias[/name_m]
[name_m]Ishmael[/name_m]
[name_m]Jairus[/name_m]
[name_m]Japheth[/name_m]
[name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m]
[name_u]Jericho[/name_u]
Joash (this is another I’d love to see used. So underrated and handsome)
[name_m]Job[/name_m] (probably too confusing because of the word job. But kind of handsome still)
[name_m]Jonas[/name_m]
[name_m]Jubal[/name_m]
[name_m]Mordecai[/name_m]
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]
[name_m]Obadiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Omar[/name_m]
Othniel
[name_m]Philemon[/name_m]
[name_m]Samson[/name_m]
Shadrach
[name_m]Shem[/name_m]
[name_u]Shiloh[/name_u]
[name_m]Zacchaeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Zachariah[/name_m]
[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m]
[name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m]
[name_m]Zimri[/name_m] (maybe more unusual then what you’re after. Has a lovely sound with a lovely meaning “my praise/music”)
[name_u]Zion[/name_u]
While [name_m]Absalom[/name_m]'s whole story is not the greatest, he did take in his sister, protect and avenge her after she was raped. But then he tried to steal the throne from his father. However, If you love the name, you should use it. Your list is great, and there are some great suggestions here. I am partial to [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] ( it’s my hubbs name).
Mephibosheth? Haha, my husband keeps suggesting this one (in jest of course) for our little peppercorn.
[name_m]Absalom[/name_m] is a cool name, but his story is not exactly the legacy I’d want to leave my child - much like I could never name a girl [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], pretty as the name is, it’s not exactly the character I’d want her to shadow.
Would you consider [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]? We are of two minds about this name, as we absolutely love the legacy and character of [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] in the bible, but just can’t seem to come at naming an actual child [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]…plus I’m not keen on the inevitable nickname of ‘[name_m]Barney[/name_m]’. We are however considering it (possibly) as a middle name.
I really [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m], especially because it gives you “[name_m]Zeke[/name_m]” which feels very on-trend and wearable. I also like [name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m] nn [name_u]Jem[/name_u] or [name_m]Jeb[/name_m].
[name_u]Jesse[/name_u] is my favourite biblical name (: I think its a great name! Its not overused like some of the biblical names and I think it works on all kinds of people!
I’m tossing these about:
[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] (YES! @iraasuup, I am so with you guys on [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - he was amazing, and his name is so clunky and cool, but [name_m]Barney[/name_m] is disappointing. Somehow, years ago, I pulled [name_m]Ben[/name_m] from it (probably a combo nn, like [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] “[name_m]Ben[/name_m]”?), but I should definitely give him a second look! I think [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] and [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] would be cute.)
[name_m]Esaias[/name_m]/[name_m]Isaias[/name_m]
[name_m]Lazarus[/name_m]
[name_m]Naphtali[/name_m] (mainly for its similarity in my sister’s name; not sure I’d consider it if it couldn’t potentially be an honor name?)
[name_m]Zadok[/name_m]
[name_m]Zebulun[/name_m]
Most have the right mix of totally unheard of, good Biblical association (although I’m not sure about [name_m]Zebulun[/name_m]–I’ll have to re-read up on him), and fitting in, in a way, with modern trends. [name_u]Asa[/name_u] is a little more common than all the others, but I’ve been crushing on him lately anyway, so I might add him regardless.
Anyone else want to add more based on these?
@columbiacharm - you knew [name_m]JUST[/name_m] what I was looking for! (I have very similar opinions on Joash, haha–[name_m]Joe[/name_m] + [name_u]Ash[/name_u]–what’s not to love?!) Some of them didn’t click, but I appreciate all the effort put into that list, and it did get me thinking.