Assuming we have a girl, we would like to give her my wife’s first or middle name as her first or middle name, but both names are common [name]Christian[/name] names. We are not [name]Christian[/name]. Does this matter since we’d be using them because they are honoring my wife and not because they are [name]Christian[/name] names?
Most names in Western culture are, to some small degree, Judeo-[name]Christian[/name]. Unless the name is Jesusa [name]Evangeline[/name], I think it should be fine. [name]Even[/name] [name]Christine[/name] would work. After all, it’s your wife’s name and she’s not [name]Christian[/name], right? [name]How[/name] is it working out for her?
I agree completely. [name]Even[/name] if you don’t believe in the Bible, you have to admit, some of those names are fabulous. Most [name]Christian[/name] names are mainstream enough that no one would automatically say, “Oh, you’re one of those [name]Christian[/name] freak people, aren’t you?” (not that anyone would say that period, lol.). From classics like [name]Grace[/name], [name]Hannah[/name], [name]Rachel[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], and [name]Mary[/name] to more unusual choices like [name]Adah[/name], [name]Susannah[/name], [name]Lydia[/name], and [name]Chloe[/name]–I don’t think anyone would assume your religion based on your name. Besides, in your case, you’re honoring your wife, not the Bible.
I’m biased, as I’m a [name]Christian[/name] and love Biblical names a lot, but I think they’re still usable to people with different ideologies/beliefs.
Names like [name]Rebecca[/name], [name]Sarah[/name] and [name]Rachel[/name] are such common place that I never assume a girl named one of these is [name]Christian[/name]. I believe [name]Aaliyah[/name] is a religious Islamic name, but it is rank 46 in the US, which is mainly a [name]Christian[/name] country. I bet most Aaliyahs you run into aren’t Muslim.
Many, many names that come from the Bible are considered classics, like [name]Matthew[/name], [name]John[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name] and [name]Mary[/name], to name a few. This is because that for so long, most European/American names were Biblical. Therefore, the majority of classics are [name]Christian[/name] names, and are most likely to ring ‘classic’ than [name]Christian[/name] in most minds.
I think it would be completely fine. =]
It wouldn’t matter. Now, on the flip side I’ve heard of people avoiding [name]Christian[/name] names because they do not want it in their child’s name.
We’re atheists and my son has a biblical name - I see it the same as any other name from mythology.
Well I do think some assumptions are made about religion when we hear people’s names. But I have met a Jewish boy named [name]Christian[/name] and a [name]Christian[/name] boy named [name]Cohen[/name] so I think anything goes.
If it matters to you a great deal that no one assumes you are [name]Christian[/name] maybe you can choose a different version of the name. Like if she’s [name]Mary[/name] [name]Christina[/name] maybe [name]May[/name] [name]Crystal[/name] or [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Crystal[/name] or something like that will work for you?
Biblical names are so commonplace nowadays, it really doesn’t mean anything to most people to hear someone named [name]Rachel[/name], [name]Rebecca[/name], [name]John[/name], etc. You don’t have to be religious to use a [name]Christian[/name] name. I love the names [name]Leah[/name] and [name]Evangeline[/name] and I am an atheist, it’d be silly not to use them just because I’m not religious! no names are really “off limits” for me.
This makes me feel so much better. Thanks!