I can’t help loving the name [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], if only it weren’t for the Biblical association with the Philistine woman who tricked [name_m]Samson[/name_m]. [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f] is another one. But what do you think about using these names? Are they out of the question, or can this be overlooked?
I think that they can most likely be overlooked. I know someone named [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] and she is a lovely woman. I personally can’t get over the association to use it for my own child, but I wouldn’t think twice about someone else naming their daughter [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] or [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f]. I would think the parents thought the names were lovely, which they are. I prefer [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f] slightly more.
I don’t mind them at all. Look at [name_m]David[/name_m]…committed adultery, and sent the woman’s husband to the front lines to be killed in battle…yet how many men/boys named [name_m]David[/name_m] do we know? Of course, unlike [name_m]David[/name_m], we don’t have any…oh…redeeming…stories of [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]. Interestingly enough, I once read that Puritans used this name a lot because, even though [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] did what she did, she was very beautiful and clever, which were good characteristics.
Anyhow, I wouldn’t blink if I met a baby named [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] or [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f]. They are beautiful names.
We adopted a dog last summer and her previous owner had named her [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] and we didn’t really think much of it.
I think it’s fine! Go for it!
I love it, I’m not overtly religious, so it doesn’t bother me. The only problem is that song.
I think [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] is lovely and while the name is still largely tied to the biblical figure, I think the stigma surrounding it has begun to decrease and people are beginning to see it as a lovely name instead of thinking that if they name their daughter that she will be some sort of temptress. The song has actually helped people see the name in a different light and the pretty short form [name_f]Lila[/name_f] is also something that people are taking into consideration.
I like it and I consider myself religious in that I’ve always gone to church. My family would disagree with me though. Jezebel on the other hand also has a lovely sound to me yet I’d never use it because that one is still way too closely associated with the cruel queen. That one is more tainted than Delilah to me.
I love both names! I agree with the [name_m]David[/name_m] reference, there are a lot of bible names that belong to people who did something wrong but that are still very popular. I don’t think you should let the negative association stop you from using these names if you really like them.
I’m not fond of it. I mean, it’s got a lovely sound, but I can’t get past what she did. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f]. She has no redeeming qualities. At least, that we know of, in the Bible. No redeeming story, nothing to make her admired like [name_m]David[/name_m], or hey, even other women characters, like [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Miriam[/name_f], [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f] (her name wasn’t [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f], haha, but it is very associated with her), [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Esther[/name_f], Rahab, or even [name_f]Eve[/name_f]. Same with [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f]. I mean, I adore [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], but I probably wouldn’t use it. When I think of loving it, though, it’s more in context with the jewel (sapphires), rather than the Biblical character. Then again, I’m fairly religious, and my kids would go to church every weekend with me, and they’d definitely hear these stories a lot. I don’t think that’s really fair to them. Also, I grew up attending church with a little old lady named [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]. She has always said she couldn’t understand why in the world her parents would name her that, especially since she was brought up in the church, and her parents were Christians when she was conceived. I guess things are changing, but I don’t think my associations with [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] will ever change. It’s still a really tainted name for me. I try not to judge others who like [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]–they may not be nearly as religious as me, or the association doesn’t bother them–but it’s hard for me see it in an unbiased way. I think [name_f]Della[/name_f]/[name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Lila[/name_f] are gorgeous nns, though!
I absolutely love the name [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]! it has the most beautiful sound to it! I’m a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] and i personally find it very easy to look past the Biblical connotations attached to [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]. The only thing that really bothers me (and this may sound stupid to some) but is calling your daughter [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] a direct sin against God? since the biblical character betrayed one of God’s people. It also bothers me that people may not be able to see past those associations…as i wouldn’t want my daughter growing up with a stigma surrounding her.
But honestly it is such a beautiful name!
It is a a pretty name. Whether or not you use it really just depends how much its association bothers you. I have found that once I meet someone nice or pleasant with a certain name that I used to associate with something negative, it changes the association for me and is no longer so negative.
Beautiful name, awesome [name_f]Florence[/name_f] + the Machine song: I say go for it.
Totally unrelated but… Sooooo many of your names in your signature are ones I’ve always loved! For so many of the same (many unique) names to be your favorites too is pretty cool!
[name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], and [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] have l been my favorites for a long time!
just thought that was cool! 
I think it would be a bit weird if you were [name_m]Christian[/name_m] to use it. I’ve never met any Christians named [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] (then again, I’m Greek Orthodox [name_m]Christian[/name_m], and apparently [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] in Greek is Δαλιδά pronounced Daa-lee-thah, sounds very different). It just seems weird to give a child the name of someone (whether male or female) who is associated so strongly with sin. I wouldn’t judge the parent or anything, I’d just think it’s a little odd. Delilah is a pretty name, and if you are willing to over look the association, I’d think it would be fine. It wouldn’t be something I’d be comfortable doing, but it all depends on you.
I come from a moderately [name_m]Christian[/name_m] family (by that, I mean, we share the beliefs and have read the Bible, and used to attend church, but for reasons within my community, my mother and I no longer attend, but my grandfather was quite religious, and my great-uncle happens to be a practicing reverend), and my mother, cousin, and grandmother have all said that [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] is actually a very nice name, and they’d all happily use it. While the character in the Bible was not the nicest person, and neither was [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], there were plenty of others within the Bible who committed sins, and no one has given it a second thought to use the names [name_m]David[/name_m] (committed adultery), [name_m]Paul[/name_m] (Apostle [name_m]Paul[/name_m] committed murder in the Bible, I do believe?), and I also believe that [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], [name_m]Abraham[/name_m], and [name_m]Moses[/name_m] committed sins as well in the Old Testament. If those names can be used without a second thought toward the sins recorded in the Bible, I have a hard time understanding why [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], and even [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] and [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f] are automatically considered ‘no go zones’, but that’s just me I suppose.
They are both pretty names, but I really can’t get past the associations. To be honest, if someone named their child that, I would think it quite odd, and really question why exactly the parents named them that- I consider it much like naming your child [name_m]Goliath[/name_m], Herod or [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f]. Yes, there are figures in the Bible that did horrible things ([name_m]David[/name_m], [name_m]Paul[/name_m] and [name_m]Peter[/name_m] prime examples), but the factor of redemption in their stories makes them usable- they were redeemed and changed- people like [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] and [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f] were defined by their misdeeds and the fact that they didn’t overcome them. Not the best namesakes by any means.
+1. This exactly.
As someone with a family member who’s mn is [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], no I would not use it…but more so because of her reaction than the association, lol! She was also named after her grandmother who was called Lilar for short. I still probably would not use it even with out a family member with the name although my DH said he likes it. I prefer [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f] over [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], though I do think it’s a pretty name, but probably wouldn’t use it either.
I’m a committed [name_m]Christian[/name_m], and I’m not fond of the idea. [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] was more than a temptress; she was a whiny, scheming, self-centered gold-digger and murderer as she caused [name_m]Samson[/name_m]'s torture and death and the death of countless Philistines, her own people. (Not to mention the deaths and continued oppression of the Israelites with [name_m]Samson[/name_m] no longer defending them.) In addition, naming your daughter [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] might cause offense and misunderstandings with some Christians (although I know that’s not your intention). And Nameberry’s meaning, “flirty,” is putting it lightly. “[name_f]Lilith[/name_f]” and “[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]” both have the ancient Semitic word “[name_f]Lil[/name_f]” in them, which was the name of a demon. ([name_f]Delilah[/name_f] wasn’t her real name; she was given that name based on her evil actions.)
I understand your predicament. I too am fond of both “[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]” and “[name_f]Sapphira[/name_f]” for purely the aesthetic qualities. Maybe you could try [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Lilia[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Lilian[/name_f], [name_f]Lilac[/name_f], or [name_f]Delia[/name_f]? (Pronounce [name_f]Delia[/name_f] however you wish.) As for the likewise-wicked [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], maybe [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], or [name_f]Sephora[/name_f] instead? ([name_f]Sephora[/name_f] is the Greek version of [name_f]Zipporah[/name_f], a much more godly woman and wife of [name_m]Moses[/name_m].)
Maybe you like the “haunting, melodic” (Nameberry’s description of [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]) quality of ancient Middle Eastern and [name_m]Greco[/name_m]-[name_m]Roman[/name_m] names? If so, [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] might work, the real Hebrew name of the beautiful and brave [name_f]Queen[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f]. It means “myrtle flower,” and myrtle was renowned for its healing qualities and beauty. Or [name_f]Rhoda[/name_f], a godly [name_m]New[/name_m] Testament woman whose name means “rose” in Greek? [name_f]Shoshanah[/name_f], Hebrew for lily or rose, and follower of [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]? (The Greek version is [name_f]Susanna[/name_f]). [name_f]Tamar[/name_f]/[name_f]Tamara[/name_f], Hebrew for date palm? [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_u]Damaris[/name_u], another Greek [name_m]Christian[/name_m]? (If you like Game of Thrones but think [name_f]Daenerys[/name_f] is too hard to spell, [name_u]Damaris[/name_u] could be a good substitute.)
Whether or not you choose to use [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] or [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], thank you for asking us Christians about our opinions. I won’t be offended if you name her either one, as I know you mean no ill-will. If it weren’t for their namesakes, I’d consider both names, too.
While I understand that the names are lovely, I myself can’t get over their namesakes.
I also know how attached to these stories I was growing up, and I would have been crushed to be associated with the villain.