Baby Names from the Bible

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Did People Even Use Biblical Names in 2012?

Jennifer Garner & son Samuel, photo by Rex Features

Do people even use biblical baby names anymore? Is the Bible covered in dust, and have people just moved on from those ancient of days names?

On May 17, 2013, the Social Security Administration released their annual list of the 1,000 most popular names from last year. 1,000 names, an exciting and sometimes forehead palming mix of gorgeous, vibrant names and the ones that make you go, Really?

After scrolling through, I found my answer. I was delighted to find that, yes, people are still using biblical names. And that they are also combing deeper into my ultimate baby name book's pages to use the gems. Hallelujah.

Here's a perspective for you: last year, 590,256 children were named biblical baby names. And that's just from the Top 1,000, and includes the kree8iv spellings . . . Despite my aversion to them. As my future bestie Sweet Brown has been known to say, "Ain't nobody got time for that."

Bible names are definitely more favored for boys than girls. For boys, there were 461,504. For girls, 128,752.

Here are some from the boiz that I was pleasantly surprised to see.

   Ezra - #184

   Abel - #192

   Abram - #392

       Samson - #803

   Simeon - #980

From the ladeez:

   Phoebe - #303

   Selah - #534

   Claudia - #596

   Galilea - #746

   Tabitha - #771

   Azariah - #963

Now time for the Kree8iv Bibblikul Babee Nayme Awhardz:

Izayah & Abbigail

Are you surprised at how many baby names from the Bible were used? Comment below!

Friday, April 05, 2013

Kate Middleton on Baby Names: "My Friends Keep Texting Me" Suggestions

Kate and William recently visited a homeless shelter in Glasgow, Scotland. Being due in mid-July, and carrying their first royal heir, the baby questions were in full swing. You can read the full story here.


In Glasgow, April 4, 2013 - Photo Credit Chris Jackson/Getty

I can only imagine the barrage of suggestions and not-so-much-suggestions that they get. There's a short list in a long list of names that they should use, like Diana, Carole, etc.

Here in my own biblical baby name world, I'd love to imagine that Will and Kate would use a baby name from the Bible. I would faint and go to the palaces of heaven.

So, why not take my own crack at it.

Dear Kate and William, if you do happen to read this because you're a secret follower of www.babynamesfromthebible.com, know that this is only me having fun. I give you a nod and a curtsy at your own right to name your own children, hallelujah, amen and amen.

The parents in question:
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton and
William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor.

We all know how William loves his mother... And what better example do we have of motherhood than the renowned Proverbs 31: The Wife/Mother/Woman of Noble Character. Verse 1 says, "The sayings of King Lemuel - an inspired utterance his mother taught him." The mothers of William and Lemuel were pretty special. I think it's neat that an ancient king wrote a proverb just for his mother that has now become the benchmark for every woman. I'm sure William would agree.

William's first public appearance was on St. David's Day, who was also a "beloved" king.

Diana's maiden name was Spencer.

So for a boy, I suggest: Lemuel David William Spencer Mountbatten-Windsor, nickname Lem.
"Devoted to God, Beloved, Strong-Willed Warrior, Steward" Now that is fit for a king.

Kate's mother is Carole Elizabeth Middleton.

William's mother was Diana Frances Spencer.

Queen Elizabeth's full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Mountbatten-Windsor.

Kate's favorite color is white, and William's is blue. The flag of the United Kingdom is red, white and blue. And the royal crown has a ruby.

So for a girl, I suggest: Ruby Diana Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor.
"Precious stone, Divine, Pledged to God" A name fit for a breathtaking queen!
And how cute that the royals would be red, white and blue!

Congratulations, Kate and William, and I can't wait to see your precious blessing!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Bubbly Barnabas

^{"Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth,}
^{who was also called Barnabas by the apostles}
^{(which translated means Son of Encouragement)..."}
^{Acts 4:36}

^Barnabas.

^{It's never been in the Top 1,000. WHY?!?!?!?!?! It's AMAZING.}

^{Hhhhhhh. I sigh because this is why I am so passionate about baby names from the Bible. Gems like these that were mined years and years and years ago, and are just sitting on the back shelf of the local eclectic shop waiting to be rediscovered.}

^{Barnabas was a neat guy. He had a heart for people. He met the apostles, and sold all he had and laid the money at their feet so it could be given to those in need. That's how he went from Joseph to Barnabas, as written above. He later became an apostle himself, and did ministry journeys with Paul.}

^{The name Barnabas in actual translation means "Son of a Prophet". Which, in turn, means "Son of Encouragement". As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:3,}

^{"But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation."}

^{And how about the fantastic nickname Barno. I've just died and gone to heaven and come back with that nickname for you. Aren't you glad I went? Forget Barney and Barry. Move aside, here comes Barno...}

^{If you're a literature lover, you could also be using the loosely connected Rudge, after Barnaby Rudge in the novel by Charles Dickens. There's also Bear. But I'm sorry, I'm still stuck on Barno.}

^{The Aramaic word Bar is the equivalent to the Hebrew Ben and both literally mean "Son". So Ben could also easily work as a nickname for Barnabas.}

^{So, let's summarize:}

^{Never been in the Top 1,000.}

^{Cool nicknames include:}
^Barno
^Rudge
^Bear
^Ben

Cool combos:
^{Barnabas Rein}
^{Barnabas True}
^{Barnabas Cleo}
^{Barnabas Scott}
^{Barnabas Scout}
^{Barnabas Theo}
^{Barnabas Luke}
^{Barnabas Jay}
^{Barnabas David}
^{Barnabas Jude}
^{Barnabas Cole}

^{This is the newest bumper sticker on my cool names car. Feel free to steal it!}

Monday, January 21, 2013

2012 Celeb Biblical Baby Name Report

Kelsey Grammer with wife Kayte, daughter Faith & Oprah

Unfortunately, 2012 in the celebrity baby name world didn't wow like in previous years. There were a lot of "safe" names used, or as what I called them in my "How Celebs Use Biblical Names" article, potato names.

The winning names, in my opinion, in 2012 were:

       Faith Evangeline Elisa, daughter of Kelsey Grammer. There's actually a beautiful story behind it, and the inscription on Kelsey's wedding ring says "Live by faith". To see it, click here.

       Micah Emmanuel, son of Sarah Drew. A beautiful combo that's both interesting and entirely biblical.

       James was used 6 times, and one of them was on a girl.
       John was used 3 times.
       Noah was used 3 times.

Here's the list, taken from Nameberry.com:

MAXFIELD DAVID - Eric Laden
CYRUS MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER - Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy
ROCKY JAMES - Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddie Prinze, Jr.
ADEN JOHN - Tamera Mowry-Housley
NOAH SHANNON - Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green
ALEXANDER JOHN - Tom Ford
TENNESSEE JAMES - Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
BAKER JAMES - Leigh-Allyn Baker
CAMDEN JOHN - Nick & Vanessa Lachey
CALLEN CHRISTIAN - Drew Brees
DELILAH GRACE - Patrick Fabian
LEO JAMES - Courtney Ford & Brandon Routh
FAITH EVANGELINE ELISA - Kelsey Grammer
NOAH REV MAURER - Josh Lucas
POPPY JAMES - Jessica Capshaw
NOAH PHOENIX- Alessandra Ambrosio
MERRIN ELIZABETH JOY- Bo Bice
JOSHUA - James Van Der Beek
THOMAS COLTON - Jared Padalecki
SAMUEL GARNER - Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck
JAMES TIMOTHY (twin to Fiona Leigh) - Danny Pudi
MICAH EMMANUEL - Sarah Drew
ETHEL MARY - Lily Allen
HANNAH JOY - Rodney Jerkins
JEDEDIAH LINDSAY BOWLES - Graham Elliot

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Original Dear Abby Passes Away


Pauline Phillips of "Dear Abby" with daughter Jeanne

Yesterday, Wednesday, January 16, 2013, the original Dear Abby, Pauline Phillips, passed away. The Dear Abby advice column was begun in 1956, and today is still going strong after being passed down to her daughter Jeanne Phillips.

I'm writing this because when reading about her, I discovered some biblical name trinkets! Besides her pseudonym of Abigail Van Buren, she comes from quite a biblical family! Pauline chose the name Abigail after the scripture Samuel 25:32, 33 KJV:

"And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou..."

Esther and Pauline

Pauline with a picture of her parents

Dear Abby, who's real name was Pauline Esther (Friedman) Phillips, had a twin sister named... Can you guess? Esther Pauline, who went by the adorable name Eppie, while Pauline went by the not so adorable Popo. Interestingly, Pauline and Esther both wrote separate advice columns, Esther becoming known as Ann Landers.

Their parents were Russian Jewish immigrants named Rebecca and Abraham. They grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and got married in a joint wedding on their birthday in 1939. Esther passed in 2002.

Between the names Esther with the adorable nickname Eppie, and Abraham, my heart skipped a beat!

Of course, my condolences to the family, and her husband of 73 years.

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