Is it true that most people, when they share a name from a Biblical character, got that name from the Bible, or there was a influence from the Bible?
This is a question that can go either way. I am just wondering. I've known people who are of a different faith, who share a Biblical name, so it's not DEFINITELY true that when someone names their kid from BIblical characters, but i'm sure a LOT of times it is true.
U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman is Jewish, yet he has the name of the husband of the Virgin Mary, who is THE most famous person named "Joseph" in History. Yes, Joseph, Mary, AND Jesus were all Jewish, so one might say that the name fits, but he was obviously no "ordinary" Joseph living in those days. I don't know of any other Joseph's in history that are as a big of influence from where LIeberman could have been named.
So, if anyone has an opinion, lets hear it.
2006-08-14
09:40:25
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19 answers
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asked by
snafu1
2
in
Arts & Humanities
➔ Genealogy
My mother has always told to name my children something that has a good meaning. The Bible is a great referece for names with good meanings such as Micheal which "Who is like God." I plan to give all of my children Biblical names which stand for something good, this is a sort of way of blessing your children.
2006-08-14 09:49:14
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answer #1
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answered by Lov'n IT! 7
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You are being silly.
The most famous Joseph in history was the original one.
I can assure you that when Jews name their kids Joseph, they are not thinking about the Christian Bible, which is irrelevant in Judaism. They are thinking about the Jewish Bible, in which Joseph is Jacob's 11th son and most likely, a previous ancestor who was also named Joseph.
Full disclosure: One of my kids middle names is Joseph. Also, most of my kids names are Biblical in origin, including my own. I can assure you that the New Testament played no role in any name.
Update:
Zeima, and one can argue that there was a "Christian predudice" in the question as it assumes that the greatest Joseph in history was not the original Joseph, but Joseph, who happened to be married to Jesus' mother. The question also correlates the name to Joseph Lieberman, who is a) Jewish and b) religious. As the question says: "U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman is Jewish, yet he has the name of the husband of the Virgin Mary..." and concludes "I don't know of any other Joseph's in history that are as a big of influence from where LIeberman could have been named. "
My point being is that since Christian theology and the Christian Bible is irrelevant to Judaism, it should be obvious that the New Testament wouyld have had no influence whatsoever over the naming of Lieberman, or most other Jews for that matter.
2006-08-14 19:57:56
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answer #2
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answered by BMCR 7
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I think it did more so in centuries past then it has today.. A number of my great grandfathers were named Azariah & Isaac which are both biblical names. Some names though biblical have been dissociated from that.. like Michael, Daniel, Mary & Joseph and have become more pop-culture names.
I think the trend now is the unusual and unique. No longer do people want their children to be one of six Ashleys, five Jennifers or four Michaels in a class.
2006-08-15 07:35:45
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answer #3
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answered by genaddt 7
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I would say that because there are more Christian Gentiles than there are Messianic Jews and Jews combined, that the majority of Biblical names people used today come from the New Testament. However, because the Old Testament and the New Testament are two parts to one whole, even Christians take names from the Old Testament such as Gabriel and Noah. BMCR is slightly prejudiced in regards to the name "Joseph" because he is not a Christian.
2006-08-17 15:30:31
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answer #4
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answered by ziema26 3
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Well, my brothers Jonathan and Samuel were named from the Bible, because we are a Christian family. So yes, I do think that Christian families are influenced by the names in the Bible.
But I think that nonChristian families name their children David or Paul or Joseph because those names have become so common to our culture now.
2006-08-18 14:38:01
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answer #5
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answered by Red 2
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After the first half dozen kids many people would pull open the Bible and randomly select a name. The oddest I found was Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin, the "writing on the wall".
2006-08-15 00:03:18
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answer #6
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answered by Woody 6
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I'm Catholic and my wife, both of my kids, and I all have names that are prominently mentioned in the Old Testament (the "Jewish" part.)
There was some influence from the Bible in naming our kids. I can't speak for my parents...I never asked them (my Dad was an Atheist...who was named after one of the Apostles.)
2006-08-14 16:49:29
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answer #7
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answered by 4999_Basque 6
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I feel that the majority of folks go to the Bible(or any other spiritual reference guide)for names for kids for positive reasons. There's plenty of strong characters in the Bible, and I guess people think that they can give their kids something with meaning.
2006-08-14 18:58:35
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answer #8
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answered by ? 4
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In some instances it is. My first and middle names are both in the Bible. However, I was named after both of my grandmothers.
A lot of Christians do name their children after people in the Bible usually based upon what that person's name means.
2006-08-14 23:50:26
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answer #9
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answered by Irish1952 7
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i dont think the bible is necessarily influential i just think that people believe that naming there child after a biblical figure will give their child some sense of well bein .. possibly making them a better person then say someone named Rocco.
2006-08-14 18:25:19
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answer #10
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answered by faerygrrl 2
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