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Help[Facts] Re: Why are so many biblical names rarely used in continental Europe, unlike English-speaking countries?
in reply to a message by WilhelmReichelt
Jonathan, Benjamin, Aaron, Samuel, Jeremiah, and Jesse are Old Testament names that became more common in England after the Protestant Reformation. Church of England definitely swayed a bit more towards these names (and away from "catholic" names) but it didn't trump naming after family so John and Thomas still dominated.
There would have been no reason to pick up these names in countries that remained catholic or orthodox, and so the popularity of these names likely follows this map:
I don't know how much the Lutheran and calvinists shifted to Old Testament names, I'm not sure they did. This Dictionary of Medieval Names from European sources blog talks a bit more about which names were adopted more often after the reformation from England, France and Dutch sources.
https://dmnes.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/protestant-names-new-testament-influences-on-mens-names/
There would have been no reason to pick up these names in countries that remained catholic or orthodox, and so the popularity of these names likely follows this map:
I don't know how much the Lutheran and calvinists shifted to Old Testament names, I'm not sure they did. This Dictionary of Medieval Names from European sources blog talks a bit more about which names were adopted more often after the reformation from England, France and Dutch sources.
https://dmnes.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/protestant-names-new-testament-influences-on-mens-names/
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Replies
But these names are even rarely used in protestant-majority regions.
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You did list off 5 names that became significantly more common in the US in the 1970s and 80s, so these names in particular are common now because of US tv, movies and celebrities. Jesse hasnt been popular recently in the UK for example. Two hundred years ago you might have listed off Abraham, Levi, and Hiram, with Benjamin, Samuel and Jesse also being favourites.
Other old Testament names are more common in Europe but not in the Anglosphere such as Axel (from Absalom), Emmanuel/Manuel, Abel, Baltazar, Boaz, Gideon, Eliel, Ismael, Job, Micah/Micha, Raphael, and Tobias. You also didn't list the Old Testament names that are used in English as well as across Europe and Russia, such as Jacob, David, Isaac, Daniel, and Adam.
Some Old Testament names are more common in the US, some of them aren't. It's just a matter of what cultural influences there were after the initial Reformation influx.
Other old Testament names are more common in Europe but not in the Anglosphere such as Axel (from Absalom), Emmanuel/Manuel, Abel, Baltazar, Boaz, Gideon, Eliel, Ismael, Job, Micah/Micha, Raphael, and Tobias. You also didn't list the Old Testament names that are used in English as well as across Europe and Russia, such as Jacob, David, Isaac, Daniel, and Adam.
Some Old Testament names are more common in the US, some of them aren't. It's just a matter of what cultural influences there were after the initial Reformation influx.
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Excellent posts on this subject, Retrospectre.
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