New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesRe: Why are so many biblical names rarely used in continental Europe, unlike English-speaking countries?
in reply to a message by WilhelmReichelt
Possibly your looking at the wrong names? Many biblical names have been used in The Netherlands but you might not recognise them as such. Jan and Piet are incredibly common names, but are you recognising them as Biblical names? If you look at the top 10 for boys for The Netherlands, more than half are biblical...
In general, currently what The Netherlands doesn't really do is syllable surplusses. Levi and Adam are really common, but Jeremias and Jonathan are not. Just like for every Sarah you can find a Saar and boys named Sam for outnumber the ones named Samuel. Giving your child a name you don't plan on using is bordering on ridiculous, so no Jeremiah "Jerry", but just Jerry as a full name is used.
Having said that another thing to consider is that we'll over half of the Dutch people are not considering themselves to be religious. (And fun fact apparently even 8% of Catholics do not believe a god exists) For me, having a name be very biblical is a strike against it rather than a upside when choosing a name for a child. Religious vibes makes me think people might assume my child is from the "bible belt" or we are religious. Not that a name would be put completely, but it's definitely not an added bonus. I'm pretty sure most Levi's in our country are not names because the name is in the bible, but chosen for the sound.
Another thing is that I, as a Dutch person, consider Jonathan or Nathan more of a German / Flemish name. I'm not altogether sure where you get the idea those names aren't used.
In general, currently what The Netherlands doesn't really do is syllable surplusses. Levi and Adam are really common, but Jeremias and Jonathan are not. Just like for every Sarah you can find a Saar and boys named Sam for outnumber the ones named Samuel. Giving your child a name you don't plan on using is bordering on ridiculous, so no Jeremiah "Jerry", but just Jerry as a full name is used.
Having said that another thing to consider is that we'll over half of the Dutch people are not considering themselves to be religious. (And fun fact apparently even 8% of Catholics do not believe a god exists) For me, having a name be very biblical is a strike against it rather than a upside when choosing a name for a child. Religious vibes makes me think people might assume my child is from the "bible belt" or we are religious. Not that a name would be put completely, but it's definitely not an added bonus. I'm pretty sure most Levi's in our country are not names because the name is in the bible, but chosen for the sound.
Another thing is that I, as a Dutch person, consider Jonathan or Nathan more of a German / Flemish name. I'm not altogether sure where you get the idea those names aren't used.
6
Replies
But names like Jonathan and Jeremias gained popularity after mid-20th century. These names were not popular in 18th and 19th century. I'm asking about traditional usage.
1
https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/topnamen/land/Nederland/1880
This is the oldest popularity list I know of for The Netherlands. It's from 1880.
The top names are very biblical. Just look at the number of usages of Johannes, Jan, Maria and Johanna which are all biblical names, compare to the germanic ones. Seriously, where on earth did you get the idea biblical names weren't traditionally used?! Also Jacob and Jacobus are both in the top 10 and that's an old testament name.
Or are you failing to realise that a name like Jan is biblical? I think also that germanic names were more of a thing for us that in England at the time. And of course a lot of children were named after saints, rather than a biblical character. You can find plenty of men named Franciscus or Frans or Nicolaas or Marinus or Cornelis or Kees, those are religious names. Possibly the Catholics preferred naming after saints rather than old testament characters?
Edit: and then people named their children after grandparents etc. I think that's partially why there were so many men called Jan (or Johannes "Jan") in The Netherlands
This is the oldest popularity list I know of for The Netherlands. It's from 1880.
The top names are very biblical. Just look at the number of usages of Johannes, Jan, Maria and Johanna which are all biblical names, compare to the germanic ones. Seriously, where on earth did you get the idea biblical names weren't traditionally used?! Also Jacob and Jacobus are both in the top 10 and that's an old testament name.
Or are you failing to realise that a name like Jan is biblical? I think also that germanic names were more of a thing for us that in England at the time. And of course a lot of children were named after saints, rather than a biblical character. You can find plenty of men named Franciscus or Frans or Nicolaas or Marinus or Cornelis or Kees, those are religious names. Possibly the Catholics preferred naming after saints rather than old testament characters?
Edit: and then people named their children after grandparents etc. I think that's partially why there were so many men called Jan (or Johannes "Jan") in The Netherlands
This message was edited 3/25/2025, 2:57 AM
2
Jacobus is also a New Testament name, and a quite prominent one: There is a letter by Jacobus in the NT canon, and it was the name of the brother of Jesus.
1