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ArchivesRe: Why are so many biblical names rarely used in continental Europe, unlike English-speaking countries?
in reply to a message by WilhelmReichelt
Every country has its own traditions and therefore different names were established at different times.
From the 12th century onwards, more and more Christian names were given in northern Italy, southern France and Germany. But not Old Testament names (like the ones you mention), but New Testament names and names of saints.
In Germany, there were places with 90% saint or bilical names. Germanic names were heavily displaced over time.
Names of saints in particular were widespread in Germany.
But many of the names were adapted to the German language. Here are some of the ways in which the name Johannes (John) could be given in Germany: Johannes, Johans, Johann, Johan, Johanneß, Johanns, Hans, Hanns, Hanß, Hannß, Hanncz, Hancz, Hannes, Hansman, Henselman, Henslein, Henßlein, Hanss, Hansz, Hanle, Henn, Hennsel, Hennslein, Hensell, Hennsel, Heslein, Henslin, Henßlin, Hennßlin, Hennslin, Hanßlein, Hensin, Hennlin, Jan, Jens, Jahn, Jannis and many more
In Germany, Maria became one of the most common female names in the 16th century.
Then came the Renaissance, during which more and more names from ancient Greek or Rome were given.
And the Reformation brought about major changes.
Fewer saints were given names.
In Calvinism, if possible only biblical names were given. Calvinism was particularly widespread in the Netherlands, Scotland, eastern Hungary and the USA. Not so much in Germany, France, Italy, Spain ...
Biblical names were mainly taken from the Old Testament (Abraham, Benjamin, Rebekka ...).
But Protestantism mainly led to a return of Germanic names.
Among the Catholics, many saints continued to be given names that were not necessarily biblical (Ignaz, Kilian, Franz, Xaver, Apollonia ...).
In the centuries that followed, there were repeated waves of foreign names being given in Germany.
The fashion for names simply changed very often in Germany, so there were few names that were given over a very long period of time.
But there are some biblical names that have a very long tradition.
For example Anna, Maria, Johannes/Johann, Adam. Less common: Jeremias, Balthasar, Eva, Magdalene, David, Andreas, Thomas, Lukas, Gabriel, Elisabeth.
From your examples Jonathan, Benjamin, Aaron and Samuel.
There was also a phase in which Christian names were adopted from other languages or newly invented. Like Dorothea, Christian, Erdmann (Adam), Traugott, Fürchtegott (Timotheus), Christholdin.
Some of those are still in use.
From the 12th century onwards, more and more Christian names were given in northern Italy, southern France and Germany. But not Old Testament names (like the ones you mention), but New Testament names and names of saints.
In Germany, there were places with 90% saint or bilical names. Germanic names were heavily displaced over time.
Names of saints in particular were widespread in Germany.
But many of the names were adapted to the German language. Here are some of the ways in which the name Johannes (John) could be given in Germany: Johannes, Johans, Johann, Johan, Johanneß, Johanns, Hans, Hanns, Hanß, Hannß, Hanncz, Hancz, Hannes, Hansman, Henselman, Henslein, Henßlein, Hanss, Hansz, Hanle, Henn, Hennsel, Hennslein, Hensell, Hennsel, Heslein, Henslin, Henßlin, Hennßlin, Hennslin, Hanßlein, Hensin, Hennlin, Jan, Jens, Jahn, Jannis and many more
In Germany, Maria became one of the most common female names in the 16th century.
Then came the Renaissance, during which more and more names from ancient Greek or Rome were given.
And the Reformation brought about major changes.
Fewer saints were given names.
In Calvinism, if possible only biblical names were given. Calvinism was particularly widespread in the Netherlands, Scotland, eastern Hungary and the USA. Not so much in Germany, France, Italy, Spain ...
Biblical names were mainly taken from the Old Testament (Abraham, Benjamin, Rebekka ...).
But Protestantism mainly led to a return of Germanic names.
Among the Catholics, many saints continued to be given names that were not necessarily biblical (Ignaz, Kilian, Franz, Xaver, Apollonia ...).
In the centuries that followed, there were repeated waves of foreign names being given in Germany.
The fashion for names simply changed very often in Germany, so there were few names that were given over a very long period of time.
But there are some biblical names that have a very long tradition.
For example Anna, Maria, Johannes/Johann, Adam. Less common: Jeremias, Balthasar, Eva, Magdalene, David, Andreas, Thomas, Lukas, Gabriel, Elisabeth.
From your examples Jonathan, Benjamin, Aaron and Samuel.
There was also a phase in which Christian names were adopted from other languages or newly invented. Like Dorothea, Christian, Erdmann (Adam), Traugott, Fürchtegott (Timotheus), Christholdin.
Some of those are still in use.
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