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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
Certainly in the Portuguese context the Catholic Church pushed for saints names, and Old Testament names did not fit this category. With a handful of exceptions, Old Testament names started to be used in the 20th century and most aren’t considered classic names. Names like Sara, David and Raquel are very common but hard to find among the older generations.
I’d say that in Europe this was the case except in the UK post reformation among more religious Protestant families. And even in the British Royal Family Old Testament names were not used!
I’d say that in Europe this was the case except in the UK post reformation among more religious Protestant families. And even in the British Royal Family Old Testament names were not used!
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Old Testament names are actually quite common in Brazil, and while they are more popular today (what with the rise of evangelical Protestantism), I've met Brazilians born in the 1930s and 1940s with Old Testament names. The vast majority of them are either Catholic or were raised Catholic. People back then usually stuck to more familiar Old Testament names. Names such as Caleb and Hadassa are of much more recent usage here.
Some Old Testament names are actually more common on older Brazilians than younger ones, such as Benjamim (despite its rising popularity in Portugal, here it's kind of dated).
Some Old Testament names are actually more common on older Brazilians than younger ones, such as Benjamim (despite its rising popularity in Portugal, here it's kind of dated).
This message was edited today, 4:59 PM
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Er ... Elizabeth and Mary could hardly be more royal, or more biblical. You're right about the male names.
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And biblical names are only Old Testament? News to me.
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I think the point of this post is that, as a general rule, the only biblical names used as Christian names in Western Europe were New Testament names, because they are Saints names. Only in the UK are Old Testament biblical names traditionally used (and still not by the Royal Family) — this is the case of the names mentioned by OP, who was questioning why these names aren’t used in continental Europe.
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"Only in the UK are Old Testament biblical names traditionally used (and still not by the Royal Family) — this is the case of the names mentioned by OP, who was questioning why these names aren’t used in continental Europe."
But they are used in continental Europe.
Jonathan/Nathan, Benjamin, Samuel, Daniel, Aaron, Jeremias, Adam, Jakob, David, Michael, Emanuel/Immanuel ... have a long tradition in Germany.
But they are used in continental Europe.
Jonathan/Nathan, Benjamin, Samuel, Daniel, Aaron, Jeremias, Adam, Jakob, David, Michael, Emanuel/Immanuel ... have a long tradition in Germany.
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