Is Elias/Eli a religious name?

plainandsimple

I think we have picked our boy name but I'm just tying up loose ends on runners-up.  I like both Elias and Eli.  Do they have an overly religious connotation?  We are not at all religious.

Beezy14

It may just be me but I when I think of Elias/Eli I think of the bible. SO I would say yes

MicahBaviere

Eli is short for Elijah, who is a Biblical prophet. 

Elias is the English translation of Elijah, used in the King James version of the Bible.

Eli/Elijah is a more common name these days, but most people will still associate both names with religion more often than not. However, if you like the names and don't mind the association, then go ahead and use them. There's no rule that you can't.  

austenreader85

MicahBaviere:

Eli is short for Elijah, who is a Biblical prophet. 

Elias is the English translation of Elijah, used in the King James version of the Bible.

Eli/Elijah is a more common name these days, but most people will still associate both names with religion more often than not. However, if you like the names and don't mind the association, then go ahead and use them. There's no rule that you can't.  

This.  I might think of the Biblical character but I don't automatically assume the family is religious, unless everyone has a religious name or something.

 

Oh and there was a prophet with just the name Eli, Samuel's guardian. 

KearaD

Yes. Elias/Elijah/Eli are biblical characters and I assume that anyone that uses them is Christian or Jewish. I think it's strange when non-Christians and non-Jews use these names. Like a non-Hispanic person named Jose. 

But maybe these names are part of other cultures that I am oblivious to.  

jelina

sure it's a religious name but it's also a very popular and common name. I don't assume Eli Manning came from a very religious family. It's a name. Lots of people of all backgrounds use it.

blush64

I always hear Eli as a short name for Elijah but either way it sounds religious to me. that being said, of all the people I know who have used the name, none of them are religious.

karen_loy

To me is just a name (I like Eli), I put it in the same category of Luke, Matthew, Peter.. I know they are in the Bible but I don't see them as religious; is not like Abraham or Moses..

HannahO28

I think of it as a religious name, now. But I think that connotation will change quickly because there are so many Eli's running around these days. It'll be another one of those biblical names-gone mainstream like Luke or Adam.

So I think you should use it. 

MarxieVonTrapp

KearaD:

Yes. Elias/Elijah/Eli are biblical characters and I assume that anyone that uses them is Christian or Jewish. I think it's strange when non-Christians and non-Jews use these names. Like a non-Hispanic person named Jose. 

But maybe these names are part of other cultures that I am oblivious to.  

Complete agreement. 

BLPL101

Elias and Eli are definitely Old Testament. Elias means the Lord is my God.

Jelly0711

My LO is Ely. I guess you could consider us religious, but we did not pick the name for those reasons.

PenelopePond

I think of Walt Disney.  His middle name was Elias.  I think it's a great name

plainandsimple

Thanks all -- I knew there is a biblical origin (like so many names), but was trying to get at what some PPs said -- if they have now become mainstream names (like Luke, Matthew, John) or if there is still a staunchly religious connotation.