# About the names "Jesus" and "Christ" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301 "2003-09-03T11:29:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/1 "2003-09-03T11:29:12Z")
Proof I should have been paying attention in Bible School. How common was the name Jesus in Biblical times? How did Jesus come to be known as “Christ?” My name, Askia, is Songhai. What’s the background for “Jesus Christ?” Why is naming your son ‘Jesus’ so taboo in our culture? Aaannd just for kicks: [http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/ShortAnalysis2.cfm?FullName=christ&Gender=Male](http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/ShortAnalysis2.cfm?FullName=christ&Gender=Male) [http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/ShortAnalysis2.cfm?FullName=jesus&Gender=Male](http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/ShortAnalysis2.cfm?FullName=jesus&Gender=Male) Apologies if this easily found on a search thread. My computer gets weird when I try to use the search option. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/2 "2003-09-03T11:38:05Z")
Jesus is a name (the Greek form of Joshua - quite common in Biblical times), ‘Christ’ is not a name, but a _title_ - it is the greek equivalent of ‘Messiah’, so (to those that believe it), he would more correctly be called Jesus _the_ Christ. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/3 "2003-09-03T11:38:50Z")
“Jesus” is a form of the name “Joshua” (in fact, in the KJV the name of Moses’ Joshua is rendered “Jesus” in one place). It was common enough, certainly not unusual. “Christ” isn’t a name, it’s a title, meaning “the Anointed”, which is what “Messiah” means. So when you sometimes see “Jesus the Christ” (as in the title of the Mormon book of theology), you’re probably seeing a truer rendition of his name. IIRC, the NT doesn’t call him “Jesus Christ”. He’s “Jesus”, or “Jesus, son of Mary” (interestingly, never “the son of the Carpenter”, or “son of Joseph”), or “Jesus the Nazarene”. It’s been argued that this last title doesn’t mean “Jesus of Nazareth”, but possibly something like “Jesus the Nazorean” (member of a sect, the Nazoreans). As for “Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” being taboo, I note that while this may be true in English, it’s not really true in Spanish. “Jesus” is a common Hispanic name, and Spanish abounds in exclamations using religious names that would give the nuns who taught me apoplexy if used in English. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/4 "2003-09-03T11:42:22Z")
What a joke that Kabalarians name analysis tool is: > [@](#): > > Dear Satan: The following brief analysis describes a few qualities of your first name. There are many additional factors (legal name, nicknames, family surname, combined names, previous names, and business signature) that contribute to your entire personality - and your entire life. Order a Name Report for a detailed and full analysis. > > Brief Analysis > > The name of Satan gives you the desire to meet and mix socially and to create congenial circumstances for everyone. However, all too often, you express yourself in a matter-of-fact or awkward way that results in your good intentions being misunderstood. If you are in sales work, you could do well because of your friendly personality, interest in people, and desire to please. You prefer situations that allow a degree of independence, but are not too demanding in work-load or responsibility. When asked, you are able to give others good advice that you would probably not follow yourself, but must guard against being too opinionated in controversial matters. While you can appear to be confident, you need the moral support and encouragement of others who give inspiration and strength. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/5 "2003-09-03T11:54:04Z")
[Fun and games with the Kabalarians!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?&threadid=208875) ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/6 "2003-09-03T13:37:51Z")
Here’s a link about Jesus’s name, from the Catholic Encyclopedia: [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374x.htm](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374x.htm) It says Jesus comes from the Greek word Iesous, which derives from the Hebrew Joshua (sometimes Jeshua or Jehoshua) which means “Jehovah is salvation”; the name Joshua was fairly common when Jesus was alive. Jesus is (I assume) the Late Latin spelling of Iesus, the Latin version of the Greek name. “Christos”, as already said, is Greek for “anointed”. Very early Christian texts, like the Gospels, used “the Christ” with a definite article, but soon he became “Christ Jesus” or “Jesus Christ”. Interestingly from the article, many early Romans and Greeks called Jesus “Chrestus”, which means “excellent”, out of a misunderstanding or mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/7 "2003-09-03T13:46:28Z")
And although “Jesus” is not a common English name, “Joshua” certainly is, and as was mentioned above, is a translation of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/8 "2003-09-03T15:17:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*As for “Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” being taboo, I note that while this may be true in English, it’s not really true in Spanish. “Jesus” is a common Hispanic name, and Spanish abounds in exclamations using religious names that would give the nuns who taught me apoplexy if used in English. \*\* As the joke goes, “If Jesus was Jewish, how come he has a Mexican name?” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/9 "2003-09-03T18:09:41Z")
Dear God:\_\_\_\_The following brief analysis describes a few qualities of your first name. There are many additional factors (legal name, nicknames, family surname, combined names, previous names, and business signature) that contribute to your entire personality - and your entire life. Order a Name Report for a detailed and full analysis. Brief Analysis Your name God gives you a strong sense of responsibility in business and material affairs, and the practicality and determination to make a success of anything you undertake. Your ability to organize and direct the efforts of others enables you to excel in any managerial position because you have the ability to grasp the concept of a goal complete with an understanding of the steps to be taken. This name has allowed you to develop depth and breadth of mind. You are able to retain facts, to grasp new information to your existing store of knowledge. You never seem to be out of your depth of understanding. For these reasons others who may not have the same quickness of mind classify you as a “know it all” and, although you may be highly respected, this characteristic is unlikely to endear you to your associates. You have a very responsible nature, are capable and mature, and are willing to assume a position as a pillar of the community. LOL, “know it all,” indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/10 "2003-09-04T00:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > **He’s “Jesus”, or “Jesus, son of Mary” (interestingly, never “the son of the Carpenter”, or “son of Joseph”)** Not interestingly, accurately. I don’t think Joseph had much of a hand in the **immaculate** conception. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/11 "2003-09-04T01:25:11Z")
Tweeeett!!! Flag on that play. The “Immaculate Conception” refers to Mary’s being born without sin, so as to serve as an untainted vessel to carry Jesus. Immaculate means unstained. It has nothing to do with the conception of Jesus Himself. ---
**Author:** ![BenAvraham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@BenAvraham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BenAvraham)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-names-jesus-and-christ/199301/12 "2003-09-04T01:51:09Z")
Quote: “How common was the name Jesus in Biblical times?” Jesus or Joshua? Yehoshua, Yeshua, Y’shua, Yehashua, Yeshuah, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. What is the correct transliteration? A PhD in Hebrew studies answers these and other questions [HERE](http://webbpage.topcities.com/Yavo/As_I_See_It.html#104).