Naming your kid Jesus

Why is Jesus a common first name for Spanish-speakers but not for Anglos?

It’s not just the Spanish speakers. In the Moslem world Isa (Jesus) is a common name.

Haj

The latinos as a race are very religious. I admit that sounds like a very generalized and quite possibly racist comment. But statistically speaking I believe it to be very true. Again, I cannot cite this to any specific data, and may be digging myself a grave I may eventually have to consign to but I am under the impression that this is a sign of religious reverance.

Why do so many Anglos name their kids Joshua, when that is really the closest translation of the first name of he who is called by many “the Christ”?

I agree that Joshua = Jesus, but, Jesus Christ is not referred to by English speakers as “Joshua.”

By contrast, I think that Spanish speakers use the same word. i.e., they refer to “hay-zeus krees-to,” and also (sometimes) name their kids “hay-zeus.” (I don’t speak Spanish, so I’m not sure on this point.)
I think this issue has come up in the past on this board.
luc

Joshua is not the English version of Jesus. Joshua was a very important figure in the “Old” Testament. So important, in fact, that they named an entire book after him.

Haj

I’m certainly not claiming that Joshua is the english version of Jesus. Joshua isn’t even of english origin, but of hebrew! (Semitic, anyway)

But wasn’t the historical Jesus really called Joshua (or Ye’shua) or some such by his mother? In the early greek writings of the new testament, I believe that was his given name. It’s not even a stretch to posit that he could have been named after the OT prophet.

Not racist as much as too general. I am Chilean-American, and haven’t set foot in a church in 10 years…oh and my folks were Jewish too, go figure.
There is a strong Muslim influence in Spanish culture (despite a long history of fighting Muslims), as well as a significant (and often concealed) Jewish contribution as well. I think this close affinity to the Semitic peoples may explain how to a Hispanic person, “Jesús” is as valid as a personal name as “David” or “Abraham”.

However just because a person is named Jesús, doesn’t mean the parents are religious. Many atheist Americans give their kids names like “Joseph” or “Daniel” simply because they are common names, not out of devotion to the Bible.
“Jesus” may have once been used as a personal name among other nationalities, but I am not sure. Also Greeks can be named “Cristo” or “Cristos”, which to me seems to be the same thing. Interestingly the Portuguese do not as a rule name children “Jesús”, which suggests that the name was adopted by the Spaniards after around 1300 or so.

Jesús and Jesucristo are both forms of Jesus’ name in Spanish. Joshua is Josue in Spanish.

The Old Testament figure who led the Hebrews into the Promised Land and the central figure of the New Testament both had the same name in Hebrew. The only reason that many folks think that they had different names is that the New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek version of the name is “Jesus”.

The last time this came up, the conclusion seemed to be that the Spanish don’t mind calling their kids “Jesús” because whenever they’re referring to the Big Guy, they say “Jesucristo”, and nobody would name their kid “Jesucristo”.

Hispanic women commonly have Jesús as part of their name. My wife’s name is María de Jesús. Her sister’s is Teresa de Jesús. Neither is very fond of the ‘de Jesús’ part. Many Spanish names have nicknames and people named Jesús are also known as ‘Chuy’

Most of the time I hear people here in Mexico refer to Jesus Christ as ‘Cristo’ or ‘El Señor’ as in ‘the Lord’.

Isn’t it interesting that in naming your child “Jesus” the proper pronuciation sounds more like “Hey, Zeus!”? :slight_smile:

Dear hajario,

I think you were a little hasty.

Usually, in General Questions, when you disagree with what someone has said, but have no actual evidence to offer, it is a good practice to cover yourself by distinguishing “what you think” from “what you can prove”.

For example:

"My understanding is that Jesus is the Latinised version of the name Joshua.

It is certainly clear from examination that it conforms to other Latin (ie Ancient Roman) names, and is unlike any other Hebrew name.

I invite comments from those better qualified to comment."

See? Now nobody can come into this thread and say

“You dope Redboss, you’re totally wrong, why don’t you stick to what you know etc etc”

At most they can say that my understanding is wrong. You are certainly right about Joshua in the Old Testament, but I believe the person we call Jesus was given the same name in Hebrew.

Which just goes to show that maybe not every word in the Bible is true after all…
Redboss

Thanks everyone, and esp. Chronos - I tried a search but it didn’t come up.

I figured it was just a cultural thing, and the evidence is bearing that out.

Did anyone else think it was kinda ironic that magdelene began this thread? :slight_smile:

[sub]okay, maybe it was just me[/sub]

…but there are many Portuguese people, at least in my family, that are named Joesph or Mary.

Didn’t Levon name his child Jesus? I heard it was because he liked the name.

No, she usually called him “Bucky.”

Latinos call Arthur Carlson “Jesucristo”?