Christian Education

Carrie is not in the Bible: it began as a pet form of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, from a Germanic word meaning “man,” and has no Hebrew meaning.

No one named Brittney appears in the Bible. It is a spelling of Brittany, named for the region of France settled by Britons after the fall of Rome.

Yes: James is the English form of Jacob, and the New Testament has at least four men of that name, including two apostles and the brother of Jesus.

Yes: Zachary is the English form of Zechariah, “Yahweh remembers,” the name of an Old Testament prophet and of John the Baptist’s father in Luke 1.

No one named Irene appears in the Bible. The name is eirene, the New Testament’s Greek word for peace, and early martyrs made it a Christian name.

No one named Natasha appears in the Bible. Natasha is the Russian short form of Natalia, from the Latin for birthday, and means “Christmas Day.”

Bernadette is not in the Bible. It is the French feminine form of Bernard, “bear” and “brave,” known through Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.

Elaine is the Arthurian Helen — probably “torch”, possibly “moon”. Both are light that is not its own, which is what Scripture says of us.

Rebecca is a significant biblical figure, embodying faith, hospitality, and complex moral dilemmas. Her story impacts Christian tradition and offers modern lessons.

Dominic is Latin for “of the Lord” — the same word as Sunday, dies dominica. It claims not that we understand, but whose we are.

Gisela is not in the Bible. It means a pledge — the image Paul uses three times for the Holy Spirit.

No one named Estelle appears in the Bible. Estelle is an Old French name from the Latin stella, “star,” and is not a form of Esther.

Lillian is not in the Bible. It was probably first a pet form of Elizabeth and is linked with the lily; both appear in Scripture.

No one named Connor appears in the Bible. It is the Irish Conchobar, from Old Irish words for “hound” and “desiring,” and has no Hebrew meaning.