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HelpA favorite sib set
Very, very Catholic but I love it
Clare Therese
Peter James
Dominic Paul
Rebecca Anne
Heidi Elise
Christine Joan
Samantha Joy
Isaac Martin
Thomas John
Gisele Hannah
Range from 22-45
Clare Therese
Peter James
Dominic Paul
Rebecca Anne
Heidi Elise
Christine Joan
Samantha Joy
Isaac Martin
Thomas John
Gisele Hannah
Range from 22-45
Replies
respectable and dull. I like to see this spelling of Clare.
I like most of the names: so I'll focus on the ones I don't.
Therese: I prefer Theresa or, preferably, Tessa though not as a mn.
Heidi Elise are both shortened or nickname forms: that puts me off. Adelheid, nn Heidi, would be fine.
Christine Joan doesn't flow well: Joan Christina or Christina Joan are better.
I love Joy but heartily dislike Samantha.
Martin Isaac would please me more.
I much prefer Giselle Anna.
Therese: I prefer Theresa or, preferably, Tessa though not as a mn.
Heidi Elise are both shortened or nickname forms: that puts me off. Adelheid, nn Heidi, would be fine.
Christine Joan doesn't flow well: Joan Christina or Christina Joan are better.
I love Joy but heartily dislike Samantha.
Martin Isaac would please me more.
I much prefer Giselle Anna.
I don’t get what’s very, very Catholic about it. There’s only a few names that have religious connotations. In particular, Clare Therese, Heidi Elise, and Samantha Joy don’t have any clear ties to religion, let alone Catholicism. And the ones that do like Peter James and Thomas John honestly just seem very classic and probably very common in general.
Clare and Theresa are both fairly popular saints, or at least they used to be. The spelling of Clare (as opposed to Claire) in pretty strongly tried to the order of Poor Clares. I've got a ton of French ancestors with Therese in their names, for the saint!
Thomas John, Peter James, Dominic Paul, Anne, Joan, Martin... All saints. I think Gisele might be too, but I'm not sure. There's a lot of overlap between "classic" and Catholic.
Thomas John, Peter James, Dominic Paul, Anne, Joan, Martin... All saints. I think Gisele might be too, but I'm not sure. There's a lot of overlap between "classic" and Catholic.
This message was edited 5/9/2025, 5:44 AM
Gisele is from the ballet. I remember when she was born, her name wasn't well-liked. My in-laws can be very judgy.
Gisele was a rainbow baby, both Isaac and Martin passed as infants. The younger girls had gotten into ballet and as a family they chose Gisele.
Also: Excellent explanation. I had no idea how "Catholic " names like Martin, Paul, Anthony, Monica, Cecilia, Damian, and Dominic were before I became Catholic. It's also how the sibset is. Ron, Martin and Gary? Probably not Catholic. Joseph, Martin, and Anthony? Definitely Catholic.
My husband's family is also very Catholic:
Alexander
Elizabeth
Damian
Mary
Katherine
Christopher
Anthony
Classic names, used plenty by non-Catholics. Used together? Catholic
Gisele was a rainbow baby, both Isaac and Martin passed as infants. The younger girls had gotten into ballet and as a family they chose Gisele.
Also: Excellent explanation. I had no idea how "Catholic " names like Martin, Paul, Anthony, Monica, Cecilia, Damian, and Dominic were before I became Catholic. It's also how the sibset is. Ron, Martin and Gary? Probably not Catholic. Joseph, Martin, and Anthony? Definitely Catholic.
My husband's family is also very Catholic:
Alexander
Elizabeth
Damian
Mary
Katherine
Christopher
Anthony
Classic names, used plenty by non-Catholics. Used together? Catholic
This message was edited 5/9/2025, 11:43 AM
That one actually feels more Catholic.
Yeah, your husband's set is definitely Catholic! It's funny how eventually you get a sort of feeling for spotting them.
Oh, gotcha. My linguistics professor had told me Clare was based on the Irish county, so I was under the impression this is what most Clares were named after, but your explanation makes more sense.
This message was edited 5/9/2025, 8:14 AM
Claire therese is the only one that really screams Catholic to me, because the combo sounds like a nun's chosen name.
Dominic Paul maybe sounds Catholic, but mainly it makes me think Italian. Dominic just gives me Italian vibes.
The rest? Barely even religious.
Dominic Paul maybe sounds Catholic, but mainly it makes me think Italian. Dominic just gives me Italian vibes.
The rest? Barely even religious.
You're not Catholic.
https://namesandnursery.com/list/popular-catholic-baby-names
https://www.houseofjoppa.com/blogs/news/catholic-baby-boy-and-girl-names-and-their-meanings
https://www.familyeducation.com/baby-names/meaningful-catholic-baby-boy-names
Separately the names might not seem very Catholic, but together? Very much so. They chose the current popular saints/namesakes
https://namesandnursery.com/list/popular-catholic-baby-names
https://www.houseofjoppa.com/blogs/news/catholic-baby-boy-and-girl-names-and-their-meanings
https://www.familyeducation.com/baby-names/meaningful-catholic-baby-boy-names
Separately the names might not seem very Catholic, but together? Very much so. They chose the current popular saints/namesakes
This message was edited 5/9/2025, 11:31 AM
Are you Catholic?
Because yes it's very Catholic.
Clare: Clare of Assisi
Therese: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Joan: Joan of Arc
Heidi, Samantha, and Gisele aren't particularly Catholic, true. But Martin, Thomas, Rebecca, Clare (especially this spelling), Therese, Paul - are all very, very Catholic.
Because yes it's very Catholic.
Clare: Clare of Assisi
Therese: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Joan: Joan of Arc
Heidi, Samantha, and Gisele aren't particularly Catholic, true. But Martin, Thomas, Rebecca, Clare (especially this spelling), Therese, Paul - are all very, very Catholic.
Yes, it could be. :-D
I probably see the Catholic part because I'm Catholic.
My daughter's name is Miriam. My husband was once at a playground and another father (Muslim) asked why we gave our daughter a Muslim name. My husband explained that it was from the biblical story of Moses. The man then asked if we're Jewish.
My nephew is Isaac, his last name is a very unusual Germanic name that sounds Jewish. He's often thought to be Jewish.
I probably see the Catholic part because I'm Catholic.
My daughter's name is Miriam. My husband was once at a playground and another father (Muslim) asked why we gave our daughter a Muslim name. My husband explained that it was from the biblical story of Moses. The man then asked if we're Jewish.
My nephew is Isaac, his last name is a very unusual Germanic name that sounds Jewish. He's often thought to be Jewish.
Interesting! In writing Miriam looks Jewish, but I could see how it sounds like the Muslim Maryam on a playground.
Most Muslims I come across just assume it's the same name. They often tell me that their aunt or mother or sister or daughter is also named Miriam (likely spelled Mariam/Maryam)
I find it very sweet.
I find it very sweet.