a PK named Delilah?

[leylas.mommy]

I don't think I think of the Biblical association first when I hear the name - and I have gone to church all my life. I don't think it would be as bad as naming your child Jezebel, Cain, or Ahab! I think those names have much stronger associatios.

[davisellu]

If you both love it, I think you should use it. It's a great name and Delilah Hope sounds so nice. You could view it as "re-claiming" of the name-- God never cast someone out because of their name. With this said, maybe don't go for Jezebel as your second daughter's name!

[karenp]

I wouldn't use it :/ I know pastor's dd named Lyla. I still thought Lyla was too close for comfort, but it doesn't seem to be a big deal. It would be a god alternative for you.

[wootz]

I grew up very religious, and I wouldn't for one second think a little girl was 'named after' the Delilah in the Bible. I would think it's a pretty name for a girl. If you both love it, use it. Nobody would ever be named anything if you couldn't use a name associated with someone who had messed up in some way. You could argue that Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit first and therefore no one belonging to a church should be named Eve, either. Delilah Hope is lovely.

[lori johnson]

... I'm in love with the name Delilah and ... I'm aware that she was an old testament prostitute and I really just don't care. However, daddy is a pastor and I'm wondering if people might give her a hard time. ...

Whether or not you receive negative feedback for naming your daughter Delilah depends on one thing: the denomination of the church at which your husband pastors.

The very fact that you're seriously considering it -- with your husband's blessing -- tells me you likely won't encounter much more negative feedback than non-pastor parents.

[ashthedreamer]

I grew up going to church with a woman whose name is Delilah. I think in the back of my head, I always thought it was a bit weird--since, growing up, yes, I did know the story of Samson and Delilah. Now that I've joined a name site or two, it bothers me a lot more. Pretty as the sound of Delilah is, I would never use it. I once talked to the Delilah in my church about names, and her name came up, and she admitted, "I don't know what my mom was thinking." I don't think she really has a problem with her name, that's just who she is, you know, but in the back of her head it's always seemed very strange to her. I think if I grew up in the church, named Delilah, I would be a bit confused, too. At least in my church, kids are brought up to relate to the Bible stories, to love them, to pick a favorite character and remember the lessons the Bible stories teach... but even if Delilah isn't so taboo anymore, I don't think I would want Delilah to be the character I was associated with. True, she's not as bad as Jezebel, but she's still a harlot, and she was responsible for imprisoning one of God's messengers... I couldn't do it, but I know some Christians wouldn't mind.

That being said, I think there is more pressure put on the leaders of churches. I think maybe with just a regular church member, it could slide. But I'm not sure it would go so easily for a pastor's family. I have interned at the state-level office for my church's denomination, so I know how much scrutiny my denomination's state president is under... of course, a pastor wouldn't have the same amount of scrutiny, but I still wouldn't think it'd be terribly easy to be a PK named Delilah.

I don't know if you've considered this or not (or even want suggestions), but I've discovered Elila and Alila lately... I instinctively say ah-LIE-lah, although I believe the correct pronunciation for both is ah-LEE-lah. Either way, I think they have a similar feel to Delilah, without the negative Biblical connotations. I've found one source that lists Elila as a Hebrew name meaning "God of the feminine" which I really love--it sort of says (to me, anyway!) that God is not just the God of the boys or the Biblical heroes of old, but He is her God and He is utterly crazy about her, and God loves her more than life itself. Pretty amazing, imo. Alila is an African name meaning "she who cries", so, not as great, but I can't help but complete the phrase--"she who cries out against injustice, against poverty, against loneliness, against sin, against hopelessness, etc.". It just seems like such a powerful meaning to me. Either way, I think both are really cool, meaningful choices. Elila might be more usable for a PK, too, if it interests you.

Good luck!

[rushli]

I think it also depends on how you choice your names...
If you pick a name b/c it sounds nice, go for it. If you have other kids that you picked the name b/c you have meaning behind it, maybe not. I do like putting name meanings (implications in this case) together to make a new meaning... like Delilah Hope would mean we are all prone to sin, but with Christ we have hope.

[spring13]

Honestly, i wouldn't, not for a PK. It IS a pretty name - but i think anyone who spends time on this site gets that there's more to a name than how it sounds. And you'd be putting this one on a child in pretty much the one scenario where more people are likely to make the connection with the biblical character than not. The fact that she's the PK will just point it up, where it could seem more innocuous on someone else. On someone else, there would be less of an assumption that the parents should have known or cared.

I think we all get the appeal on an aesthetic level, and agree that it has a lovely sound. But on a social level, if i were you, i'd really hesitate. I do like Lyla/Lilah, Dahlia, and Delia as close-but-not-quites.

[pink peonies]

My husband is a youth pastor and we are both pk's ourselves. I am certain we would get a lot of weird comments if we had a child named Delilah. In fact, my husband loves the name Guinevere, but I feel like everyone will hear it and immediately think "an adulteress queen".

I love Lilah though. Good luck on deciding.

[bakingno.2]

I love the name too, and would have Delilah and Sapphira on my list but my husband doesn't like the idea of negative stories about them. For me, I believe Jesus was all about forgiveness, so the name is not "tainted."
That said, I love my church family, but it does seem like churches are ripe with judgmental people at times. I'm sure you are going to have to explain the name at many points in your life, and your daughter will too.
But I have to explain my name all the time too. It just depends on how willing you are to do that and to find a way to smile through it.