Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.

Stockard Channing -- "West Wing" 's first lady -- picked this strong, Waspy first name over her original, Susan.

An Old Testament name traditionally used for boys, but with the potential to cross over on the tails of Ezra, Noah, James, and Micah in a wave of increasingly gender-neutral Biblical names. Examples of female Gideons in television include characters on shows such as The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. About a dozen baby girls were given the name Gideon in 2022.