Core reference works
ChristianNames.org uses reference works to separate linguistic meaning, biblical context, and later Christian naming history. The exact mix of sources varies by name because Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Germanic, English virtue names, and saints' names require different kinds of evidence.
- Brown, Driver, and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament.
- Koehler and Baumgartner, The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament.
- Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature.
- Standard Latin, Greek, Germanic, and medieval name reference works.
- KJV 1769 and BSB for inline scripture quotations.
How sources are used
The site separates direct etymology from later Christian use. A name can be biblical, saintly, theological, or historically Christian without all those categories meaning the same thing.
For biblical names, the first question is whether the name appears in Scripture and in what context. For non-biblical Christian names, the first question is usually whether the name has a long history in Christian communities, saints' calendars, virtue naming, hymnody, or family tradition.
Short source notes are preferred over long academic apparatus because the site is written for general readers. The standard is not to overwhelm a parent or casual reader, but to keep the page honest about where its claims come from.
Primary and secondary context
For a direct biblical name, the biblical text is the starting point for story and context, while lexicons and name references help with the linguistic claim. For a saints' name, the historical Christian use may be central even when the name itself is Greek, Latin, Celtic, Germanic, or English rather than biblical Hebrew.
When a guide says a name is "associated with" a virtue, figure, tradition, or theme, that wording is intentional. Association is not the same as direct meaning. This distinction protects readers from overconfident claims and keeps the site useful for both devotional and reference use.
Stories and figures are checked against the relevant biblical books and linked to figure guides when a fuller story exists.
Christian usage is described as tradition, history, or association unless it is also the name's direct linguistic meaning.
Translations and copyright
When a page needs a short inline biblical quotation, it uses public-domain or permissive translation choices already identified in the methodology. Other modern translations may be linked for comparison, but they are not reproduced at length.
This approach keeps pages readable while respecting translation rights and making it easier for readers to compare wording in their preferred Bible edition.
Corrections and updates
Name research changes slowly, but the site does improve over time. We update a name page when it needs better source separation, fuller biblical context, clearer wording, or stronger internal links.
Corrections to meaning, origin, biblical identification, and the line between a direct source and a later Christian tradition take priority. Style improvements matter, but accuracy and clarity come first.