[ClearCase_guy]

My sister-in-law is a Catholic. She recently found out that her son has a friend named Ezra. Her reaction to this news was negative -- "Ezra? What kind of name is that?? I hate these weird names everyone is coming up with these days!"

I decided not to mention that it is *ahem* slightly Biblical.

[ArrogantBustard]

I decided not to mention that it is *ahem* slightly Biblical.

Shame on you.

Seriously.

She's not wrong objecting to the silly names. Surely you can think of a kind, Godly, Christlike way to inform her of that name's origin.

[MeganC]

I’m not surprised. Most Catholics are unfamiliar with the Bible so knowing what is a Biblical name is not to be expected from them. In any case, ‘Ezra’, as this Pope would define it, is not a Christian name because there is no such canonical saint with that name.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php

[wideawake]

My sister-in-law is a Catholic.

So she says.

But clearly she doesn't attend Mass too frequently.

Last January, the first readings focused specifically on the Book of Nehemiah, in which Ezra features prominently.