Do atheists have Christian names?

I suspect, but forgive me if I'm wrong, that by Christian name you are deliberately referring the ambiguity of the synonyms 'first', 'given', 'fore' etc. - or an individual's name - rather than a family name. I found this on the web that I thought answered your question exactly:

"Strictly speaking, the "Christian name" is not merely the forename distinctive of the individual member of a family, but the name given to him at his "christening", i.e., his baptism.

"It should be remembered that, in pre-Reformation England the laity were taught to administer baptism in case of necessity with the words: "I christen thee in the name of the Father" etc. To "christen" is therefore to "baptize", and "Christian name" means baptismal name."

I also found this by asking 'why do we have surnames?'

"A family name (also called surname or last name) is a name that is passed from one generation to the next. In many cultures a woman adopts her husband's family name when they are married. In Europe, surnames began to be used in the 12th century, but it took several centuries before the majority of Europeans had one."

It seems to me then, that given names probably predate Christianity in Britain at least. Native Americans didn't have one and Founding Fathers did, so for North America it depends on your point of view. I do not have the inclination to do the rest of the world or cover the obvious gap the not all theists are Christian.

Anyway, back to the question. Atheists do not have Christian names if they weren't christened. If they were christened before they had a choice (i.e. had their religion imposed on them rather than making an informed decision (see Richard Dawkins 'The God delusion')) then you might argue that they renounced their Christian name (but probably just called it a first or given name) when they made a choice. Some Atheists have gone so far as to have their names expunged from church records to avoid any hint of having Christian names.

In word then: no. But I can't help adding that neither do most theists (it's what cananddo and Oldgrump said much more clearly then me).

You are confusing culture with religion.

I was born in an Atheist family and we all have names that, even if these are not biblical, are saints' names (they are in the Catholic calendar of saints). My sister called one of her sons "Joshua". This means "Jesus".

In Western and Eastern Europe, nearly all names have been involved in religion in some way or another. Even old Germanic names were the names of Pageant gods. So, if you wanted a name that was not tainted by religion, you would have to invent one, or call your child "Peaches" or "Apple". Hm... does that remind you of something?

Anyway, we are living in a society, whose culture has been strongly influenced by Christian religion. There is no way we can rip the DNA of christianity out of Europe or Northern America. It is a fact of life.

The simple fact that Atheists do not believe in God does not mean they cannot live in a world that has been steeped in religion for the past 5000 years. We do not live on the moon, you know.

In any case, it is true that some words have power and, as the Romans said "Nomen est omen" (a name is a prophecy), but this is another issue.

Obviously, just as many Christians have non-Christian names. It's not like the individual gets to choose their name, after all - you get what you are given, and if your parents liked a name that was Christian in origin, then you're stuck with it, regardless of your personal religious beliefs, or lack of.

If the atheist has Christian parents who named their children with Christian names.......then yea.

Some probably do, sure. Not all of them though since names come from everywhere. My name isnt Christian thankfully, well okay i guess it is sort of christian but thats not its original origin and not in its meaning.

awe, those poor atheists ironically named "christian" lol

Of course not!

The truth is that what you are trying is to steal names that existed long before christianity and claim them as only christian!

Jesus was the most common name long before christianity along with John, Mathew, David and all the others!

Sad that christians ignore the ten commandments and repeatedly try and steal!

What makes a name 'Christian'?

Is there evidence that these so-called 'Christian' names did not exist prior to the apparent existence of Jesus Christ?

Names don't get much more Christian than mine.

We have "first" names, or "given" names or "fore" names - just like everybody else who isn't a christian.

I don't have a christian name as I wasn't christened.