Once upon a time, Biblical boys’ names like Isaac, Elijah and even Noah were seldom heard. Today, our Sunday schools are packed with little prophets.
And yet, this one probably remains way too obscure for wearing. Thanks to Bek for suggesting Habakkuk as Name of the Day.
If you know your Bible, you might recall that Habakkuk was one of the twelve minor prophets. Minor has more to do with the brevity of their writings than the content. In fact, Habakkuk is an interesting case. He questions God’s actions – making him an unusual prophet, indeed.
Amongst the twelve, there are a few gems – Amos, Joel, Jonah, Haggai, Hosea, Malachi, Micah, Nahum, Obadiah, Zechariah and Zephaniah. Almost all of those have a certain amount of appeal to modern parents. (Only Haggai seems more awkward than Habakkuk.)
Other than his writings, little is known of the man who wore the name in life. In fact, the source of his name is open to debate:
- Most give the meaning “embrace” from the Hebrew word khavak;
- The Akkadian plant khabbaququ suggests a possible botanical connection.
He’s linked to other Old Testament stories, but that’s more custom than evidence-based. Scholars believe he lived around 600 BC, but that’s about all that can be confirmed.
It’s not much of a tale, and yet there is a twist. Visit Toyserkan in western Iran and you can see the tomb believed to hold Habakkuk’s earthly remains. They have their own versions of his life, including imprisonment. And he’s captured the imaginations of some creative forces. A Donatello sculpture of Habakkuk can be seen in Florence; religious icons depict him.
I’ve most often heard HAB eh kuk. The pronunciation ha BAK uk is an alternate.
And someone must’ve pronounced this name at some point, because Habakkuks are indeed found in the US Census and the historical record. Was it a simple case of Puritan parents seeking ever-more obscure Biblical names? Maybe. But there’s also:
- Born in Switzerland in the late 1500s, mathematician, astronomer and priest Habakkuk Guldin preferred to be known as Paul;
- One of Habakkuk’s quotes inspired inventor Geoffrey Pyke to suggest the British military attempt “something in your days that you would not believe” – the construction of a floating aircraft carrier out of wood pulp and ice for use in the mid-Atlantic during World War II. It would’ve been called Project Habakkuk, but it was never built;
- In the 1960s, a BBC radio’s Round the Horne featured parodies by faux-folk singer Rambling Syd. One of his famous ditties was On the Good Ship Habakkuk – a refernece to Pyke’s plan;
- If you’ve heard of the World of Krynn, you’re probably a fan of Dungeons & Dragons spinoff Dragonlance – and might recognize Habakkuk as the name of a god. I’m not up on my DnD, but he appears to be one of the good guys.
There’s not much there to revive Habakkuk, though you do have the sense that a story has been lost.
He’s also harmed by the lack of an obvious nickname. Hab might work, but surely there’s an easier way to arrive at that choice. You could tuck him in the middle spot – but there are far more accessible Biblical picks out there.
Lucia says
December 20, 2011 at 11:19 PMWeird thing: In Mtv Latin America, there is on VJ whose name is Habacuc.
Laura says
July 29, 2009 at 12:34 PMIt just doesnt even translate into a name for myself personally. I like the nickname huck but agree Huckleberry or anything else would be more appropiate. It definatley interesting but not for me.
chaneltara says
July 29, 2009 at 4:33 AMSorry, I find this one a teeny bit silly, like Jehosaphat or something. A bit hard for a child to live with I’d think.
Sebastiane says
July 28, 2009 at 8:28 PMIt would make a great middle name, though a bit too OTT as a first name. Though I have seen a lot of Nehemiahs in the BAs recently, and I used to think that was OTT.
appellationmountain says
July 29, 2009 at 10:13 AMI agree! I remember reading about a Project Nehemiah in the 90s. (I think the project actually started a decade or two earlier.) If memory serves, it was a faith-based initiative to build housing in the inner city. And I remember thinking, well, they can have the name ’cause Nehemiah? Not gonna catch on for children any time soon.
Shows what I know.
Charlotte Vera says
July 28, 2009 at 11:23 PMI’m not terribly partial to Old Testament names in general, but this one is definitely a no-go in my books. It’s too awkward and has too many harsh “k” sounds for my taste! Plus, school kids will twist the pronunciation of the last syllable.
Inbal says
July 28, 2009 at 10:56 PMI’ve never heard of Habakkuk, but Haggai (pronounced Chaggai) is not an uncommon name in Israel. I knew 2 when I lived there.
appellationmountain says
July 29, 2009 at 10:11 AMInbal, thank you! Fascinating information … and that makes 11 of the 12 Minor Prophets current. Habakkuk is still out in the cold. 🙂
Emmy Jo says
July 28, 2009 at 10:26 PMI’m all for obscure Old Testament names … just not this one.
Bek, that’s a brilliant idea to use Huck as a nickname!
JNE says
July 28, 2009 at 9:28 PMThat’s a whole lotta name.
appellationmountain says
July 29, 2009 at 10:12 AMNicely said, JNE.
photoquilty says
July 28, 2009 at 9:24 PMThe last syllable is a little too close to one slang term of the male genitalia, don’t you think? It really has little redeeming features. It’s an odd one, all right.
appellationmountain says
July 28, 2009 at 8:14 PMThat may be – there were bunches in the census records, far more than I expected.
Bek says
July 28, 2009 at 7:13 PMThanks, Verity! I had friends somewhat considering this (though not very seriously), and I knew I had to find out more – especially any namesakes beyond the prophet.
Other nicknames could be Hub or Huck I think… But overall I agree, a bit much for a boy these days. I do wonder, though, if maybe it’s popular among any religious groups – Amish or Mormon – that tend to use the more obscure Biblical names…
appellationmountain says
July 29, 2009 at 10:12 AMHuck is quite cool. Which is more OTT, Habakkuk or Huckleberry?
chaneltara says
July 29, 2009 at 1:26 PMThat’s a tough one, but I think Habakkuk is worse than Huckleberry. Habakkuk ends with a sound that I think is extremely teaseable.
appellationmountain says
July 28, 2009 at 7:00 PMLOL, Allison! And I’m with you – I think Habakkuk is an interesting curiosity, not a name for a Real Boy.
And I guess it could also be Habbakyuq. Or Hybbakyk.
Allison says
July 28, 2009 at 6:22 PMWhat? No. Even worse, now I have to worry someone will try to use Khabbaququ.