Proper nouns (personal names) in ancient texts provide readers with information, albeit indirectly, about the social setting, belief systems and/or political leanings of the name givers. At times the meaning of a name plays directly into the character’s narrative, lending it a certain irony. A name that is widely popular during the period (here, 1st C. A.D.) will evoke different associations and emotions than a rare one. This present lexicon draws on several ascertainable meanings, such as: grammatical meaning, possible cultural or religious meanings, and social connotations, to provide the layperson and scholar alike with reliable sources for name studies in the New Testament. When comparing a name with its local epigraphic record one may discover whether it is unique or popular; when compared with the nation’s history or other shared narrative one can tentatively guess at its positive/negative valence, yielding additional layers of meaning. This lexicon to draws on diverse resources from disciplines such as philology (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Egyptian, Arabic, Nabataean, and Iranian), linguistics, archaeology, onomastics and Biblical studies.
