… a very common name in Mexico, and I assume in many Spanish-speaking countries, as well as among Hispanics in the U.S. But my sense is that it’s very rare in most other Christian countries, and apparently even quite rare (from a cursory Internet search) in Portuguese-speaking countries.
Nor is it just a Catholic thing; there seem to be extremely few Irish and Polish Jesuses, and I think Italian ones as well. Isa (generally seen as the Arabic equivalent of Jesus) is apparently a not uncommon name in at least some Muslim countries; but my question here is focusing on Christian countries, since Jesus would presumably have a special role there.
(Note that the name “Joshua” is related to the name “Jesus”; Yeshua is apparently a variant of Yehoshua. But today, I think, Joshua isn’t really seen as that closely linked to Joshua, just as Jacob isn’t really seen as that closely linked to James, despite their historical link, except when we’re using historical references, such as the Jacobean period or the Jacobite rebellion.)
So what’s the scoop? Inquiring minds want to know.
Founded in 1968, Reason is the magazine of free minds and free markets. We produce hard-hitting independent journalism on civil liberties, politics, technology, culture, policy, and commerce. Reason exists outside of the left/right echo chamber. Our goal is to deliver fresh, unbiased information and insights to our readers, viewers, and listeners every day. Visit https://reason.com