Biblical Names May Add a Year to Your Life, Study Finds

Can your name influence how long you live? A recent study from the United States suggests this notion might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Focused on a demographic highly vulnerable to premature death—Black American men—the study unveils intriguing insights.

By examining 3 million death certificates between 1802 and 1970, the research found that Black men with Biblical names—like Abraham, Elijah, and Moses—lived, on average, one year longer than those without such names.

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"An entire year added to one's life is noteworthy," says economist Lisa Cook from the University of Michigan, who was involved in the study. "Even an extra third of a year would be considered significant."

Researchers speculate that Biblical names might have empowered those who bore them. Cook suggests one theory: that expectations were higher for men with Biblical names. "Perhaps the small-town teachers and Sunday school educators of the past set higher standards for students with Biblical names, conferring a status they might not have otherwise had," she explains. These expectations, she believes, likely challenged these students to behave appropriately, succeed academically, and build stronger social networks, which have been proven in numerous studies to contribute to better health.