A second
name was given at baptism, or assumed with some religious
motive. In the first three centuries considerations of
prudence would prevent an advertisement of Christianity through a
name of peculiar meaning, and even baptismal names were not biblical
or of pious meaning and association. Later the early
indifference of Christians as to the character of their names
ceased, and after the fourth century heathen names were
discouraged. cf. D.C.A. ii. 1368.
“Dionysius,” though of pagan origin, is biblical; but
“martyrs often encountered death bearing the names of these
very divinities to whom they refuse to offer sacrifice.”
So we have Apollinarius, Hermias, Demetrius, Origenes (sprung from
Horus), Arius, Athenodorus, Aphrodisius, and many
more.