How common are these names?

[jettejjane]

Please could anyone help.  I am wondering how common the following first names would be in very early 1800's in Sussex. Josias, Jesse, Martha and Elisha.

[bykerlads]

Not Sussex, but Martha and indeed Hannah seem to have been very popular names throughout the 1800's.
The other three names, I have rarely come across at all.

[barryd]

I found no easy reference to first names before 1837. Using one your names Elisha in Sussex 1837+  there are a reasonable show on Free BMD until 1925 then there are no more Elisha names. 

[jettejjane]

Thank you 

[mazi]

Hi Jane

Searching on Familysearch with just the Christian name Elisha,
place Sussex, 1800-1820, nothing else, produces about 20, including a couple of Redmans 

It seems more popular with non-conformists.


Mike

[jettejjane]

Thanks Mike mine are Redman s. Children of Edward and Jane of Billingshurst.  They  were Baptists. On checking after a break to research have discovered something a bit weird.

[KGarrad]

FreeBMD is showing just 7 Josias, in Sussex, 1838-1900.
But very popular nationwide? Between 10 and 20 in most years from 1838.

Jesse was very popular, both as a male and a female name. (Think of Jesse James, the American cowboy).
My mother's line, from Kent, has both types of Jesse!

[jettejjane]

Thanks KG my Josia born 1805 and Jesse was a boy born 1811.

[Maiden Stone]

Might Josias have been Josiah or a variation of it? All Biblical names so natural choices for a Baptist family.