Thank you for your question on names, “How is it, the characters of the Bible had common English names, Peter, Paul & Mary, literally? Something is amiss.”
Parents like to name their sons or daughters after famous people. It’s their hope that their child will become like the person that they name.
Since Europe and the United States were predominately Christians, parents would name their sons or daughters after one of the respected names of the New Testament. The Jewish parents would name their sons or daughters after a famous Old Testament figure just as the Muslims would name their sons after one of their great sultans or their prophet Mohammad.
Summary: Many parents name their sons and daughters based on a historical or living person whom they highly respect. Their dreams is that their child will become like him or her.
-Kingston