Ignatius

I have heard of San Ignacio de Loyola but didn’t know who he was specifically. IMO it’s kind of like naming your child Balthazar or Nebuchadnezzar, even if it’s a name that’s people have vaguely heard of through religion it comes across as very OTT. Whereas Fabian or Cassian doesn’t as much IMO.
Moses I would actually assume you were Jewish.

I don't know why I'm quite so invested in this! But people who are interested in the history of the papacy would probably know about Ss Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier.

It is a constant surprise to me that things I consider to be "general knowledge" are not very well-known, and also that I am ignorant about vast swathes of culture and history which others expect to be "general knowledge." 😕

No, but in fairness to pp there is such a thing as a history of the papacy. AFAIK there has never been a Pope Ignatius. I think I might also be correct in saying that Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope.

The whole point of history is that it's a tapestry composed of a multitude of strands. There isn't such a thing as 'Catholic history'.

I didn’t know it was a specifically Catholic - the reason I said it was JRM was because it sounds comically over-pompous to me, not because he’s a Catholic. Honestly if you named your child Ignatius I would be more likely to assume you didn’t like them very much than that you were Catholic!

It makes me think of ignorant and pugnacious.

Also a mental image some corrupt medieval pope (don't know my catholic history so not sure if that is likely)

What about a Celtic saint like Aidan or Patrick?

Wrt the Catholic thing -
Surely the only reason this has been brought up in relation to the name means there is still some sectarian feeling floating around?

For me, a Catholic habituee of the baby name boards, Ignatius is a family name and my family sent three generations of boys to Jesuit schools. Its a Counter Reformation name par excellence. However I suspect for some it is a name that would cause their radar to beep for other reasons.

It's a pity Jacob Rees Mogg has become emblematic of English Catholicism instead of an emblem of a certain strand of both English Conservatism and conservatism. The emphasis on his religion and the persona he has cultivated distract from how mainstream he is in his party and how generically conservative he is underneath it all. He is a 'character', and as seen in the career of Boris Johnson that will take you a long way further in English politics than it should, but underneath it all he is saying what many conservatives want to hear, in a way that they enjoy hearing it.

I think it's a great name, though my grandfather, whose name it was, used his middle name. I would associate it with an affinity with the Jesuit tradition of Catholicism. (Very big in my family).

Other names you might like:
Stanislaus
Casimir
Ambrose
Dominic

Until your post, I hadn't joined the dots and realised that the Fabian Society was named after the 'pick your moment' strategy of Fabius "Cunctator." Thank you!

Fabian is a beautiful name.

I love ignatius. But I love unusual names and my son has an unusual name 'big name' and manages to put it off. He says he loves it atm. People can think it is pretentious but actually it fits with him and who we are as a family so anyone who knows us, gets why it.

Ignatius makes me think of fire breathing dragons. This is enough of a reason to go with it.

If I were to have another boy I think this would be in my top 3. To hell with everyone else and safe conformity.

Ignotus is one of the original owners of the deathly hallows. He's buried in the graveyard near Harry parents. I know it's not the same name, just sounds very similar to me.

Fabian is a good name. The left will like it because Fabian society, the traditionalists will like it because of the Roman General, and the holy will like it because he is a very appealing early Pope, a peacemaker and conciliator.

jesuitical Ignatius, not such a good vibe for me.

Who’s called Ignatius in Harry Potter?

I'd definitely think you were big Harry Potter fans, wouldn't necessarily think of the Saint.

Just as well no one is asking you to, isn’t it?

@Maelys, did I say it did?

Prejudice or bias against or for race and religion exists. RC might not be a minority religion in the UK, but there is anti-Catholic discrimination even where you might not expect it.

I've witness anti-Christian bullying in the workplace, and mockery of minority but well-known Christian religious groups.

I really like it. But I feel like it’s definitely got an essence of grandeur to it, like it’s a name with big expectations, great things will be expected from this boy! I’d be bitterly disappointed to meet an Ignatius who’s a bit of a slacker in life 😂 But that’s no bad thing.

But the majority of people don’t live in NI, and I’m not going to claim I feel oppressed living in southern England because of what’s happening there this is turning into such a weird thread.