Cohen - appropriate first name?

83 replies

Happygolucky233 · 20/01/2023 20:14

Love the sound and look of Cohen as a name. A quick google search suggests it’s a popular jewish surname.

Would it be disrespectful or have any negative connotations if we use Cohen as a first name, especially when we are not Jewish?

I’m not concerned about it being a surname - just like Taylor, Harvey, Mason etc - but wouldn’t want to offend.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

UglyNess · 20/01/2023 20:23

Coen is a Dutch name I believe. Sounds the same but without the meaning.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 20/01/2023 20:23

Boy or girl?

2tired2bewitty · 20/01/2023 20:22

There was a child in my dds class whose name I thought was Cohen but turned out to be a Turkish name that sounded very similar but was spelled differently. Might that work? I’ll try and find out what it was (dd is asleep).

Etinoxaurus · 20/01/2023 20:21

Don’t. As you’ve said it has significance in a culture that’s not yours. At best it’ll lead to a lifetime of explaining, worse offensive.
Conrad
Caelen
Coltyn (bit check the meaning)

NoraVanDoogle · 20/01/2023 20:20

It was and still is one of my favourite names ♥️♥️ it x

LolaSmiles · 20/01/2023 20:20

I wouldn't because I believe that it's a particular honour surname linked to priest groups/branches of Judaism.

Cohen wouldn't be used by many observant Jewish people and a culturally significant surname on a non-jewish person would seen odd to me.

DelphiniumBlue · 20/01/2023 20:18

It would be like naming someone Priest or Vicar or Pope. So could be problematic.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/01/2023 20:16

My understanding is that it's a very special name in Judaism, so may be more of an issue than an Old Testament name.

Unflip

1 2 3 4