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Original poster

Is Aidan politically neutral or not?

36 replies

Elvisis · 21/11/2023 19:13

Saw a post about religious names and neutral names in Northern Ireland. I live in Belfast and while I was raised in the Catholic religion I'm an atheist and plan to send my children to an integrated school and allow them to make their own religious decisions when older.
I love the name Aidan for a boy and feel it's pretty neutral having known a few from England and America as well as actors. But now I'm wondering if you would strongly associate it with being a Catholic/Irish?

I know there are quite a few spellings but id go with Aidan myself.

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knitnerd90 · 02/12/2023 00:42

Nomnomnom66 · 30/11/2023 21:10

Aidan is an anglicisation of the Irish name Aodhán. Surely no name is completely culturally neutral? People of any religion can be Irish. It irritates me that Catholicism is equated with being Irish in Northern Ireland. We all know religion has nothing to do with the ongoing occupation of the six counties. I'm not a Christian but I am Irish. Just use the name and if unionists decide they're going to judge you on a name, then they need to grow the fuck up.

Some names are absolutely more neutral than others, for example Bible names: not neutral completely, but with a much wider base. If I run into a Sara on a list of names, I haven't got the slightest clue about race or ethnicity or religion. Whereas a name connected to a minority language such as Irish has a much clearer connection.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 02/12/2023 00:15

Adrian?

Nomnomnom66 · 30/11/2023 21:10

Aidan is an anglicisation of the Irish name Aodhán. Surely no name is completely culturally neutral? People of any religion can be Irish. It irritates me that Catholicism is equated with being Irish in Northern Ireland. We all know religion has nothing to do with the ongoing occupation of the six counties. I'm not a Christian but I am Irish. Just use the name and if unionists decide they're going to judge you on a name, then they need to grow the fuck up.

SingingSands · 30/11/2023 13:01

I had no idea that people would have to consider things like this in 2023, it seems a bit sad doesn't it?

I think Aidan is a really lovely name, but I'm a Glaswegian who has lived in Yorkshire for 25 years so I have no political or religious slant when I hear it.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 30/11/2023 12:37

At Aidan’s in Harrogate is a Church of England school. Whilst not in NI, it suggests it can’t be only catholic

phoneantenna · 30/11/2023 12:01

We chose Aidan and we love it. We are not religious, but also not in Ireland.

I wouldn't not to use it because of the trans men as pp suggested - I wouldn't 'surrender' the name to them.

The more the name is used with an intention to be accepted neutrally, the less people will associate it with anything else but the actual child. So I'd just go ahead if I love it, and hope more people like you do too.

EarringsandLipstick · 22/11/2023 08:07

UnimaginableWindBird · 22/11/2023 07:23

Eamon is really not a neutral name.

Agreed, it really isn't! About as definitively Catholic as you can get!

harrietm87 · 22/11/2023 07:27

Aidan is definitely a Catholic name in NI but I don’t think would make much of a statement these days?

It’s lovely - you should use it OP. I survived with a Catholic name growing up in Belfast in the 90s at a Protestant school!

UnimaginableWindBird · 22/11/2023 07:23

Eamon is really not a neutral name.

user1492757084 · 22/11/2023 05:27

I know one Aidan who is protestant.

And I know a St Aidan Cathedral
Eamon is similar and also neutral.

Nearly every name under the Sun is a Saint's name.

Original poster
Elvisis · 21/11/2023 23:33

yellowlane · 21/11/2023 22:37

It's a nickname for transgender men. It's a very commonly chosen name when transitioning from female to male.

I thought it was Elliott that was nn fior Transmen?

I did some goggling I don't think it's just Aidan it's more all those names ending in den like Jayden and Kayden are popular so are used a lot (more in America). Elliot is also popular in that community because of Elliot Paige. think by the time my little boy is older different names will be used by mentally confused people or they will have de-transitioned

OP posts:
yellowlane · 21/11/2023 22:37

It's a nickname for transgender men. It's a very commonly chosen name when transitioning from female to male.

I thought it was Elliott that was nn fior Transmen?

calishire · 21/11/2023 21:52

Tbh I thought Aiden was welsh but maybe its spelt differently there

Reallynotoverreacting · 21/11/2023 21:52

Owen would be pretty neutral but definitely not Aidan.

Hotchocolatemousse · 21/11/2023 21:51

Aiden is also a popular name in the Muslim community so I wouldn't regard it as completely Catholic. How about Adam if you wanted something politically neutral.

theduchessofspork · 21/11/2023 21:49

Adam maybe?

theduchessofspork · 21/11/2023 21:48

Not neutral in NI no.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 21/11/2023 21:47

I’m in England so maybe not relevant but I wouldn’t assume Catholic. I also wouldn’t assume Irish as it’s fairly popular here after some celebrities called Aidan. I know it is Irish but English people are using it too.

ColleenDonaghy · 21/11/2023 21:47

Not neutral in NI.

I like it, but it's often lumped in with the much-maligned Jayden, Kayden etc names on here (which you may or may not care about, just letting you know in case it does bother you).

yesyesitsaparkingone · 21/11/2023 21:46

You should, it’s a lovely name.

TakeMe2Insanity · 21/11/2023 21:46

The only Aidens I know are North African in origin. Very common there.

yesyesitsaparkingone · 21/11/2023 21:46

Actually, not sure if Patrick and Rory are neutral completely but certainly enough middle class rugby type protestant boys are called that.

Most apostles names pretty neutral- James Paul Peter etc

Weirdly there seem to be thousands of English Matthews and Matts but not many Irish ones that spring to mind!

Original poster
Elvisis · 21/11/2023 21:43

Thanks I still love the name and will most likely use it, Oscar is nice too but I always associate it with sesame street lol

OP posts:
yesyesitsaparkingone · 21/11/2023 21:43

Rory and Patrick would be neutral where I am. Aidan probably not, but does it matter? It’s not a massive political statement, it’s just ‘more likely to be catholic’.

So sorry that we still live in times when we have to think about such things.

Firebird83 · 21/11/2023 21:33

Not neutral