Cohen or Harrison

[voscar]

DP and I are really struggling with names for our little boy who is due in three and a bit weeks. We both like Cohen and Harrison - the only two we agree on.

What are your general thoughts on these?

Thank you ladies!!!

Wait for the onslaught of 'they're surnames not real names'!

Personally I like Cohen of the two as it's more unusual.

I don't like either as I hate surnames as first names-however of the 2 it has to be Harrison -I really dislike Cohen.(even Colin would be better)

Harry for short.

Cohen is a really common surname in the Jewish community

Have never heard it as a first name

Harrison is a really nice name and can be shortened well

:) I was expecting that!! Lol!

We both have unusual names ourselves - but not so unheard of that they raise eyebrows, just enough that neither of us have come across many others and would quite like to have the same for our son.

Harrison we think will get shortened to Harry by his friends when he's older - which we don't mind as its a lovely name too, but there are lots of Harry's out there.

I've never heard of Cohen as a first name - it's usually seen as a very common Jewish surname. It denotes people who descended from priests of the temple in Jerusalem. Does that impact your choice?

I adore Harrison.

If dd2 had been a boy she'd have been Harrison.

Ooops cross-posted.

Harrison will end up as Harry and there are already lots and lots of those out there. A little dull imo.

Cohen, whilst being a common surname, would make a nice first name - a refreshing change imo. Are you jewish?

Depends where you live. There are no Harry's here in my bit of Central Scotland. And you can shorten it to Harris if Harry's not for you!

Harrison. Love that name.

Cohen is the more interesting imo. Lots of surnames are first names these days. Cohen is short enough to not have to be shortened - I quite like it actually.

Harrison, nickname Harry, is a little boring as there are so many Harrys around.

Is Cohen a bit disrespectful? I'm going to say harrison. Safer. What about Edison as well? not my style, but Harrison has been wheeled out loads, haven't seen anybody suggest Edison yet.

I'm Scottish and DP is English - neither of us is Jewish, and I did know the origin of the name but didn't think it disrespectful as Scots have quite a tradition of using surnames as first names - I didn't realise it might be considered so tbh.

Appreciate the comments - we haven't shared with family/friends and won't until he has 'his' name otherwise we would never get one picked as we would end up trying to keep everyone happy IYSWIM.

If I heard the name Cohen I would assume you were Jewish

It has really strong associations IMO

I don't know if it's disrespectful but a Cohen was a priest IIRC

Cohen meaning

I wouldn't say it's disrespectful but I would assume you're Jewish I suppose.

I like the sound of it.

Just clicked on that link. It's more than just a common Jewish surname. It means Priest.

I dunno. I would be embarrassed telling a Jewish person, ''oh no, not Jewish no, no, not after somebody, no, I just picked it cuz I like it!". Maybe I over analyse.

You could always spell it 'Coen' as, thanks to my old friend Google, I've just discovered that is a real Germanic first name () from 'Conrad' meaning 'brave'.

Assuming you don't dislike the Coen brothers that is . . . !

Thanks poche. That's a good suggestion! If we do use the name I think it would be more sensible to go with that spelling rather than risk any religious confusion or disrespect.

Please don't use Cohen, I'm even a bit about Coen but thats probably because I know you were thinking of Cohen.

I'm normally quite relaxed about things like this but I think to use Cohen, even though I see from google other people have, is pretty disrespectful and therefore a bit offensive.

In case you haven't guessed I'm Jewish.

Hmmm, genuinely didn't realise it was that bad. Guess I th

Genuinely didn't think it was that bad - guess I thought it was the equivalent of using smith as a first name. Looks like coen/Cohen is out.

I don't want to have just one name as an option - in case the wee man doesn't look like a 'Harrison' when he's born.

What does everyone think of Leo?