Zion, do you like it?

[francescaduck1]

Pretty much what the title says really!!

Bertrand Marx is a great name

I agree with bertrand - perhaps your child won't share your political views and even if they do, why saddle them with such a loaded name? I'd change my name if it caused me such inconvenience in my life. It's a child, not a newspaper.

Buck3t so..you werent accusing people.of racism..but you are. Hmm

I love it. It makes me think of bob Marley

bertrand

I have to agree with you.
Bit like calling a child OrangeOrder. Or Marx (Although, I must say, Marx is actually a pretty awesome name...)

Zion is so politically loaded. I didn't know it was a common Jamaican/Rastafarian name but can see how that would make sense. But for most people, in this country, it will just refer to the current Middle East.

Zion is referenced in Rastafarian culture very heavily. One of the lost tribes of Israel is said to be aligned to Rastafarianism.

People are entitled to whatever views they wish but I think it's an awesome name.

Lou what are you hming exactly? Do you not understand we all have prejudices? Do you not think we should be pulled up about them? What's so difficult to understand about this?
I obviously wasn't calling myself racist but admitting like everyone I have prejudices allows me to be receptive when someone has reason to pull me up on something.
So yes I wasn't calling anyone racist but there is a clear bias against "black" sounding names on MN, rather than calling this racism I like to think of it as a lack of familiarity. Do you get it now or are you choosing to still be offended?

I wouldn't pronounce it to rhyme with Lion, as I say Li-un and Zion for me is definitely Zi-ON.

Alternatively, Bob Marley does pronounce Zion to rhyme with Lion in the song. I think what Bob Marley says, goes, with regard to Zion!

I think of Ethiopia not Israel.

It's a nice word, but big boots for a child to fill.

Thanks to this thread I'm now humming the national anthem of Israel.

I understand that the OP may feel differently if this name has a lot of cultural signifance to her/him.

But to me personally that's the association (which, I'm not saying that it's a bad association. But it's a controversial one). And Idk. I just don't think it would be fair to a child.

But I'm aware that some people may feel similarly about names I like

Alternatively, Bob Marley does pronounce Zion to rhyme with Lion in the song. I think what Bob Marley says, goes, with regard to Zion!

Actually, he pronounces lion to rhyme with Zion, rather than the other way round. ;)

Reminds me of Zionism too much.

chippie me too!

I love it. Lauryn Hills song Zion is called so because its the name of her son :)

I'm with Bertrand on this one: I think it's a lovely strong name, and from a Rastafari angle it works BUT right now the arguments and controversy around Zionism/two state solution/occupation of Palestine are HUUUUGE. University societies are tying themselves in knots trying to work out whether Anti Zionist campaigners are anti Semitic, and it's an issue that's going to get bigger and bigger in the next few years. I know it's disappointing because it's actually a great sounding name, but the baggage, and the assumptions people would make about you, and about your child, would absolutely put me off.

essential

Oh, thanks... :)

I actually really miss several kinds of food... (I'm not from Israel, but some of my cousins decided to move there with their families and I studied a year in Israel...).

I wouldn't, because of the politics. It's a pretty controversial name which could be awkward in terms of international travel and relationships. Also, one of my DC has a name which became politically controversial several years after the name was given. It's not a great feeling when you hear your child's name spoken in tones of loathing by people who you like, even when it's not your child they are talking about.