Thoughts on Cohen?

[fluentinsarcasm]

Really grown on me, what do you think?

Googling seems to suggest that Coen has Dutch or Irish origins so I really don't see why you can't use that

NoCure Who are "those people"?.....sounds intriguing.

Where is the OP based? UK?

Personally for me, I work for a Jewish company in a quite popular Jewish area of town and know of one person with the surname Cohen.
The way I see it is if religion isn't a factor in OP's life, then religious tones won't really come into the child's every day life (church, school, etc) - to them it's just a nice sounding name.

I saw someone post that it's like calling your child Mohammad, which is actually one of the most popular baby names for quite a few years running.

I like the name with the spelling Kohen. Ultimately it's your choice.

It's not really like calling your child Mohammad, it's more like calling your child priest or rabbi. It's a title, not a name. Jesus is a name, it's not a title. Priest is a title, not a name. The same goes for Cohen.

OP, it's clear you've no interest in the opinions of others, so why post the thread in the first place?

Posted the thread to ask if others liked the name SuperBeagle, just like everyone else.
If you read the whole thread there are many saying they are also unaware of any issues, so I'm not alone.
I'm not in any shape or form religous, but appreciate Cohen might be divisive, which is why I asked if Coen was more acceptable.
Nice to see others also like the name.

There's a Princess and a Queen in DD's school too (inner city). Also hereditary titles. Should I be offended that non-Brits (non-Europeans) have chosen to use these 'titles' for their DDs? Is this cultural appropriation? Genuine question. Is it because Cohen is a religious title that it's a problem - but if you're not part of that religion, does it matter? Should I, as a Catholic, be fussed if someone calls their child Cardinal? I can't honestly say I'd give a shit, but I'm only speaking for myself of course.

Coen is an unrelated though similar name but personally don't like the look of it.

How about Eoghan? (Rhymes with Cohen and would go wuth your Irish surname )

'if you're not part of the religion, does it matter?'
yes, of course it does, unless you think the child has zero chance of ever coming across anyone of that religion
plus the fact that even Gentiles will be thinking WTF

For the avoidance of doubt - I am Jewish and I would be bemused and think you were ignorant and / or offensive.

+1 to this. Use Coen if you're dead set on this.

newt but, as I said, as a Catholic if I met a child called Cardinal I wouldn't think anything other than 'not a name I'd choose but each to their own'. To me, it's not inherently offensive to use a Catholic title as a name. Again, I'm a Brit, we have a Queen as our Head of State, but it don't find it offensive to come across a child called Queen.

Are you saying that to use Cohen as a first name is inherently offensive, or are you saying that as it's a religious title no-one Jewish would use it as a first name, so no-one else should either?

I like it. I see it in the same manner as other occupational names such as Mason, cooper, fletcher, Taylor, dexter, Marshall etc.

There are thousands lots of names with religious connotations and it's a bit silly to say you can only use that name if you practice that religion yourself.
If you wanted to call your baby Messiah or Jesus it's up to you. There's no laws against it.

There's no laws against it. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea. I'd be pretty pissed off if I found out that my parents had given me a name they knew lots of people found offensive but decided to use it anyway. There are millions of names out there! Why put that burden on your child?

Agree with pps about the cultural appropriation etc. You would just be making yourself look ignorant, and probably causing confusion for the poor kid in the future.

Added to that, as a word it's just not even attractive. A bizarre choice.

Dexter means right handed, it's not a profession.

A 'Dexter' was a female dyer.

How about 'Ohen'? Sounds a bit like Owen.

Wouldn't use Cohen TBH.

There are going to be a lot of names that are offensive to someone somewhere. Using Cohen if you're not Jewish is in the same park as using Niamh if you're not Irish, or Hamish if you're not Scottish.

I do understand cultural appropriation but it's getting thrown around for everything now. There was an arguement on a different forum I frequent about whether non African people having braids was CA and the consensus was that yes, it was. Which is ridiculous. My dd wears a tight braid to school, not because Shes 'stealing' African culture, but because I want to reduce her chances of catching lice!

"Boys will be named it because parents like it and are oblivious to the religous meaning, this does not make them morons."

Well, yes it does, rather,.....,,,,

As a Jew, I don't think it's cultural appropriation- any more than naming your dc Levi or Tal would be, or a Jew naming their dc Veronica or Elizabeth would be.

Neither would I find it offensive. Just weird.

If you like it, go ahead. But be aware that you open yourselves and your dc up to a lifetime of assumptions: non-Jews will assume you are Jews, Jews will just be puzzled.

Coen/Koen à much better alternative IMO. Same sound, none of the assumptions.

this does not make them morons

I think it does make them morons actually. They should do some research before burdening their child with an offensive name

Cohen is a surname, with obviously Jewish connotations.

I'm surprised that you don't mind people taking offence at your child's name, I would never call my child something that might cause offence.

Does anybody else remember the 'David' thread about cultural appropriation?

I don't like Cohen as a first name, btw.

My cousin has a boy called cohen, she isn't Jewish. Not sure if she's made the connection but I hadn't until this thread.

Some people may be offended but I suspect most won't to be honest.

As an aside, I don't like the name

I think it's weird as a first name. I always associate it with wannabes who think it somehow confers priestly status.

Male members of the Cohen tribe were given special status in biblical times and were priests.

But this is also true of the tribe of Levi, no? And that's a perfectly acceptable name inside and outside of Jewish circles. I think Cohen is a lovely name, mostly because of Leonard.