Thoughts on Cohen?

[fluentinsarcasm]

Really grown on me, what do you think?

What about Ciaran?

I'd assume it was a surname myself.

Coen would work well with an Irish surname. It has the look of Ann Irish name too.

Reminds me of Seth Cohen from The OC... I like it.

I don't actually think I've ever met any Jewish people (there are only about 2000 in Wales so hardly surprising) so this wouldn't even cross my mind. Guess it depends a bit where you live too...

JadeT2, I live in Wales and am aware of the surname Cohen and its meaning. I don't think it's about where you're from.

It doesn't work as a first name, OP.

No sorry I was more referring to the fact that a PP claimed "everyone" the child would meet would think their parents were idiots. I feel that's a slight exaggeration given that I don't feel it's common knowledge in many areas.

To be honest I'm hugely offended by plenty in the name of religion lately, namely my work mate still in a Manchster Hospital recovering from 3 leg operations.
So no, I don't give a toss about cultural appropiation or offending anyone over a name, there's bigger issues to worry about.

OP, has that got anything to do with Judaism?

And it's your child who will have to bear the name, not you. So stop being a selfish twat by thinking only of yourself and your wants and your lack of fucks to give.

Don't name your child in righteous anger against religion. It's him who's got to live with it.

Remember that children aren't accessories, they're people who grow into adults.

Istole I don't agree that it's the same as a non/Scottish calling their child Hamish. I'm Scottish and wouldn't be in the least offended if a non Scottish used the name.

But Cohen has cultural significance greater than just as a name.

Fluent It's fine for you not to be interested in/like religion (though it does raise the question why you'd choose such an overtly religious name)

The problem is that it won't be your problem to deal with. It will be his.

You aren't naming a baby. You are naming a man.

A man who will potentially have to spend his life explaining/apologising for/defending your choice. A man who will be judged on his name.

And don't say he won't have to explain it. What if he falls in love with a Jewish girl? What if he applies to work for a firm owned by a Jewish family?

It's not a great start to any relationship to say "I know it's an odd choice. No my family isn't Jewish, they're Atheists. Yes they knew it was potentially offensive- they didn't care... "

You're right SuperBeagle, I have no fucks to give, probably like the vast majority of people when told the name.
I'll take a straw poll of 40 workmates tomorrow and if just one knows of its history I will be very surprised.

How many of the 40 will be Jewish? That's probably an important factor

Call your child what you like.

Don't defend or explain it. Why on earth did you post this?

Ask 40 Jewish people and get their opinions. That would be more useful.

Well, considering most people on this thread have said the same thing, it seems to hold true that some non-Jews do know about the problems with Cohen.

I am not Jewish. My husband is (non-practicing, might I add - it makes no difference). He'd give you the side eye if you introduced your non-Jewish son as Cohen and then proceeded to tell him you gave no fucks about religion because of Manchester.

Yes, that's how ridiculous you sound.

You sound more delightful each time you post OP.

Is the baby's father of the same giving no fucks mindset as you OP - or is he more sensible?

Arguments regarding cultural appropriation etc aside (and I'm not for a second minimising these) the name clearly has the potential to be controversial for sum. Is it the "sound" of the name that you like. If so there are plenty of similar sounding alternatives above.

"Owen" for example is pretty mainstream and has a virtually identical sound.

*some

OP You sneered at someone on another thread who wanted to call their baby Apollo. "Beyond stupid, grow up" you said.

Take your own advice.

Go for it, ignore people who think you can't use a Jewish name - cultural appropriation is just the deliberate offence-takers name for what naturally happens when diverse people all mix together, integrate and get along.

Levi was one of Leah and Jacobs sons and the Levi tribe was named after him and had priestly rights conferred on them. Its origins are that it is a first name. Cohen isn't a name, it's a title. As a Jew I wouldn't call my child Pope or Archbishop as it is disrespectful to another religion and just plain weird for the child itself. And although Mohammed is one of the commonest names in the UK, I'd not call a son that as it would offend a heck of a lot of Muslims and Jews for a Jewish boy to be called Mohammed.

And met wins the award for ignoring the entire thread and persisting with the "choose the name you love" bullshit.

Does nobody else remember the David thread?

It was a Jewish mother who thought 'David' had been taken over.

It was interesting but if people feel the name David is only for Jewish people, how could you use Cohen?

Met no one said the OP could use a Jewish name. There are lots of Jewish names in common use.

This particular name is a bit different though.

As Disastrous said earlier it's a bit like calling your child Pope Smith while being an anti-religious atheist.

Poor Pope is going to be explaining that name forever. And probably changing it as soon as he turns 16yo

^^ couldn't use.