It's a boy! Name choice thoughts?

[CollyWombles]

We both like Cain for a first name, Douglas for a middle name after DH dad and surname begins with M.

Cain Douglas M.

Thoughts?

But Cain and Abel is such a culturally pervasive myth - it doesn't matter whether you believe, in a sense, unless he is only ever going to be associating with people who don't think 'mark of Cain' and banishment and murder. It's not at all comparable to names like Amelia that have been used much more frequently.

And even if you can ignore those associations, it just sounds like 'cane' which suggests beating or walking sticks, or cocaine or Novocain.

Strongly dislike it.

Have I said I dont want opinions? I asked for thoughts in my OP and have said quite a few times that the religious aspect does not concern me, that is not saying 'don't give me opinions'. I've also said I am interested in other opinions too, not just the religious aspect.

Amelia dyer was an actual real person though, in fact any of the name of such people are real people, there is not a scrap of evidence that the Cain in the bible was real. Its a choice to believe he was or wasn't. And my choice to believe he wasn't is no less valid than those that choose to believe he was.

Now, as said, I do not care about the religious aspect.

Opinions such as it sounds like a walking stick, it's chavvy etc are ones I will actually consider. Hence posting in here about the name. There are more opinions than just the religious one, clearly!

I also did not say I dislike Christianity. It just holds no meaning to me. Nor did I say I was proud of my celtic origins, just that is the origin of my country. I am choosing Cain, because I like it. It is unusual, has one syllable and four letters like the males in my DH family, my DH and kids like it, it won't be too difficult for my baby to one day learn the write or spell, it isn't hard to pronounce. A minor association with something I don't believe in is hardly going to outweigh all the reasons for liking it. That would be ridiculous.

Happy happy happy

The only Cain I thought of was Kane the WWF wrestler. It reminded me of him instantly, as I used to watched religiously as a teen (
It's a murderer in the bible, an evil wrestler and something you hit someone with, it just sounds like a mean, harsh name and I can't imagine it on a squidgy baby.
Adam is so much nicer, just my opinion of course, congrats.

Kane is actually reminding me of something too, wasn't that the name of the bad guy in robocop 2?

Ooh it was, actually spelled Cain too!

I also dislike Cain for all the same reasons already mentioned - first association is with a murderer, second is a stick to beat people with, “naughty boy” name etc.

Adam is lovely and the one syllable/four letter name can’t be that important if your DS1 is Mason...

Splitting hairs over dislike/disinterest, proud of your Celtic history/randomly brought it up in a weird way makes no odds. Naming your son after a character you don’t care about but is famously unpleasant is peculiar nonetheless. But it’s your life.

You might as well have put in your OP

DISCLAIMER I DON’T ACTUALLY WANT YOUR THOUGHTS

I don't want to 'split hairs' but my DH is not DS1's father. Actually a bold title stating I do not want your religious opinion might have been good!

I don't get the whole 'naughty boy' name. It's stupid. A child isn't naughty because of its name.

I think you've misunderstood. 'Naughty boy name' doesn't mean that the child will automatically be naughty! But when we hear names we make judgements. If you don't, that's wonderful! However, many people will hear names like Tarquin or Henrietta and associate them with the upper-classes, whether that has a positive or negative connotation for them. A name like Cosmic River might make you think of a hippy family.

No one is saying OP's boy will be naughty! Just that the name Cain conjures up the image of a naughty boy in my mind (which OP doesn't mind anyway so all is well!)

For someone who clearly thinks they know everything, your arguments are very poorly reasoned. Most of children named Amelia’s contemporaries aren’t taught the story of Amelia Dyer. There isn’t a book about Amelia Dyer in hotel rooms, or given out at schools. There aren’t entire buildings dedicated to the telling of stories that feature Amelia Dyer. The story of Cain and Abel has a far greater reach than Amelia Dyer so of course it’s more likely people would make the association.

Secondly, to your point about not caring as you aren’t a Christian. Good for you. I’m not either but it was still the first association I made. Your argument that it doesn’t matter if you aren’t Christian would surely only apply if everyone meeting your son was also not Christian. Otherwise you can’t guarantee that the murderer won’t be the first thing people would think of. I’m not German, but I wouldn’t name my child Adolf. Just because the most famous association of the name doesn’t apply to you directly doesn’t mean others won’t still apply that to the name.

Lastly, perhaps just don’t ask for advice if you don’t want it.

Fenella - * Most of children named Amelia’s contemporaries aren’t taught the story of Amelia Dyer. There isn’t a book about Amelia Dyer in hotel rooms, or given out at schools. There aren’t entire buildings dedicated to the telling of stories that feature Amelia

This made me roar with laughter. I agree with everything you have said.

The point about amelia dyer is that she was most definitely a real person that no one can deny. Her crimes are a fact. Cain in the bible is a story with no evidence of being real.

I already have 4dc yet none of them have said, wait mum, you can't call the baby Cain, he was a murderer in the bible! The people I have told in person have not said, wait CollyWombles, didn't you know, Cain was a murderer in the bible!

This is because regardless of buildings dedicated to christianity, books in hotel rooms and the story 'supposedly' being taught in public non Catholic schools, it is a non issue.

Now I have no doubt my DC would have reacted differently should I have said I am considering the name Adolf. And just about every single person on and off the Web. Being actually taught in schools and without whole buildings being dedicated to him, or books in hotel rooms. There is a world of difference between the name of Cain and that of Adolf. Mythical Cain killed a person. Factual Adolf killed millions of people. Not exactly a good example there.

Sounds like you've made up your mind then?

this thread

OP, "I want to name my child Adolf"

Helpful posters, "....hmm, that has some negative associations"

OP, "I'm not a historian, and I don't care about that stuff, so that's ridiculous bringing it up",

Bemused posters, "hmm, well you asked for opinions on the name?"

OP, "well I like it, so what does it matter what you all think anyway, fools!"

No, I am less keen than I was to begin with at the start of the thread. I do have a habit of thinking I know it all and would continue debating until he arrived and was named because I firmly believe its a non issue, however that doesn't mean my unborn son might feel the same way. He may choose to become a Christian one day, believe it or not there was a time when I was very interested in Christianity.

I am considering the name Cade now too, Scottish roots meaning from the wetlands. Only one letter difference and so far the only other four letter boy name I like. I will add Cain to the list of boys names I would love but wouldnt be selfish enough to use on my child such as Damien (love that name)

Adolf was never an consideration. For a start, it's five letters.

OP, I know you weren't actually considering Adolf.
You have chosen a name that is synonymous with murder - everyone has pointed that out to you, and you are saying it doesn't matter to you because you're not religious. But whether you're religious or not does not change the fact that for most other people (most of who are also not religious) this is the first thing that comes to mind when they hear that name. Life is challenging enough without being burdened with a name with those connotations.

Cross posted.

Damien is much nicer, what about that?!

OP, if you are set on Cain, then there was little point asking for opinions.

We can trawl through history and find positive and negative associations for any name - Peter being a good example. However, some more unusual names have an unshakeable association for many people. I am sure there have been some perfectly lovely Myras and Adolfs, but those aren't the ones who are evoked when we hear those names. For me ( and I'm not particularly religious) and others, Cain clearly has similar connotations.

Oh Ex H and DH both said no. The (fictional) little boy possessed by the devil in the Omen film is called Damien! Can't win!

Like "Cain"... OR ELSE!