Hecate for a baby girl?

[BuddingBaker]

Hecate (pronounced hek-ah-tee). In Greek mythology Hecate was a goddess associated with witchcraft, crossroads, tombs, demons and the underworld.

Bit of an unusual name but my partner really likes it and I think it sounds nice. What do you think?

Not good, sorry. Your daughter won’t thank you for a name like that.

I don't like the name, it's a witch.
But madcatladyforever's response is completely insane!

It's only insane if you are not a wiccan

It would be like calling your child Jesus Christ Smith. I don't think that would go down very well either.

And everyone would think your child was from a witchy goth family.

I think the 'insane' part people were referring to is the bit about 'Hecate taking over your daughter' and 'she won't be your daughter for long'

Disadvantage- Macbeth, so people will know it’s a witch name
Advantage- Macbeth, so people should know how to pronounce it.

First thought - witch?

Second thought - abbreviation Heck?

Third thought - well your dh is a pagan and Kitty is a nice abbreviation so if you really like it I'd go for it but announce from birth Hecate to be known as Kitty but then what's the point of calling her Hecate?

Again not insane if you are a wiccan MyGhastis, none of us will take on the name Hecate, we all have other names. It's too strong and names have power.
Anyway even from a non wiccan point of view can you imagine if she wanted to become a church of England vicar and was called Hecate?

People still call children Salome, Jocasta, Jonah, Electra, Hector, Cassandra etc. Even Loki etc. Probably not many Fenrir, Hades, or Adolfs around though.

This is one of those posts where you can tell the people involved haven't yet wrapped their heads around the fact they're naming a human, with a name that will carry them through every day and stage of their lives.

Hecate Beese? C'mon, be fair. If you like it that much there's always deed poll.

I am pagan. I wouldnt use it. People just won't understand and shes a pretty powerful goddess to be named after. That said, I love lilith and I know others dont... but it does sound softer. I would not use it.

Think what an obnoxious child at school could make of it (or any other name). Here kitty, Hec ate bees wax, Etc

No. Painful for your DD.

Surely you just tell people how to pronounce it and then they do. I have a foreign name that I always had to tell teachers etc how to say but then they just said it. I always find the ‘people won’t be able to say it argument’ a bit lame really. There are plenty of people with non-English names about and you just tell people.

I also find the nickname thing curiously just on MN. I only know a very small number of people who are called by abbreviated or nickname versions of their names. Not everyone has to have a nickname and if you say ‘hi I am Rebecca’ then I will just call you Rebecca.

On the Hecate front, I do like it but whilst I wouldn’t go as far as madcatlady I do think some names are too heavy to be carried and for me this would be one, but I like it and importantly so do you and your DH.

It’s a bit too witchy for my liking. I don’t like it for a baby name given all the associations it has.

No. Think of your DD constantly having to tell people how to say her name, apart from anything. There are plenty of other Greek or mythological names that are much nicer.

I'd pronounce it He Kate. Which is horrid.

Why do you want to give a name that no-one will be able to pronounce until told? That's so unfair for your daughter.

It's the worst name I've ever seen suggested on here. I really hope you change your mind!

Big LOL at "heh-catty bees" from me.

Seriously OP, just don't.

”It would be like calling your child Jesus Christ Smith.“

Hoards of people are called Jesus, often from Catholic countries. No one sees it as “incredibly insulting.“

But then people don’t think Jesus will “take over” the child either (WTAF?!)...

I cant see other children caring about the name too much. It's a character in a play, no different from Harry or Elsa immediately being associated with Harry Potter or Frozen. A lot of names are featured in popular or well known books and media and I dont want to avoid it just because it's in a play and people might recognise it.

AudacityOfHope - I have actually been considering this for a while actually and am very aware that I am naming a child which is why I am taking time to decide and seeing what other peoples reactions will be. I cant choose her surname any more than I can choose my own.

I understand that this name isn't for everyone and a lot of people focus heavily on the meaning but as far as I'm concerned the origin of her name wont define who my daughter is as a child and I like the way the name sounds. As PP pointed out, it just takes telling someone once how to pronounce it if they struggle l, and she will be in the same class with the same teacher for at least a year at a time so she wont have to constantly explain how to say her name - it's not like she'll be meeting several new people on a daily basis. Plus she will only have to explain when people try to read her name before hearing it, if she just says 'hi, I'm Hecate' when she introduces herself there will be no issue. I have never had anyone react as strongly to the meaning of my name or my first daughter's so I dont see why this would be any different. At most people will say 'that's a nice/unusual name' and sometimes ask what it means.

I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea but I wont name my daughter something just to please everyone else, and I dont want her to have a generic name and just be another Isla or Elsie etc.

I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea but I wont name my daughter something just to please everyone else, and I dont want her to have a generic name and just be another Isla or Elsie etc

^^ so you asked because?

Anyway, thank you all for your responses. I have a feeling it'll be more other parents that dont like the name as opposed to other children when she is at school, heheh. I do appreciate your honest feedback though and will definitely take it into consideration.

I know a Hecate. She is very beautiful and very cool, and gets called Aitch by her family and friends.

Bloomburger - I asked to get an impression of how strangers will react to it as I know friends and family have a different opinion because they know me and my partner.

That being said, the origin of the name will in no way define who my daughter is so it doesnt bother me that much

I think you’ll find this is untrue. There’s lots of academic research / literature around how people’s names affects how other treat them which in turn affects the person with the name’s personality/ outcomes in life. We do not exist in a bubble and societal influences are strong.

Please don’t name your child’s Hecatty Bees it’s bordering on cruel

I like it.

I think you’re being incredibly naive if you think other kids won’t say anything, kids are very cruel and yes a child’s life can be a misery with name calling because their parents wanted to be ‘different’. The majority have gave you sound experienced reasons for not using the name but no no they’re all wrong 🙄🙄