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Multicultural families

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Original poster

Does 'Christian name' bother you, if you're not a Christian?

101 replies

acnebride · 21/02/2005 14:38

Am sulking childishly over something that happened at my new work at a GP practice and would appreciate either being told that this doesn't matter or having my sulk validated . I heard one of the receptionists ask a mum who was wearing a hijab for her child's Christian name. The mum clearly wasn't delighted, but didn't make it a big issue; me as a PC wuss, and also having a Jewish son and husband, was quite upset. So at the next Practice meeting I said that I thought it was better to ask people for 'first names'. No-one objected at the time, but my boss has since reversed the decision and said staff can say whatever they like, because 'this is a Christian country'.

At least this decision allows me to carry on doing what I think best, but am slightly upset about it. Also worried that I've marked myself as a humourless PC person at my new work! (hey - truth hurts).

If you're not a Christian, or your child is not, does being asked for your Christian name even remotely bother you?

OP posts:
makealist · 21/02/2005 14:42

Hello Acnebride,

I can honestly say that I have never given this any thought before, but now i have and imo you are right, they should ask for "first name"

NameChangingMancMidlander · 21/02/2005 14:43

I agree with makealist.

Twiglett · 21/02/2005 14:43

No it should be forename ..or first name

we are a multicultural / multifaith county more than a 'christian one'

FairyMum · 21/02/2005 14:44

agree with makealist too!

Twiglett · 21/02/2005 14:44

countRy

fisil · 21/02/2005 14:45

I used to work in a Jewish school and so got used to saying "first name". I now feel awkward whenever I hear the phrase "christian name" (although I don't hear it very often these days, tbh)

RudyDudy · 21/02/2005 14:45

Agree with others - should definitely be firstname or forename. If nothing else it is the less presumptious and therefore more polite way of asking. If you can be bothered and don't mind too much about the 'humourless PC' tag then I'd consider raising it again.

PrettyCandles · 21/02/2005 14:45

It annoys me, and my reply is always 'my first name is ...'. It's a very unenlightened way of getting the info in today's multicultural (and pc ) days.

As a child I used to reply 'I don't have a Christian name.' The asker was usually startled and would ask why not. Reply 'Because I'm not Christian'.

BadHair · 21/02/2005 14:46

Agree - wouldn't be happy with Christian name. As mine are not christened they technically cannot have Christian names.
Most places do say "first name" though IME.

Twiglett · 21/02/2005 14:47

its not just non-christians you risk offending, how about agnostics and atheists

Cod · 21/02/2005 14:49

Message withdrawn

SenoraPostrophe · 21/02/2005 14:49

surely agnostics and atheists are non-christans, twigg?

As one of them I am not offended, but then I am not offended by much.

Cod · 21/02/2005 14:49

Message withdrawn

NameChangingMancMidlander · 21/02/2005 14:50

Thinking about it, I haven't heard 'christian name' used for quite a while. It's quite an archaic phrase nowadays, isn't it ?!

NotQuiteCockney · 21/02/2005 14:50

Hmm, I see the problem with "Christian name" ... unfortunately "first name" isn't great, either, as of course the order of family name and personal name varies from culture to culture - in Japan, for example, the family name comes first.

This sort of thing can cause real problems - I used to date a guy who had a different last name from his brother, officially - they'd immigrated to Canada separately (they were Iraqi Christians, if I remember correctly), and one of them had been asked at immigration, "What is your family name?", and the other had been asked "What is your last name?". For them, the family name was the second-to-last name.

I think first name is probably clear enough, for people living in the UK, but there really should be an equivalent term to "family name" for this ...

NotQuiteCockney · 21/02/2005 14:51

Oh, wait, "given name" does it.

I don't mind if people call my husband my partner. I used that term before we were married (leading many people to wonder what gender my partner was ...).

morningpaper · 21/02/2005 14:51

Your boss sounds AWFUL. You are totally correct.

Chandra · 21/02/2005 14:52

Yep, first time somebody in this country asked for my christian name I went blank, I guess I was used to the usual american "first name".

I have a rather pagan name and a slightly christian one which I don't use at all. I believe my parents choosed it in a hurry when our Holy Mother Catholic church refused to baptise me with my non-christian name

Cod · 21/02/2005 14:52

Message withdrawn

NotQuiteCockney · 21/02/2005 14:52

Your boss does sound a bit weird. It's not like saying "first name" is harder or less understandable than "Christian name".

Original poster
acnebride · 21/02/2005 14:52

Thanks all, I feel both validated and chastened - like confession . Think I won't raise it again as I really don't think my bosses can stand it at the moment - they are very upset because of a certain sport being banned.

OP posts:
Cod · 21/02/2005 14:52

Message withdrawn

NameChangingMancMidlander · 21/02/2005 14:53

I hate the term 'boyfriend' when used in the context of an adult relationship, it just takes me back to being 15 again.

motherinferior · 21/02/2005 14:53

aha! yes, it annoys me ENORMOUSLY. Every time I'm asked for my Christian name I say - annoyingly, sententiously and accurately - that actually it's not a Christian name it's a Hindu name.

Spose I can say that with the Inferiorettes, too, 'it's not a Christian name, it's a Jewish name'.

Am neither Hindu nor Jewish, btw .

RudyDudy · 21/02/2005 14:53

I do think it's quite an outdated thing to say - especially given that we are basically a secular country these days.