Have seen this name pop up on Facebook a few times recently. I always thought this was a "no-go" name due to the meaning of it (Priest in Hebrew). What's your take on it?
Added a poll for fun!
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It is my understanding that this is an important name in the Jewish tradition, so it is one I would not use as a first name out of respect.
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I like it fine. I'd say sure.
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I didn't know it was no go name. There are SO many tnames of kids I've heard that I would think f as no go or embarassing, but yet people keep naming tie rkids weird things.
I wouldn't use the K spelling. It may be a proper spelling, but one trend I haven't enjoyed the last few years are changing C's to K (and I's to Y's, etc), and so this spelling would look to me to be following that trend.
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I know too many people with that last name (none of them related) so I wouldn't use it.
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Cohen is cool. I only know people with it as a last name though.
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To me it's a last name, not a first.
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I think it's culturally insensitive and assume the parents are somewhat ignorant.
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I think it's ignorant and offensive.
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Had no idea there was controversy surrounding using this as a first name. I personally wouldn't use it (not my cup of tea), but never thought twice when others did (and will not think twice).
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@travellingbee: Agreed. I actually kind of like it, but I'd do the C spelling.
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I don't necessarily think it's offensive but I would think parents who use that name without ties to Judaism were maybe unsophisticated or not worldly. Definitely not a name i would ever use.
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I know only one person who named their son Cohen, and they are Catholic (assuming they didn't know the cultural significance).
With a K? sounds rather Kardashian-esque.
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It pops up on my Facebook now and then, and it always gets major side-eye from me.
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Why is it offensive? I don't get it and grew up in NY. An accusation of being insensitive and ignorant seems pretty harsh for just not being aware of another cultures taboos...
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I never realized it was insensitive either. Curious what the problem with it is?
Not my cup of tea anyway.
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To each their own I guess but I'm Jewish and don't find it offensive for people to use regardless of their religious or cultural background. I think it's a pretty silly thing to get upset about in the whole scheme of life. I don't go around asking people what their religion is so I'd likely not know if you were Jewish or not and using the name unless you're a very close friend.
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I have no ide what it means or why it would be offensive. I wouldn't even know it was taboo. I like the way it sounds just fine.
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Cohen is a Jewish last name that signifies the descendants of Aaron. Cohens in traditional Judaism gave special privileges and rules. It's considered an honor to be a Cohen.
To use the name is kind of like wearing a rosary because you think it's pretty, but you're not Catholic. It's appropriating something of significance to another culture.
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You learn something new every day! I grew up in Reno, went to school in Idaho and now live in montana (this is for reference) I have one friend who is Jewish and actually practices her religion. I had no idea this would be offensive!
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@ShootingStar: the rosary reference clears it up for me. I see what you mean!
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I have tons of Jewish friends and have attended many a bar/bat mitzvahs in my day. Right off the top of my head I have two people I know well with the last name Cohen. I know Cohen is a Jewish last name but I had no clue it meant priest or was considered to be a great honor to be a Cohen. I think that's pretty aggressive to say it's ignorant and offensive to be unaware. If a Jewish person heard the name Deacon and thought it was cool and named their kid that without knowing it signified an important role in the Christian faith I certainly wouldn't be offended or get worked up about cultural appropriation.
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I guess I'm not as easily offended as others but I agree with @Truth Bombs: that calling others ignorant or offensive is a little much. Obviously it is not people's intention to offend others with their child's name.
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Definitely think it's cultural appropriation, which usually arises out of ignorance. Why is it harsh to say? Doesn't ignorance mean being unaware of something? I'm not Jewish, so I wouldn't name my kid Cohen. Just like I wouldn't name my kid Krishna or Jesus or Xiuxiu or Mikhail or any other name so obviously associated with a culture or religion that I'm not a part of.
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The things we learn on HB. I had no idea 1) that people were naming their kid's Cohen as a first name or that 2) it is so hotly debated. To me it's a Jewish last name with that spelling so if someone wanted to use it I'd say spell it differently--though I live in NYC so I know this maybe not everyone does. I didn't know it was some special thing with special meaning though..
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guys, the idea of gentiles on facebook naming their kids Cohen because they think it sounds cool is totally, totally cracking me up. wonder when they'll start in on Brahman for a first name.
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I had NO idea. Wasn't this a character's name on the OC? That's where I think I know it from.
I guess I can't understand how someone would choose a name without researching at all. Even the happy-go-lucky baby name sites explain (pretty apparently) that it's offensive.
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@MoonMoon: Exactly, what's so wrong with saying that it's ignorant? @littlejoy: That's where it got popular - it was Seth Cohen, but he was known as Cohen.
A friend in a very Jewish neighbourhood named their son Cohen because it sounded cool, not realizing when their kid got to daycare that half his class had the last name Cohen. They ended up changing his name! In her words - "we thought it would be too weird considering we aren't even Jewish."
I wouldn't go so far as calling it offensive, but i think it's bit weird. The meaning and history of a name is important to me, and i wouldn't name my kid Cohen or Kohen with that knowledge. But just like how it would be so weird if we used the surname from a different culture!
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I personally wouldn't use it as it isn't my style but I really don't get the offense. As a Christian, I wouldn't be offended by someone naming their child Deacon or Jesus or something like that.
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Well if Kanye West can name his son Saint.......
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I have no problem with the name, but I'm apparently ignorant. Not a fan of the trendy K though.
We have plenty of people named Jesus (hay-soos) here in the southwest, it's cultural, but I don't expect someone not involved in the culture to necessarily know about it. We also have quite a few Adolpho's, it's just normal here, never thought of a bad connotation.
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@littlejoy: so spot on.
I wouldn't be offended if someone named their kid that because I didn't know the cultural significance of it. I had no idea Cohen was offensive but after seeing your post (and being texted about this thread by a Jewish HB friend) I went to nameberry. If I was looking for names and came across that, I wouldn't use it because it might offend.
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@MoonMoon: I think to be ignorant of something means being unaware but when you call someone ignorant that implies uneducated or unsophisticated. It is very negative. One could easily say, I would assume the parents were unaware rather than say, I would assume the parents were ignorant and the connotation is very different. I grew up in NY, with many Jewish friends, went to synagogue with them at times, have a masters degree and have traveled extensively around the world. I know Cohen is a Jewish last name but for whatever reason never heard of this name debate. I don't think that just because you don't know everything about another culture that makes you ignorant.
Also, people appropriate other people's cultures all the time, in names, in traditions, etc. I don't really get the offense. But I'm not religious so I don't get offended by religious things. it's not like the people are trying to change their last name to Cohen to try to claim heritage or something.
ETA: but, yes I think you should research a name before deciding
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Oh my. Well, I'm jewish and I'm certainly not "offended" by the first name Cohen, but I do think it's a little silly? Like if you met someone named "God Smith" you may be like wow, that's a bit presumptuous.. but whatever floats your boat, mom.
It's sort of considered an honor to have the last name Cohen - and it's not given to you, it's passed down through your family lineage. Cohens are considered descendants of Jewish high priests. Naming someone that as their first name is not the same.
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@LCTBQE: HA!!!
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@JoJoGirl: would it be appropriate, if say, Cohen came down from your mother's side, to be given that as a first name, with your father's last name?
Also, in this context, is Jesus offensive?
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@looch: No. It's just weird. First names are not passed down in Jewish families, only last names, so to maintain the "family line" or whatever, you'd keep Cohen as a last name.
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@JoJoGirl: ok got it.
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Just wanted to add that when I looked it up on Baby Name Wizard, here's the history:
"Meanings and history of the name Cohen: | Edit
Cohen is a Hebrew name (כהן) which literally means "priest" (mostly of the Jewish religion). It's also a common Jewish surname which represents an ancient biblical priestly herritage. The name is common in the USA, it was also common among Jewish communities in Asia (like Uzbekistan and Iran). The surname "Cohen" is the most common surname in Israel, but it isn't commonly used as a first name."Doesn't say anywhere about it being offensive. I'm not trying to claim that it's NOT offensive, just that not all baby name sites indicate that it would be to use it, so it's easy to see where someone may not know that this could be offensive to others.
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@Adira: I don't think anyone will state "THIS IS OFFENSIVE" since that's pretty subjective.
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68 comments