(Others, feel free to comment, too, but I could especially use the opinions of other Christians for this one.)
I’ve really been crushing on [name_m]Saint[/name_m] as a middle name lately. I feel like it’s a bit pretentious (and conceited) as a FN, but it was used quite a bit name in Hollywood in the past year ([name_m]Pete[/name_m] Wentz’s [name_m]Saint[/name_m] Lazslo, and [name_m]Dave[/name_m] Grohl’s [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_m]Saint[/name_m]), and it’s had me thinking of the religious implications. I love the Biblical perspective of a saint–one of the believers, one of God’s children, someone who believes in God, essentially. I love that “saint” means “holy” in [name_m]French[/name_m], too.
If it’s really bad, I need another [name_m]Christian[/name_m] to talk me out of it pretty fast, haha. I have been falling pretty hard, and I think it would make a great middle (probably second middle at that)! I’m probably being crazy, but if it’s been used this much already, is it really that bad? Would something like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_m]Saint[/name_m] be bad, for example? Or [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Odilia[/name_f] [name_m]Saint[/name_m]?
I don’t think it’s bad as a middle name. I do not like it as a first name, but I think a middle would be ok. As a Catholic, I know a ton of people who are named after saints, so what would be the difference in using the title saint as a middle? It is something to aspire towards, just like naming a child after [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or another saint would be. I think it’s totally usable. It may raise some eyebrows, but overall you have good intentions so I think it’s fine.
I think it would be fine, but part of me is bothered that it could seem that you are pushing religion onto a child. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know what I mean? Maybe this would be extreme, but giving them [name_m]Saint[/name_m] as a middle name feels as if the parent is giving the child no choice but to be somewhat religious.
I thought of it as really tacky when these celebrity used it. I think you have to accomplish something in your life first before earning such a title.
And it always sounds like it’s part of the last name to me à la [name_m]Yves[/name_m] [name_m]Saint/name_m[name_m]Laurent[/name_m].
My experience of it has been in the middle, but as a whole saint’s name: like [name_f]Mary[/name_f] St. [name_u]Michael[/name_u] or [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Emma[/name_f] St. [name_u]James[/name_u], eg. Super old-school and very religious.
Personally, it feels ok by itself in the middle because it reminds me of the word/concept. As a first it would seem like you were bestowing a title on a child.
I understand your liking of it, and it is alright as a middle name. But I can think of two issues here. One is that [name_m]Saint[/name_m] can fall under the virtue name category, such as [name_f]Faith[/name_f], [name_f]Chastity[/name_f], and [name_f]Patience[/name_f]. While these are pretty names, I believe they bear thinking out. Children are people too, and one thing people are good at is going against what is expected of them. A name like that can either be an inspiration…or a burden. [name_m]Will[/name_m] little [name_m]Saint[/name_m] feel like his name is allowing him to be himself, shape the name, so to speak, or will he feel it’s trying to mold him into something at the outset? Another issue for me, as another poster said, is that Saints are typically thought of as having earned their title (sadly some “saints” got their title rather dubiously, but on the whole, they tend to deserve notice). So is it right or wise to confer such an honor on someone who is just born? I am inclined to be wary of it myself. A second middle, as I said, isn’t too bad. But I think there are some issues with using the name.
I’m not particularly religious, but I love [name_m]Saint[/name_m] anyway! Not for its religious overtones, but just for the way it looks and sounds (is that weird?). I probably wouldn’t use it as a first name myself because people would assume I was religious, but I might use it as a middle name or something. [name_m]Saint[/name_m] is a bit “loud” as a first name, but I don’t know, I guess if you want to be loud, then be loud. But do consider the fact that your child might not want to be.
I put it on my list as a potential middle name without ever hearing of these celebs using it. This is the first I’ve heard, and I dislike both the names mentioned. But I use it is a middle with an actual saint’s name proceeding it before the last.
Your child may not grow up to be religious. Something less in-your-face, perhaps a virtue name, that could be interpreted in both religious and secular contexts would be a better bet.
[name_m]Saint[/name_m] has a history of being used as a name as a part of other names like St. [name_m]John[/name_m] and [name_u]Sinclair[/name_u] or possibly [name_u]Sidney[/name_u] and has some use by celebrities, but if you have a feeling that might not be a good idea I think you know your answer. I think if a name makes you feel wary it’s best to listen to that feeling. Would you feel confident enough to announce that name? What if someone said something about it that wasn’t positive, how would you feel and how would you handle it? I think it would be problematic as a first name but might work nicely as a middle name if you feel up to standing by it. However if you are religious remember that [name_m]Saint[/name_m] is related to the word sanctus, or sacred. Many people will think of using the name [name_m]Saint[/name_m] the same as giving them the name sanctus or sacred.
I don’t have much to say that hasn’t already been pointed out. I’m with a previous poster in that I don’t think [name_m]Saint[/name_m] as a first or middle is any more blasphemous or “wrong” than [name_m]Christian[/name_m]. I do have an issue with potentially forcing the child into that religious mold, however, which is why I’ve never particularly liked [name_m]Christian[/name_m]. What if he decides later that he’s an atheist, or wants to convert to Islam? I just think there has to be a compromise that won’t brand him to such a degree.
[name_m]Saint[/name_m] is great! Definitely not blasphemous or anything of the sort, because any [name_m]Christ[/name_m]-follower is a saint. It reminds me of the missionary martyr [name_m]Nate[/name_m] [name_m]Saint[/name_m].
Also, I disagree with @kimigrace because Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestant Christianity all have saints (though the term did originate with Christianity). You’d in no way be tying the child down to one religion. And personally I think names like [name_m]Christian[/name_m] or strong Biblical names are pretty versatile in today’s times anyways.
While not my personal cup of tea, I think it would be a fine middle name / second middle name for a child, given that you weren’t Catholic and define being a saint by the Catholic definition. If you are Protestant and define being a saint in the Protestant sense (that anyone who is a follower of [name_m]Christ[/name_m] is a saint), then I say go for it.
I love it! I’m not sure how I feel about it as a second middle… it just seems right preceding a name. I don’t see anything wrong with using it at all; to the contrary, I think it’s quite wonderful : ) It has a pleasing sound, an excellent meaning, and great connotations; what more could you ask? I do, however, slightly prefer St. names, i.e., St. [name_m]John[/name_m], St. [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], St. [name_m]Martin[/name_m], St. [name_m]Just[/name_m], St. [name_u]Clair[/name_u], et cetera.
As others have already stated the Biblical definition of a saint is one consecrated to God. In Scripture saint(s) is used to describe followers of [name_m]Christ[/name_m].
I see no reason why you cannot or should not use [name_m]Saint[/name_m] as a middle.
I actually think it fits well as a middle in your combinations.
I think it’s fine in the middle spot.