I do find the name [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] handsome… Can someone please explain why it is disrespectful to people of the Jewish religion if you are not of the Jewish religion and name your baby boy [name_m]Cohen[/name_m]? It would be very appreciated. I understand that it is disrespectful to people of the Jewish religion to name your baby boy [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] because it is the name of a leader (I’m not sure if that is correct, so please correct me if I’m wrong), but isn’t that the same as as someone who is not a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] naming their baby [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]? Or someone who is not of the Islamic religion naming their baby [name_m]Mohammed[/name_m]? I’m not trying to start any drama, so please be nice when you comment. Thank ya!!
This has been discussed at least a hundred times. Please search for other threads about the controversy surrounding this name. [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is a title in the same way that Caliph or Pope is a title.
[name_m]Cohen[/name_m] =/= [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]
[name_m]Cohen[/name_m] =/= [name_m]Muhammad[/name_m]
[name_m]Cohen[/name_m] =/= any figure in the Bible, Torah, or Qur’an
[name_m]Cohen[/name_m] as a first name has been discussed at great lengths in other forums here and elsewhere. From my observations, there are several broad categories into which the responses can mostly be sorted: Jewish people who are offended by the use of [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] as a first name by either Jewish or non-Jewish persons, Jewish people who are only offended by non- Jewish use, Jewish people who will give a parent a pass if they named their child [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] without knowing it might be offensive, Jewish people who don’t care whether it’s used as a first name, non-Jewish people who are offended on behalf of Jewish people, parents who used the name without knowing of the controversy, people who think the name ought to be available regardless of how others feel about it, and future parents who are considering using the name and attempting to justify its use.
The primary controversy around the name is that the surname is a derivative of an ancient Jewish caste of priests, all of whom could trace their actual ancestry to [name_m]Aaron[/name_m], the brother of [name_m]Moses[/name_m]. These priests had specific, sacred duties which only they could carry out in the temple of Jerusalem.
Today, a Jewish person surnamed [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is likely, but not always descended from this same group. It is well documented that throughout the world and throughout history there have been instances of Jewish men changing their surnames to [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] to avoid military service, particularly in [name_f]Russia[/name_f] during WWI. Because the temple at Jerusalem no longer stands, a [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] no longer engages in those priestly duties, but there is still some priestly significance today for Cohens. Because of the strong and continued deep religious significance of the name, it is considered by some to be offensive as a first name.
I knew all this, and named my son [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] anyway, not to offend, but rather to allude to the religious significance of being a son of [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] in my own religion despite the fact that I am not Jewish.
Seriously. About every two weeks it seems.
I think the worst thing about [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is how often people ask about the controversy.
Her example isn’t quite the same but yeah… that’s essentially it. As a Catholic, the best examples I can give are if someone named their son Archbishop or Vicar.
Thanks for the overview, I typically don’t browse through the [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] articles because I have no interest in the name so I appreciate the summary.