[name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I are thinking of using the name [name_m]Zev[/name_m] for a boy. It means wolf and is Hebrew.
Although I’m Ashkenzai Jewish on my mothers side, we have no real tie to Judaism.
Due to this, I don’t want to appropriate the culture. I’ve seen the whole [name_u]Cohen[/name_u] debate and I don’t want to be apart of something that really bothers the Jewish community.
What are your thoughts? Is [name_m]Zev[/name_m] on the same playing field as [name_u]Cohen[/name_u] or is it not offensive to use it?
From my perspective [name_m]Zev[/name_m] is totally okay to be used a lot of Hebrew names are being used for babies on a daily basis and have been easily integrated into other cultures as well.
As far as I’m aware the whole debate about the name [name_u]Cohen[/name_u] has started only because of the meaning of this name - which is [name_m]Priest[/name_m] and also because this name is very tightly connected to the Jewish religion
I agree with pp. [name_m]Plenty[/name_m] of other names from other cultures are used, and nobody sees it as offensive! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think every [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] is Italian or Spanish? [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] is Hebrew and perfectly common across all religions and races. [name_u]Cohen[/name_u] is different because of its meaning. Also, most people off the rop of their head wouldn’t know [name_m]Zev[/name_m] is Hebrew
Since [name_m]Zev[/name_m] is more culturally Hebrew/Jewish than religiously Jewish (like [name_u]Cohen[/name_u], which is why it’s seen as offensive to use). I would say it’s more than acceptable for you to use, especially given your own personal heritage. It’s no different at the end of the day to use [name_m]Zev[/name_m] than it is for parents using [name_u]Elijah[/name_u], [name_u]Asher[/name_u], and Noah; and you have the added bonus of actually having ties to the culture/language the name comes from. As far as I am aware (I am open to correction) true appropriation would be using a name sacred to/distinctively from a marginalized community without having any respect, ties, or understanding of that community yourself.
Zev is perfectly fine, imo, especially since you have some ties to Judaism. From what I understand (and please do correct me if I’m wrong!) it’s the Hebrew word for wolf, so no different from using the word for wolf in another language as a name. It doesn’t really have a religious connection other than a possible connection to Ze’ev in the Old Testament.
In my opinion, if you have genetic heritage, you should be able to use the name, even if you aren’t super connected to the culture; otherwise that would almost be like saying you aren’t ~really~ that ethnicity, which I think would be stupid (I’m also Ashkenazi and do have connection to the culture btw). Though in general, I’d say that it’s usually ok to use names from other cultures, so long as you aren’t doing it to fetishize said culture and have done research on the name’s history and whether there is a specific reason it would be disrespectful for an outsider to use the name. As others have said, lots of common names in the English-speaking world originate from elsewhere.
I came across the name searching for information about my family after my grandfather passed away. I’m definitely a researcher and haven’t found anything that would suggest it be inappropriate to use but I wanted to get perspective from the “real world” so to speak.
I also can’t think of any reason it would cause offence. The problem people have with Cohen, as mentioned above, is about the religious significance of the name. Even if you didn’t have Jewish heritage I would say Zev is completely fine, but since you do, I really can’t see anyone being upset. Zev is a great name and has a great meaning!
I personally like seeing the resurgence of Hebrew names (to some extent), as I think it makes the public more familiar with them and increases people’s confidence to use them within the community as well as outside of it.
a lot of Hebrew names are being used for babies on a daily basis and have been easily integrated into other cultures as well.
