I’ve discovered [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] recently, and while I really like it (which is a feat for me! I’m not sure there’s ever been a [name_m]Leo[/name_m] combo I’ve loved, in the history of my love for [name_m]Leo[/name_m], which has been quite long), I’m slightly concerned about [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]. I like the purported meaning (“my cover is God”), but it seems like the strongest (if not only!) association is [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] from Supernatural. I don’t watch the show, so am not really familiar with the character (although I’ve heard he’s an angel?)–would it be a good or bad association for you? I’ve started to like [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] for its meaning, and its sound and feel and look and personality (and that [name_m]Cas[/name_m]- beginning! I seem to be drawn to them, as I already have [name_m]Casper[/name_m] and [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] on my list, as well), but I’m worried about the strong pop-culture ties, regardless of whether [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] is a good or bad character. I’m not, in general, a huge fan of using names hugely tied to pop-culture. Can [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] be separated from Supernatural? Or should I cross [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] off the list? If I used it, I would probably use [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] as the full combo.
If you would say no to [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m], what combos would you suggest in the same vein of [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] or [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Emilian[/name_m] (another combo that intrigues me, but I’m not a huge fan of [name_m]Emilian[/name_m] in general)?
I’m not sure if you should rely on the meaning of the name written on this site as (I think) the name is entirely a Supernatural invention. It’s likely derived from other similar names, but I don’t think the name can be separated from the show. I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing as the show has entertained millions for more than a decade now. It’s just to say that almost everyone will assume you named after the character on the show.
That said, I really like the flow of this name. I’m not a fan of [name_m]Leo[/name_m] by itself, but I have found that some combos make it interesting enough that I can overlook that. [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] just has a lyrical sound to it.
Ha! @lisaskye - I think most of us Berries don’t just trust the information on the name database here–it’s fairly notoriously unreliable. behindthename.com is fairly reliable, though, from what I’ve heard, and this was the profile for [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] I found there:
It wasn’t used in the Bible, apparently, but was used as early as the thirteenth century? If so, I would assume it had origins before Supernatural. I think a lot of pop-culture names are starting to be used as actual names ([name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_u]Arya[/name_u], etc., etc.), and I assume [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] will join those ranks. I think the meaning is lovely, and love the lyrical sound of [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m], and I’m almost completely set on [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] already, so if I’m going to change my mind, I need to do it soon! Most of the people in my circle, I think, wouldn’t have watched the show, either, so I imagine I wouldn’t get too many reactions from them? Plus, I’m still a while from having children, so maybe it wouldn’t be an issue by then. I’m just wondering if it’s as obvious as [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] still is to a lot of people.
Well, there is no actual meaning to the name as it is purely made-up and today there’s no way it can not be associated with Supernatural.
And while I love behindthename, [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] doesn’t have an official entry and people can make up anything to make a name be “legit”.
I do like the name and the character but if I wouldn’t be a fan of the show, I’d probably not use it. It’s like [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f], the hype did die down but people who name their children [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f] (which someone on the 13th century might have made-up and used on their child already but that doesn’t make it a proper name) will forever be thought of as big Twilight fans.
[name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] is lovely, btw. But I would at least watch the show before using the name (especially since the character is not all good and sweet).
Or let’s put it this way: Castiel has no ties to any religious scriptures. The only mention of a Castiel that can be found is in some book about angels that has no ties to the bible or any other scriptures, though. It’s as if I would write a book about angels and give them names and days.
A few things: [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] is a canonical angel. The character in Supernatural isn’t a problem, or at least he wasn’t when I still watched the show. [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]'s current popularity (I think it’s well into the top 1000 now?) is due entirely to the character. So yes, there’s going to be that association. I think it’s a gorgeous name, and I’d certainly love to meet a [name_m]Castiel[/name_m].
omgoodness, I’m getting so confused by the varying responses here!
@southern.maple - where do you get your information for knowing that [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] is a canonical angel? I’ve heard from various places that he’s not in the Bible, so I sort of assumed he was sort of like [name_f]Lilith[/name_f]–associated to stories from the Bible, but never actually mentioned there? And yes, it is well into the 1000–I remember it being around 850 or so when I checked yesterday?
@opheliaflora - Yes, I’m aware he’s not actually in the Bible, but anywhere I have seen [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] mentioned, the meaning is referenced the same, and it was apparently taken from actual Hebrew words, so if that part is true, I still like the intended meaning behind [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]. Honestly, a huge percentage of names actually used in the Bible were created this way, with deep significance to faith, so I’d be okay with [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] being made up, if it actually follows those guidelines.
This seems like a good source: http://amorilinguae.tumblr.com/post/12440393570
He is also something in occult lore (seems to be witches and wizards) and while the -el refers to god, one could do that to any name (there’s a word for putting -el at the end of names, I forgot it).
I would say, if you want a name tied to the bible or religion, [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] wouldn’t be the best choice as there’s a lot of digging up random, old sources to “justify” saying that it is indeed tied to religion. However, if you just want a name that sounds lovely with [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], then I think [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] is a lovely choice.
And if I can dig up that website that talks about a book mentioning him as the angel of thursday (there’s a book like that written in the 1400s by someone) then I’ll post it.
Thanks for the link. I am not sure I was specifically going for either one–the initials for [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] honor my grandfather, so I already have a family tie, and I had been noticing [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] more and more as I’ve heard it mentioned, liking the sound and feel of it. I don’t necessarily feel the need to have more [name_m]Christian[/name_m]-inspired names, but I’m not opposed to them, where they exist. I liked that [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] was fairly unusual, had a sort of other-worldly, ethereal vibe, and a purportedly good meaning (that reflects well on my faith and religious experience). I knew he didn’t appear in the Bible, and I wasn’t particularly looking for ties to religion–more that Supernatural’s [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] wasn’t the only [name_m]Castiel[/name_m].
I was hoping [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] was more along the lines of [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] (which has had documented use outside of TKMB, before it was written) than [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f], which was pretty much invented for the story and ONLY tied to that.
I also only thought of the place name. When a centuries-old city is called [name_m]Castiel[/name_m], it can hardly be argued that [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] belongs solely in the category of modern, made-up names.
I think it sounds pretty cool in combination with [name_m]Leo[/name_m].
I cannot for the life of me find a city in Spain called [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]. There’s Faldas de [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] but that’s not really a city.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you mean Castile or am I just to stupid to find the city?
And it’s not so much that it is made up. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it’s not (well, at one point…) it is still heavyly associated with that show, especially for anybody 25 and under. And since the show has been running for a while and will probably run for another 2-3 seasons/years, the association won’t die down for another 5-10 years.
And while I much prefer [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] to [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f], I do think it has the same kind of name and “degree” of association as [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f].
But even if you compare it to [name_m]Atticus[/name_m], the book is so old already and people still mostly associate the name with that book (so really my advice would be to watch the show, just so you know what you’d be getting into).
I like the sound and look of [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] but I’m not crazy about the pop culture connection. There is a similar mainly Kabbalah angel named [name_m]Cassiel[/name_m] which may be a more attractive alternative. He’s the [name_u]Angel[/name_u] of [name_f]Temperance[/name_f], the [name_u]Angel[/name_u] of Solitude (I can relate! :)) and the [name_u]Angel[/name_u] of Tears (bummer! :)) [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Cassiel[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]?
I love [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]! Perfect combo! [name_m]Cas[/name_m] from Supernatural did come to mind, but I’ve only ever seen the first episode of the show, so I don’t even know who he is; I’ve only heard of him. The association is neutral for me. The name [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] also makes me think of a castle.
Try looking up Faldas de [name_m]Castiel[/name_m], Spain. I don’t know anything about it, but it does come up on a Google search. There also seems to be some evidence of use of [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] as a surname. I stumbled upon this interesting link: Roots, and also there is a Brazilian actor named [name_m]Jos[/name_m]é [name_m]Victor[/name_m] [name_m]Castiel[/name_m].
I do have a pretty narrow definition for “made up names” (I wouldn’t count Eragon as made-up, but “inspired by” [name_m]Aragon[/name_m]), but it seems to me that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that [name_m]Castiel[/name_m] does of a “real life” history, although obscure. Of course, you can also sign me up for the “out of touch mom” demographic, because I’m over 25, have never seen Supernatural, and wouldn’t have known about the character at all if it weren’t for this NB discussion.
I love [name_m]Castiel[/name_m]… And I don’t know the TV show. Not at all. I have heard of it recently because my boyfriend was watching an episode. That’s it.