I recently posted about my brother’s English name in this forum, and I’ve got wonderful suggestions. However, although I didn’t mentioned in the previous post, he likes [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] the best. (His other favs are [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] and [name_m]Atlas[/name_m]) I tried him so many other names, he’s never convinced. Of course tried [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], [name_m]Lucien[/name_m], [name_m]Luciano[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucius[/name_m].
I know it’s a really controversial name. He knows it is a Satan’s name. What do you think of a boy named [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] that chose his name to be [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]? And our family has no religion, but I firmly believe that I should respect all religions. So I’m worrying it might be an insult to people who believe in Christianity. Should he give up [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] and find another name? Or just stick with [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]?
Well, it would definitely give many people pause. I personally don’t think it’s a good idea as the name carries a lot of negative connotations with it.
It could also make it a bit awkward for him if he were to ever visit the US South since religion is pretty prominent in most southern states.
I would urge him to do his homework and actually read up on Christianity/[name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] before he makes a decision.
That being said, I can see the appeal. It sounds beautiful and has a good meaning despite, y’know, Satan and all that.
Religious people will side-eye it for obvious reasons; I also think the non-religious will see it as trying rather TOO hard to be shocking (even if he’s not, that’s what it comes across as). Either way, it will make a bad impression.
As someone who believes in Christianity, I can’t say that I would be offended or insulted at a boy choosing it as his name. It’d give me pause, sure…because the name is just so tied to something/someone widely seen as negative or controversial (even by non-religious people). I’d give him the same advice I’d give to anyone choosing any name, especially from a culture or group they have little knowledge about: research. Research what that name means to people who are part of the culture/group involved. If your brother can do that and still like the name, then maybe he should choose it. I wouldn’t see it going well, with English speakers, but it is his choice.
This is such a definite no from me. I’m not religious in the slightest but “[name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]” is still synonymous with evil in English (and many other languages, I would imagine); it’s not just negative to religious people.
Why on [name_f]Earth[/name_f] you’d want to go through life with a name like that is beyond me. I think it would be limiting and even potentially damaging in so many spheres of life.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_m]Leander[/name_m] or Nicanor?
You know, this is kind of funny. My dog just had puppies and my sister and I were exchanging name ideas for the last one and she said with all her childlike innocence: “what about [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]?”, I was so surprised that I started laughing and proceeded to tell her we couldn’t name it [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. “Why?”, she asked and I told her that it was the name of the devil, of Satan. Her eyes went wide and she said: “I thought it was just the cat from [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f]!!!”
[name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] has a beautiful sound and look, we both concluded, but it’s just not possible in the heavily Christianity-influenced Western society we live in, no matter if you are religious or not. My 11-year-old sister came to that conclusion and so can your brother.
Suggest Lumiel to him. It is gorgeous, and almost completely unknown, though there is controversy over whether it is connected to [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. From what very little information there is on it, I personally do not think that and I don’t think most people would make that connection.
I’m in the minority here, it seems, but I actually adore [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. I think he has such a nice sound to him, despite the connotations. I’m not personally religious so the connection doesn’t bother me. I would actually love to meet a [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] one day. However, I also second pp in saying that it depends on where you are living and I suggest you/your brother does some further research.
I’m not entirely opposed to the name. [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] was, once upon a time, a very normal name that was simply a Latin translation of Phosphoros (the Greek manifestation of the morning star) and Hailail in Hebrew. In fact, there’s a saint called [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] of Cagliari. Whoever named him had no ill intentions at all; it was simply a normal name for the time and area.
Then we move on to the next bit: none of the canon [name_m]Christian[/name_m] texts ever explicitly identify [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m], the angel who rebelled against god, as Satan, the devil and archenemy. While people often believe they are the same entity, they are not.
However, is your brother going to be able to explain all of this faster than it takes for people to pass judgement on him, his family and his upbringing? Unfortunately, probably not. This is a loaded name that fires pretty rapidly. For that reason I would keep looking.
While I absolutely love the name [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] (it has such a lovely sound and meaning) I don’t think it would be wise to use it, at least now for a long time. Unfortunately, we live in a fairly superstitious and very religious society, where the name [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] is (erroneously) associated with Satan. If he is ok with that, he should go for it!
While I see the appeal of the name [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m], I would absolutely say [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] is not at all useable. While some people don’t believe he is Satan and he is just a fallen [name_u]Angel[/name_u], I believe as most Christians do that he is indeed Satan/the Devil. Honestly I don’t know why anyone would want to burden their child with just a heavy name. To me naming your child [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] is just as bad as naming them Hilter or Stalin, maybe even worst. I would suggest your brother do his research into [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]/ Satan/ the Devil.
Edit: I just re-Read your post and realized the name is for himself not for a child. I still don’t think it’s a good idea but I think he needs to do his research on the name and to see if he’s still fine with it after.
