Okay so recently I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. Is it okay to use a name if it has religious connotations to a religion you don’t belong to such as [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] , [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] etc. For example I myself am an atheist but I love the names [name_f]Galilea[/name_f] and [name_u]Zion[/name_u]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think this is okay , only in certain circumstances or not at all and why?
Edit - Not actually having kids any time soon just thought it was interesting.
Personally, I would say it is okay to use those types of names. Names with a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] or Jewish origin are common enough outside of those faiths that it’s not going to offend anybody if you use them. On the other hand, there might be some names out there belonging to marginalized religions where using it would be a little less advisable. You might not want to take a name from a closed religion. You might not want to use names belonging to gods or goddesses from faiths that are still practiced, and in which it is considered blasphemy. As long as you are respectful about it, I don’t see why it should be a problem.
My partner and I were literally just having this discussion! He came across the name [name_m]Demetrius[/name_m] the other day, and he really likes it, but it means “follower of [name_u]Demeter[/name_u]”. We are Christians and it made me feel a little awkward. So we had a chat about it.
I think it really depends on your religion and the religion that the name comes from and whether you are comfortable with the inference of the name.
For example: we both love [name_m]Atlas[/name_m], which was the name of a Greek god, however the name does not insinuate service to the god or following that god. Also the meaning implied has to do with strength and patience, so we have no issue with that. The name is merely shared with a mythical being. (no different to using [name_m]Othello[/name_m] or [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] or any other name that is well know due to stories, ect)
Demitri however is implying service or discipleship the a false god, which we obviously have an issue with. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though we would not be choosing the name because of the meaning, we still see it as unhelpful and therefore probably not a good idea.
I agree with @ccarr72 as well. A lot of names are actually Biblical or religious, but they have become super common and so no one really notices any more. I think that is where the line is drawn… how connected in the name and its meaning to the religion it comes from, and how will it impact your child/you?
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] that helps 
@mummacat92 [name_m]Demetrius[/name_m] is a name of a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] saint, as far as I know (St. [name_m]Demetrius[/name_m] (Latin form of [name_m]Demetrios[/name_m]) of Thessaloniki). Many Christians(mainly Orthodox Christians) have received this name or forms of it (in Greece, [name_f]Russia[/name_f], Ukraine but in other countries as well)
I agree with the previous posters. Many people have religious names even when they aren’t religious. It depends on how the name is connected to a specific religion. For instance people named [name_f]Athena[/name_f], don’t believe in the twelve Olympians, (at least not all of them) nor are all [name_f]Marys[/name_f] Christians. I suggest you use the names you love unless it is considered offensive by followers of that specific religion. But you can ignore it if you want. No one forces you to compromise with the rules of a religion you don’t believe in. If you feel like it’s “the name” then use it
Good luck!
I agree with Germanstar. My first name and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], which I go by can be considered religious name, the first because of an important biblical character and the latter because of a popular saint, but when my parents named me they were thinking of women from my family tree who had these names, not of religion (they were and still are atheists), but then again, [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is very much considered a classic or traditional name.
I gave my daughter the name [name_f]Lola[/name_f] which is short for [name_f]Dolores[/name_f] which refers to Our Lady of Sorrows and I don’t regret it one bit. I see a lot of non-religious or atheist people using names that belonged to saints, disciples etc and I think that as long as it’s not offensive like [name_m]Cohen[/name_m], Buddha etc it’s okay to use. I have seen a gain in popularity of babies being called [name_m]Saint[/name_m] lately and while I really don’t like it, it’s not my place to say someone can use it or not.
As a Catholic woman I also wouldn’t mind giving my child a name from Mythology like [name_m]Dimitri[/name_m], [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], [name_f]Diana[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f]… it’s not like anyone believes in the Olympian gods these days, plus, they are a great big part of Western World history, culture, thought, language and yes, name scope… I think they are a safe type of “unique” names to use because they don’t classify as being culturally appropriating.
I think in general, the answer is yes, it’s okay. Names arise from within a culture, and cultures are nearly always heavily intertwined with religion. As a result, a huge number of names (perhaps even the majority of names) have some type of tie to some religion.
Take [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], for example. It comes of course from [name_f]Julia[/name_f], which means something like “youthful.” [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is derived from [name_m]Julius[/name_m], a [name_m]Roman[/name_m] family name, making it something similar to a patronym. However, [name_m]Julius[/name_m] also has ties to [name_m]Jupiter[/name_m], the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god ([name_m]Zeus[/name_m] in Greece). But would naming your child [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] mean that you have some affinity for the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] gods? Of course not.
That said, some names are considered almost sacred in some religions- examples might include [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] for Christians, [name_m]Muhammed[/name_m] for Muslims, and [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] for Jews. I would eliminate those names, no matter how much I liked them, because they could be offensive to some people. I just don’t think a name is worth alienating anyone.
But as far as [name_f]Galilea[/name_f] and [name_u]Zion[/name_u] go, I say go for it. They’re tied to Christianity, but certainly not sacred. [name_f]Galilea[/name_f] also has ties to [name_m]Galileo[/name_m], who was a [name_m]Christian[/name_m], but I think his life makes him a secular role model- someone we could all look up to, atheist and [name_m]Christian[/name_m] alike.
Incorrect. There are still pagans who worship the Greek gods.
Religious connotations are not a big deal to me. Christianity and Judaism are very much a part of my heritage, so I have no issue using names closely tied to those faiths. I have no issue using names of pagan gods either.