I was reading the newest blog post and came across the name of Pharrell [name_m]Williams[/name_m]’ dad, [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m]. I don’t have any ties to [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] but I thought this was an interesting idea. The combination [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] popped into my head, of course, and it’s growing on me even though I’m wary of ever using a title as a name. Pharaoh will remain a GP for now, but it is an interesting one.
WDYT, Berries?
Let my people go. I wouldn’t do it.
I say no. I think title names are very pretentious, plus I associate Pharaohs with tyranny and slavery. [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] does have a nice ring to it, but imagine when he’s going to learn bible stories in school etc.
I think it’s awesome. It’s only a guilty pleasure, so who cares how pretentious it is? I’m slightly peeved that the only pharaoh the previous posters seem to be aware of is the one in the Bible (who, depending on your views, may not have even been a true historic ruler of [name_u]Egypt[/name_u]).
I love [name_m]William[/name_m]!!! [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] is a little weird, but as long as it’s in the middle, you’ll be fine using it! Great balance of classic and new. 
[name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] is just a bit too titular for my taste, but I absolutely love it’s homophone, Farrow <3 And William Pharaoh/Farrow does have a nice sound.
I’m very aware that there have been numerous pharaohs, but I don’t think any are more ‘famous’ than the ones mentioned in the Bible (with the exception of Tutankhamun, I would say). Most people, whether they are religious or not, know the stories in the Bible and will (likely) have negative associations to the ‘pharaoh’ title. With that said, I have absolutely no problem with [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] as a GP.
As a GP it’s fine but it would be way too weird/pretentious for real life. Basically like naming your kid Emperor.
…you do realize that [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] is a predominantly Muslim country, right?
To the OP: If you don’t have any ties to [name_u]Egypt[/name_u], using [name_m]Pharoah[/name_m] as a name would be incredibly appropriative, along the same lines as a gentile naming their kid [name_m]Cohen[/name_m]. This one is off limits.
What does [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] being a predominantly Muslim country have to do with anything? [name_m]Moses[/name_m] is an important figure in the Qur’an as well. [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] isn’t exactly a swell guy there either.
And how on earth is using [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] the equivalent of using [name_m]Cohen[/name_m]? The last true Egyptian pharaoh died in 343 BC. [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] was ruled by Greeks for the remaining 313 years. Would you also argue that these Greek pharaohs were appropriating culture? Who exactly has the right to use [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] as a name? If your answer is “someone with Egyptian ancestry” isn’t that, well, all of us?
Great word and great animal name, but I teach school and their middle names show up on the class rosters.
…you do realize that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, right?
To the OP: If you don’t have any ties to Egypt, using Pharoah as a name would be incredibly appropriative, along the same lines as a gentile naming their kid Cohen. This one is off limits.
“[name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m]” was a titular name in some of (not even all) dynastic houses that ruled the Egyptian Kingdom thousands of years ago, an empire which covered much more land than modern-day [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] and is now dead, and has been for a very long time. The word meant ‘great house’ and originally referred to the palace of the king, but came to refer to the leader himself in the later kingdoms, and so now they are referred to as such. It is mentioned in the Qur’an in some stories, just as it is in the Bible, and the Torah, and it is not particularly tied to any one religion.
I do not think it would be offensive to use this name. It’s no different than using [name_m]Caesar[/name_m], or Emperor, [name_m]King[/name_m], [name_f]Queen[/name_f], [name_f]Princess[/name_f], [name_m]Duke[/name_m], Duchess, [name_u]Majesty[/name_u], etc., or [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] or [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] or [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] or [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] or [name_m]Judah[/name_m] or [name_f]Fatimah[/name_f] or Bithiah, depending on your interpretation of certain stories and your feelings about religion. It is NOT like using [name_m]Cohen[/name_m]; it is not a name reserved for priest and holy family in a religion that is still being practiced widely around the world, that comes from a language that that religion has used for thousands of years.
It isn’t really my taste by itself, but I do think [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] has a nice ring to it, and grounded first names with more outside-the-box middles are kind of my speed, so I like the combination.
I like the sound of it. The phonetic Farrow would be a great way to hang on to its good qualities while avoiding potential squabbles over religion and culture.
Oh, I have a [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] on my family tree! He passed shortly before my birth but I’ve heard good things. I’ve added the name to my mn list too. His name was pronounced ‘fay-row’ (we’re Southerners). I don’t care for the ‘fair-row’ pronunciation, personally
[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m] is very handsome but you’ll have to be prepared for the questions you’ll get. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have an interest in ancient [name_u]Egypt[/name_u]? The mythology? [name_m]Art[/name_m]? Architecture? [name_m]Science[/name_m] & invention? The extraterrestrial (some believe Akhenaten [Tut’s dad] might have been an alien)? Ancient [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] is very fascinating so it will be easy to find something.
Muslims didn’t exist when the pharaohs first reigned so they have no claim to the title. They are relatively recent Arab invaders, who came along after the European [name_m]Christian[/name_m] invaders.
The ancient Egyptians saw the pharaoh as a god, one of many. So, it’s akin to naming a child [name_m]Odin[/name_m] or [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]
First thought was “[name_m]Will[/name_m] [name_m]Ferrell[/name_m]” who personally drives me nuts, so I don’t think it’s a nice name at all.