Pronunciation of Cohen

gfam23

How do you say this name? It always sorta trips me up...

Dr.Loretta

CO en

Sam Buttons

Co-en. Pretty straight forward.

However, if you're thinking about using it I would seriously reconsider. Kohen is a Jewish priest and therefore it has significant importance within the religion.

ClaireHuxtable

Sam Buttons said:

Co-en. Pretty straight forward. However, if you're thinking about using it I would seriously reconsider. Kohen is a Jewish priest and therefore it has significant importance within the religion.

Well, it would only have significance if you're Jewish.  Otherwise, you just like the name. 

Nechie122

ClaireHuxtable said:

Sam Buttons said:

Co-en. Pretty straight forward.

However, if you're thinking about using it I would seriously reconsider. Kohen is a Jewish priest and therefore it has significant importance within the religion.

Well, it would only have significance if you're Jewish.  Otherwise, you just like the name. 

----
It still has significance and it's cultural appropriation from a historically marginalized group.

And in Hebrew, you pronounce the "h."

ETA: It's like naming your kid Mohammed or Jesus because you "just like the name."

SuperMom17

CO-in

gfam23

I'm not considering it.  Was just wondering.  I never know whether to say "CO en" or "Co-hen" with the "h".

Irishcurls

I'll have to look for the thread from last week on this--anyone remember what it was called? Very enlightening to me, and might be to others as well. I had no idea how sacred the word is in Judaism. Off to search....

ClaireHuxtable

Joy2611 said:

ClaireHuxtable said:

Sam Buttons said:

Co-en. Pretty straight forward. However, if you're thinking about using it I would seriously reconsider. Kohen is a Jewish priest and therefore it has significant importance within the religion.

Well, it would only have significance if you're Jewish.  Otherwise, you just like the name. 

Using the name Cohen just because you like the sound of it is rather offensive to many of the Jewish faith because it is such a sacred word.  Much like the Victoria Secret model walking down the runway in underwear and a tribal headdress was offensive to those Native Americans who view the headdress as sacred.

I don't view these things as equal. In my limited understanding of the Jewish faith,  perhaps I don't understand the significance of naming your child Cohen. Perhaps akin to naming your child Messiah or Christ or Jesus... I'm not very religious, so that's probably why it doesn't resonate with me. 

Irishcurls

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/78091769#Comment_78091769 Found it!

Also, I honestly do understand an initial reaction of "oh, I don't get it." But then, people are telling you it is offensive, and you might want to look into it (not directly at you personally ClaireHux, just happens to be you in this thread). Not being Jewish or religious is a silly reason not to understand something. Certainly people understand the offensive nature of things that don't directly pertain to them. 

gfam23

Irishcurls said:

I'll have to look for the thread from last week on this--anyone remember what it was called? Very enlightening to me, and might be to others as well. I had no idea how sacred the word is in Judaism. Off to search....

oops... was this name specifically asked about last week?  sorry I missed that!

Irishcurls

gfam23 said:

Irishcurls said:

I'll have to look for the thread from last week on this--anyone remember what it was called? Very enlightening to me, and might be to others as well. I had no idea how sacred the word is in Judaism. Off to search....

oops... was this name specifically asked about last week?  sorry I missed that!

That's ok! There are a lot of threads on here, easily gets pushed to another page!

ClaireHuxtable

Regarding significance and controversy - really I have never even heard that this was an issue or controversial name. So, I would not have researched it on my own - or known to research it. You learn many things on the internet. I now consider myself schooled.

@irishcurls - no worries - the more you know!

gfam23

I also was unaware of the controversy. Good info in the other thread, thanks again. I have a couple friends who used this name for their baby and I just wondered the correct pronunciation. Sigh. The ignorant insensitivity is unsettling.

ETA clarity

plus12012

Coe- Inn

Ceridwen21

I've asked a few Jewish friends about this Cohen controversy and they said it was really no big deal for anyone to use the name. They are "moderately observant" (bar/bat mitzvah, birthright trip etc but ok with having a Christmas tree for their SO and non-kosher foods). Just to give context to their opinion.

SmileyJay

Co - In or Co - En... they are the same in the south like Pin and Pen. Anyways, that is how it is said. 

mhickey426

Co-hen

TurtlesPlease

Just wanted to jump in here:
My sister-in-law named her first son Coen and they aren't Jewish. She gets comments about it all the time. I might be the area she lives in, because I'm sure there are people with the name who have never gotten comments about it, but when she is out in public and people ask his name, a lot of people say "Oh, I didn't know you were Jewish" and some are greatly offended when she says they aren't. Some back off because of the spelling change [no "h"] but others are very offended.
At first I thought she was over-reacting when she told me this, but I took him out for an afternoon a few months ago and even I received a few comments. Not everyone is offended, and she does get some compliments on the name, but she has gotten a lot of flack.
But again, that could just be the area she lives in.
I don't post here often, but I wanted to share to those who say "most people won't care" - I think you need to seriously look at the neighbourhood/area you live in before you say that. Some people do care. A lot. It might surprise you.