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September 2011 Moms
WWYD - Boy Name Question
DH and I love the name Cohen. We're not looking for opinions on the name itself. I have a question about whether or not you would use the name for this reason:
We live in a really small town, 1500 people-ish. There is another woman in town who I am aquaintances with. We belong to the same Splurge group (ladies group) of 10 women that meets once a month. She has a son, who will be just about 3 years older than this baby who is named Cohen.
So, I don't know whether or not to use the name because I know this other kid and his family (we don't hang out as families, just see them at play group the odd day if I'm off work, or around town).
Would you use it if you knew someone else in your small town with the name? This town will not be our life forever, and will certainly not be this child's world for his whole life.
WWYD. Am I over thinking this? I really love the name.
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Re: WWYD - Boy Name Question
I know that you explicitly said that you don't want opinions on the name, but I just wanted to make sure that you are aware about the controversy surrounding the use of this name. A lot of people find its use to be extremely offensive (it has a very specific meaning within the Jewish religion, and a lot of people are offended by its appropriation by people who have no understanding/ appreciation/ connection to this meaning), and I hope you'll consider whether you really want to choose a name that will provoke that kind of reaction in people. I know you live in a small town and maybe it's not an issue there, but your son may well want to move to New York City (or some other area with a lot of Jewish people) one day. Here's an article on it:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-05-05/the-big-baby-naming-battle/
As for your actual question, it doesn't sound like you're super connected to this family, so it just depends if the lack of novelty that comes from knowing someone who has used this name impacts how you feel about the name.
I have heard of the controversy. Not an issue in our world past present or forseeable future. If this baby is a) a boy and b) decides to move to an area where it would be an issue, he can either grow thick skin or go by a middle name/nick name. It's not an issue that is even a blip on the radar of our life.
Again - it's the proximity to someone with the same name that I'm interested in people's opinions about, not the name itself.
My stepsons name is Colten, maybe a slight adjustment to ease your mind?
Wow. Thanks for posting this- what an interesting article!
TTC since 10/07
11 medicated cycles
including...
4 IUIs*5 IVFs*1 FET
2 chemical pregnancies*missed m/c @8w 9/09*missed (twin) m/c @8w 5/10
Laparoscopic myomectomy 8/10
Chromosomal translocation of #2 now requires ICSI and PGD
IVF #4= success!!! G-man born 8/18/11
IVF #5 2/2013 = N born 10/10/13 at 35w3d
Not trying to offend anyone, but I think you should name your son whatever you want. If people have an issue with it, it is just that, THEIR ISSUE. I don't care what the name is.
I don't know if I would use the same name as someone in such a small town, but I've never really lived in a small town. I think if you love it, the use it! It's not like they will be in the same grade or anything in school. It should be fine.
Well, I have a different opinion than everyone else. I really wanted my daughter to have a unique (not crazy) name, so we went out of our way to choose a name that no one in our circle had. Her name is a regular name, no crazy spellings or anything like that. But I don't know anyone with her name. So from my perspective, I would pick a different name.
It would be different if it were a common name like Michael, David, Scott, etc. But Cohen is not common at all, so it looks like you copied.
I disagree with the copy take on this. First, names don't get to the top 10 spots without a little "copying". I mean obviously the majority of ppl like it or it wouldn't be popular. Cohen has become quite popular in itself.
If you all were really good friends then I probably would rethink it or approach that friend on how they feel about it (if you love it that much) however, since your just from the same town and there are probably 20 David, Michael, James, or Joseph's, I wouldn't think twice. I live in a small town too and their are several children in each of my own children's classes with the same first names. Including my own children's names.
As a PP stated if you personally have an issue with naming your baby something close to someone else's maybe change it up a bit. Colton, Owen or something similiar.
This!