Naming children after the gods

[arete]

So, epithets are fine, but baby names are not? I'm curious why you think that? How is one of those things bad and the other acceptable? Both are giving divine names to mortals, just in different contexts.

Yes, epithets are fine and derivatives. In my opinion giving the exact name of a God is not nice. I think the names of the Gods are sacred. They are a conduit between us and the Gods. We shouldn't use sacred names to address common people.

[Hariti]

Yes, epithets are fine and derivatives. In my opinion giving the exact name of a God is not nice.

Perhaps I'm not understanding you, but what if an epithet is the exact name of a God?

[arete]

Perhaps I'm not understanding you, but what if an epithet is the exact name of a God?

it depends on the language, how people use the name and the epithet.

[Jainarayan]

Perhaps I'm not understanding you, but what if an epithet is the exact name of a God?

I think as Hindus we see it differently because the names of the Hindu gods are adjectives, not proper nouns. Actually virtually all names are adjectives, including ours. For example, my real name (first and middle) is Frank Jason, meaning "free man" and "healer", respectively. My last name is a metonym for an occupation. So if we name a child Durga, Shiva, or Krishna, we are calling the child invincible, auspicious, or attractive (or dark), respectively. Maybe for some religious systems, certain adjectives that become proper names, are reserved for the gods. I can then understand that using the name Zeus, cognate with other IE words for God (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus#Name), would be to call a child God.

[arete]

I think as Hindus we see it differently because the names of the Hindu gods are adjectives, not proper nouns. Actually virtually all names are adjectives, including ours. For example, my real name (first and middle) is Frank Jason, meaning "free man" and "healer", respectively. My last name is a metonym for an occupation. So if we name a child Durga, Shiva, or Krishna, we are calling the child invincible, auspicious, or attractive (or dark), respectively. Maybe for some religious systems, certain adjectives that become proper names, are reserved for the gods. I can then understand that using the name Zeus, cognate with other IE words for God (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus#Name), would be to call a child God.

In Greece 90% of the population are Orthodox Christians. They never give the name ''Jesus" to babies. Also they might give an altered version of the epithet ''Christ'' to babies.

[ehbowen]

In Greece 90% of the population are Orthodox Christians. They never give the name ''Jesus" to babies. Also they might give an altered version of the epithet ''Christ'' to babies.

On The Other Hand, "Jesús" is one of the most popular names for boy babies in the Hispanic culture in this country and, I presume, Central and South America.

[Jainarayan]

In Greece 90% of the population are Orthodox Christians. They never give the name ''Jesus" to babies. Also they might give an altered version of the epithet ''Christ'' to babies.

And oddly, in Spanish-speaking countries the name Jesús is quite common. Btw, I don't know of any Italians named Gesù either. Come to think of it, Spanish usage of the name is about the only one I can think of.

[arete]

On The Other Hand, "Jesús" is one of the most popular names for boy babies in the Hispanic culture in this country and, I presume, Central and South America.

Yes, and I find it odd, actually. Why do they name the kid after Jesus?

[arete]

And oddly, in Spanish-speaking countries the name Jesús is quite common. Btw, I don't know of any Italians named Gesù either. Come to think of it, Spanish usage of the name is about the only one I can think of.

I wonder do they name Jesus the boys in Spain? or only in latin america?

[Redfaery]

I wonder do they name Jesus the boys in Spain? or only in latin america?

FWIW "Joshua" is a pretty common name where I live, and it's a Hellenized version of Jesus.

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[ehbowen]

FWIW "Joshua" is a pretty common name where I live, and it's a Hellenized version of Jesus.

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An interesting discussion of the various Jewish names for Jesus from a Messianic Jew: Introduction to the names Yehoshua/Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus, and Yeshu.

[Jainarayan]

I wonder do they name Jesus the boys in Spain? or only in latin america?

I don't know, since Spain has a very different culture, and even dialects of Spanish, than Latin America.

[Micheál]

Anyways, long story short, what is your opinion on using the names of gods and goddesses as baby names?

Deities names and characters of mythology are very very common in Ireland, so it's all good in the hood