collapse

* Recent Posts

Re: "Christ Is King" by SunflowerP
[Yesterday at 11:06:51 pm]


Re: "Christ Is King" by SunflowerP
[Yesterday at 10:30:17 pm]


Re: "Christ Is King" by Darkhawk
[Yesterday at 08:31:19 pm]


Re: "Christ Is King" by Darkhawk
[Yesterday at 07:54:40 pm]


Re: "Christ Is King" by Sefiru
[Yesterday at 07:44:49 pm]

Author Topic: Changing your name  (Read 5058 times)

Apollodorus

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 30
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Changing your name
« on: August 14, 2015, 03:26:12 pm »
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

Sarah

  • Sr. Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 827
  • Total likes: 4
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2015, 03:32:06 pm »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

 
I have changed my name, but not for religious reasons. It was actually really important to me that the name I changed it to was Jewish like the name on my birth certificate is. It's a way of acknowledging and venerating my ancestors.

I changed my name as a way of disconnecting with the people who bought me up and a way of expressing my gender
Knowing when to use a shovel is what being a witch is all about. Nanny Ogg, Witches Abroad

Weatherwax

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 31
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2015, 05:55:17 pm »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

 
Legally speaking, perhaps adding a name as opposed to completely changing it could be a useful solution. Depends on one's age, too. If you're not established with your birth name in a certain field (arts, academia, etc.) then it's less of a problem. But then, my name has a very neutral meaning (means 'fountain') and it's never bothered me either way.

Jenett

  • Senior Staff
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: Boston, MA
  • Posts: 3743
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 1235
    • View Profile
    • Seeking: First steps on a path
  • Religion: Initiatory religious witchcraft
  • Preferred Pronouns: she/her
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2015, 08:07:54 pm »
Quote from: Weatherwax;178762
Legally speaking, perhaps adding a name as opposed to completely changing it could be a useful solution. Depends on one's age, too. If you're not established with your birth name in a certain field (arts, academia, etc.) then it's less of a problem. But then, my name has a very neutral meaning (means 'fountain') and it's never bothered me either way.


There's also the option that's more or less what I do - I use my legal name (which I don't have objections to, but my first name is Jennifer, and there are tremendous numbers of Jennifers in my age range because I was born in the middle of it's popularity) for professional stuff.

And then I use a different name (Jenett) for almost everything else. (Lots of people call me Jen, in casual conversation, but if someone's trying to get my attention at a public event, or whatever, Jenett will get me to turn around a *lot* faster than Jennifer. And it's also a mental cue to me that I'm in 'talk about personal stuff' space not 'talk about work stuff', which is less an issue than it used to be, but was highly relevant when I was working with teenagers.)

There are some complicatons with this, like when I meet someone from one context in another, and if I wanted to use Facebook more (or anywhere else with a single account real-name policy) it'd be a problem. But as it is? Not a big deal.
Seek Knowledge, Find Wisdom: Research help on esoteric and eclectic topics (consulting and other services)

Seeking: first steps on a Pagan path (advice for seekers and people new to Paganism)

RecycledBenedict

  • Sr. Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 851
  • Total likes: 6
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2015, 08:18:14 pm »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this?

No, and I am not considering it.

I know that members of the Roman reconstructionst denominations use a traditional tripartite name as an alternative to the civil name, but I view that as a reenactment thing: Bot Nova Roma and Res Publica Romana serves the double purpose as denominations for ancient Roman religion and reenactment societies. I am not sure if that organizational construction is useful, since there is an in-built potential for conflict in purpose.

A magical motto is something else.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2015, 08:19:54 pm by RecycledBenedict »

Apollodorus

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 30
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2015, 04:07:07 am »
Quote from: Weatherwax;178762
Legally speaking, perhaps adding a name as opposed to completely changing it could be a useful solution. Depends on one's age, too. If you're not established with your birth name in a certain field (arts, academia, etc.) then it's less of a problem. But then, my name has a very neutral meaning (means 'fountain') and it's never bothered me either way.

As you said almost every name has a particular meaning. Mine means He who loves God. And god means Jahve.
But in my opinion when your name represents your character it's gonna add to it.

Also, it was great to see another one with the same flag!
« Last Edit: August 15, 2015, 04:08:29 am by Apollodorus »

Weatherwax

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 31
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2015, 07:32:40 am »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178791
As you said almost every name has a particular meaning. Mine means He who loves God. And god means Jahve.
But in my opinion when your name represents your character it's gonna add to it.

Also, it was great to see another one with the same flag!

 
Yeah in Greek my name is Pigi and in Turkish Pinar, which are exactly the same and both are on most of my documents. Although Pigi is associated with Panagia, it IS a later adjective given to Mary and I don't automatically associate them. To me it's just spring, fountain.

He who loves God, is it Theophilos? But then, I think there were such generic (as opposed to Apollodoros, Isidora, Artemidoros) names before Christianity in the Hellenistic world, in which case the 'god' would be whoever they chose it to be. I'll check this but I'm pretty sure I came across such names pre-Christianity. So, for you, the God could represent your 'patron' god, if you have one.

Weatherwax

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 31
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2015, 07:38:18 am »
ah, there you go: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_(geographer)

there's also a Hellenistic era Indo-Greek king of the same name. The intention behind your name was obviously the Abrahamic god but it's also what you make of it. Or so I think. :)

Tulach

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 3
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2015, 09:00:49 am »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

No because I wasn't brought up with religion so I feel it's unnecessary. My actual name is Latin and it's another name for the Roman Goddess Juno. It's not Scottish but it's good enough for me :P
This signature left intentionally blank

Apollodorus

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 30
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2015, 10:02:52 am »
Quote from: Weatherwax;178796
ah, there you go: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_(geographer)

there's also a Hellenistic era Indo-Greek king of the same name. The intention behind your name was obviously the Abrahamic god but it's also what you make of it. Or so I think. :)

 
My name is Elias or Ilias. Nothung greek in it except a common misconception about Helios

Weatherwax

  • Apprentice
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 31
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2015, 11:20:51 am »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178805
My name is Elias or Ilias. Nothung greek in it except a common misconception about Helios

 
oh, OK. I assumed the Greek version of "lover of God." I like the name Ilias but I see what you mean, it's from Eliyahu, my god is El (Yahweh). pretty literal.

Altair

  • Staff
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Location: New York, New York
  • *
  • Posts: 3752
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 937
  • Fly high and make the world follow
    • View Profile
    • Songs of the Metamythos
  • Religion: tree-hugging pagan
  • Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2015, 12:04:13 pm »
Quote from: Tulach;178802
No because I wasn't brought up with religion so I feel it's unnecessary.


Same here. My first name is "Christian", which is pretty lousy for a pagan, but I was raised without any religion and later found out that the reason my dad picked it for me has nothing to do with religion. And I'm used to it and I've always liked the sound of it, and I like that it's a little rarer in the States than "Christopher".

My solution to the "Christian"/pagan conflict is to have a name to use in pagan contexts: the one I use here. Also when I wrote my book, which is deeply pagan, I used my initials (C.F. Cooper) so as to defuse the religious disconnect.
The first song sets the wheel in motion / The second is a song of love / The third song tells of Her devotion / The fourth cries joy from the sky above
The fifth song binds our fate to silence / and bids us live each moment well / The sixth unleashes rage and violence / The seventh song has truth to tell
The last song echoes through the ages / to ask its question all night long / And close the circle on these pages / These, the metamythos songs

Chatelaine

  • Staff
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 773
  • Country: gb
  • Total likes: 93
  • Metaphors be with you.
    • View Profile
    • Are We There Yet?
  • Religion: Eastern Orthodox Christian
  • Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2015, 01:05:42 pm »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?


In my pagan years, I went by a nature-inspired nickname close to my real name. When I was received into the Orthodox Church, I took Brigid as my chrismation name. I could have used my middle name (Isobel, a Scottish variant of Elizabeth), but I wanted St Brigid as my patron saint. I don't care to legalise it in any way, though, not even adding it to my legal name; four words of it would be way too long. I celebrate on Feb. 1, but even my priest only calls me Brigid at communion; the rest of the time he uses my legal first name.
'You created us restless, O Lord, and we find no rest until we rest in You.'
~St Augustine~
Whole blog o' nonsense: Are We There Yet?

Jack

  • Adept Member
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Location: Cascadia
  • Posts: 3258
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 197
    • View Profile
    • Skyhold
  • Religion: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  • Preferred Pronouns: they/he
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2015, 04:02:49 am »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

 
Like Jake, I'm in the process of doing it for other reasons. The name change process itself is fairly straightforward where I live, though expensive.

My birth name is not obviously religious, but I was named after a relative who took Catholic holy orders and my current legal name is actually their chosen faith name. I'm still waffling on whether I want to keep a variation on it as a middle name or part of a middle name. Keeping it would be both a kind of respect to my ancestor (who I did love) and a way to smooth over some possible future weirdness about the name change.

Technically Jack is a diminuative of John, which is of course strongly associated with Christianity. But one could argue that the name John is so widely used as to be largely secularized, and more than that it's not personally religious in the way my given name is. The vague meaning of the name doesn't weigh on me nearly as much as the circumstance of my given name.
Hail Mara, Lady of Good Things!
"The only way to cope with something deadly serious is to try to treat it a little lightly." -Madeleine L'Engle

Sophia C

  • Adept Member
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Location: London, UK
  • *
  • Posts: 2045
  • Country: gb
  • Total likes: 86
    • View Profile
    • http://leithincluan.wordpress.com/
  • Religion: Druid, Celtic & contemplative Christian, Gaelic-ish polytheist, on a mystic path
  • Preferred Pronouns: They/them
Re: Changing your name
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2015, 04:34:35 am »
Quote from: Apollodorus;178736
Have you ever considered of changing your name because your previous was related to an older religion, inherited by your family?
Anyone who've done this? Was it difficult? Were there any other changes in your life which you'd like to discuss?

 
Naomi is instantly recognisable as a Judeo-Christian biblical name. (By far the most common comment I get after introducing myself is 'like in the Bible'.)

I used to hate it, though not for specifically religious reasons. Then I met my Jewish spouse, and it started to have more meaning in connection with my relationship. At our wedding we had a reading from the Old Testament book of Ruth. Unlike a lot of LGBT Christians, I don't think the story of Ruth and Naomi is about lesbians*. I do think it's about loyalty to another person that extends beyond differences: beyond religion, beyond tribe, beyond all other people. Our rings are inscribed with the verse from the book of Ruth that says "Your people shall be my people and your god shall be my god," and that was in our vows. My name is now connected to that promise.

That said, I do like it when people use my druid name (Leithin Cluan) in druid-y settings!


*However, the Bible offers slim pickings for role models for LGBT Christians, so I understand why the reading is used at so many same-sex weddings. Even if SJ and I roll our eyes and say we chose it for more original reasons. ;)
"We're all stories, in the end. Make it a good one, eh?"
- Doctor Who

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
13 Replies
5186 Views
Last post March 07, 2012, 01:04:02 am
by Cirrus13
6 Replies
1698 Views
Last post October 29, 2011, 08:22:50 am
by RandallS
16 Replies
5325 Views
Last post September 04, 2014, 10:06:32 am
by dragonfaerie
7 Replies
2694 Views
Last post October 14, 2014, 09:17:15 am
by Jainarayan
25 Replies
3437 Views
Last post April 03, 2017, 09:57:08 pm
by Castus

Beginner Area

Warning: You are currently in a Beginner Friendly area of the message board.

* Who's Online

  • Dot Guests: 230
  • Dot Hidden: 0
  • Dot Users: 1
  • Dot Users Online:

* Please Donate!

The Cauldron's server is expensive and requires monthly payments. Please become a Bronze, Silver or Gold Donor if you can. Donations are needed every month. Without member support, we can't afford the server.

* Shop & Support TC

The links below are affiliate links. When you click on one of these links you will go to the listed shopping site with The Cauldron's affiliate code. Any purchases you make during your visit will earn TC a tiny percentage of your purchase price at no extra cost to you.

* In Memoriam

Chavi (2006)
Elspeth (2010)
Marilyn (2013)

* Cauldron Staff

Host:
Sunflower

Message Board Staff
Board Coordinator:
Darkhawk

Assistant Board Coordinator:
Aster Breo

Senior Staff:
Aisling, Allaya, Jenett, Sefiru

Staff:
Ashmire, EclecticWheel, HarpingHawke, Kylara, PerditaPickle, rocquelaire

Discord Chat Staff
Chat Coordinator:
Morag

'Up All Night' Coordinator:
Altair

Cauldron Council:
Bob, Catja, Chatelaine, Emma-Eldritch, Fausta, Jubes, Kelly, LyricFox, Phouka, Sperran, Star, Steve, Tana

Site Administrator:
Randall

SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal