Baby Name Poll Results

I have know idea why people would say its disrespectful to us those names! Cohen and Levi are absolutely adorable!!!

I have no idea why someone would say that, Biblical names are great and many people have them! I love the name Levi. From your choices I like Cole then Owen and then Cohen, although I do like Cohen.

I don’t have religious view at all so I think that those names are fine. If I had to choose one I’d go with Owen although, they are all lovely choices.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/05/05/the-big-baby-naming-battle.html

This article explains it well. Its a sacred name in Jewish culture. Its the surname of a line of Priests descended from Aaron. Its offensive to Jews because in their culture only a sacred family line has the name Cohen, and people with no Jewish heritage are naming their kids Cohen with no respect or understanding of where it comes from or what it means to their culture.

Doesn’t matter how adorable they are. Why would anyone choose to saddle their beloved child with a name that basically insults a whole culture? I don’t know that I completely understand it. But I have enough respect for other cultures to simply accept that it does, and to not do it. It’s the Golden Rule. And it’s not like Cohen is the only adorable name there is.

I honestly feel that if you love the name Cohen then go with it. If you have no ties to the Jewish community then it shouldn’t matter what you name your son.There are people out their who name their kids some pretty weird things, so Cohen is the least of your problems. GL!

My head is reeling from the previous comment. I have no words....

I know a jewish boy named Cohen.

Name your child what YOU want. Everyone is going to have a different opinion. You can’t please everyone. And its your child not theirs.

Hi, I am a religious Jew and I am part of the Cohen tribe. Maybe I can help clear this up.

Cohen refers to the Jewish sub-tribe of priests. It is not a name, but a title, given by birthright (you have to be born one) and comes with certain religious responsibilities, as well as privileges. During the Temple days, Cohanim (plural for Cohen) would have been the ones running the show. So, like I saw on another website, naming your kid Cohen is like naming them, "Priest of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem."

That said, I wouldn’t be offended by the baby name Cohen, nor would most Jews I know. I might think it was weird, or indicated that you have no idea what a Cohen is but you just thought it was a nice name.

As for your other question-the subtribe of Cohanim descend from the Biblical Aaron, who himself descended from the tribe of Levi. I have no explanation for why Cohen is controversial while Levi is not - perhaps because Levi was actually a person’s first name, while Cohen never was.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

I like Cohen i think you should use it anyway. people are too pc these days

I do not like the name Cohen, but if you do then don’t worry about what other people think. The whole "politically correct" thing [removed]es me off royally. I’m a Christian, but I’m not raising cane over the Hispanic people who name their children Jesus. In their culture it’s fine. It’s ridiculous what people get upset over. Not trying to offend anyone or sound like I’m bashing Jews, I’m not. People in general just need to stop getting upset over little things like that.