Baby Name Poll Results

Many Jewish people find the baby name Cohen offensive because the word "Cohen," in Hebrew and in Judaism, signifies a priest of the holy temple. It’s a hereditary position and still carries certain ceremonial privileges. Reactions you’ll get are similar to reactions you’d get for naming your baby Rosary, Pope, Allah, Christ, or PriestOfTheHolyTempleInJerusalem. As the daughter of a Cohen, I’m not particularly offended when I hear of people using it as a baby name, although I am inclined to think it shows a certain ignorance. Enjoy the name and enjoy your baby!

It’s not like Christians get offended when kids are named Jesus! That’s so dumb.
Thanks for explaining it though

My friend used Cohen as his son’s middle name as he is a fan of Leonard Cohen. So if you’re worried about offending anyone use that reference.

It’s not like naming your kid Jesus, it’s more like naming your kid Reverend or Bishop if you’re not even a Christian. Ignorant and insensitive.

I also know kids names Bishop and no one is offended by that.

The families who name their kids Bishop are probably Christian, or it’s a family surname. I doubt you will meet Jewish, Hindu, or Muslim parents who want to name their kids Bishop or Reverend.

It really is offensive. Cohen is a Jewish surname, and to this day, it still signifies a lot to people who bear it, be them Jewish or not.
It is not like naming a child Jesus, because Christians are not offended by that. But to name a child Cohen is something else. Out of ignorance, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t research the name before giving it to your child. And insensitive when you fail to put yourself in those people’s places and understand their situation.
It’s not about if YOU think it’s dumb, it’s what the culture the name belongs to thinks.
What is done is done, I suppose. I don’t think you’re considering renaming your child?
(for the record, there is a Dutch name Koen, unrelated, that could be pronounced the same in English)

There’s also Rowan and Bowen as alternatives.

My mother in law is Jewish and she says it’s offensive because it shows a lack of care for someone’s religion. Please don’t use Jesus as an example. Most Latin Americans are extremely religious and they’re not using something important from someone else’s religion, they are honoring Jesus. You look extremely ignorant right now and I’m surprised you didn’t bother to use something called google before naming your child. Not much thought obviously.

What it comes down to is whether you want people (not just Jews, but other educated people as well) to know that you are ignorant and/or insensitive every time they meet your son.

Yeah I googled the meaning of Cohen and none of this came up. Sorry that I don’t know every surname in every religion that could possibly be offensive to someone else. I don’t have a religion and I am only 16 so I am not to knowledgable about that kind of stuff.
Cohen is very popular on the ssa charts so it’s not like I’m the only one who didn’t know this. And no I’m not renaming my baby because a few people are butthurt.

I was about to say that ^
What offends the most isn’t Cohen in itself, but the action of naming your child it, completely disregarding others.

People make judgements based on a kid’s name, even subconsciously, because it tells them something about the family background from which the child comes.

You asked why people would be offended. People answered.

I didn’t think people would attack me because I didn’t know. Literally only one person in real life was offended by it. Everyone else loved it and obviously didn’t know it was some special Jewish person

It’s okay you and your child will just be seen as ignorant and insensitive for the rest of your life. Nbd

"And no I’m not renaming my baby because a few people are butthurt."? I don’t think any of us are telling you to rename that child, but this? Now this shows your true lack of care. With that attitude, you are not getting very far. Now this is a life advice, start listening to others and above all, respect differences and religions.

^ In this case, their judgements are probably correct: a teen mom who did nothing more than a cursory Google search and doesn’t care if people from other cultures are "butthurt" (great vocabulary usage) by the name she gave to her child. No one is asking you to be knowledgeable about every name that could possibly be offensive to anyone, just to pay attention when MANY people are offended by a name, and for good reason.

Ignorance only goes so far. It’s understandable, but not always excusable.
You are now acting completely insensitive and continuing to disregard what we’ve told.
I am not telling you to rename you son, we’re just trying to get you to understand. But apparently you don’t want to.

Well people are giving me name suggestions, that makes me think they are wanting me to change Cohens name.

Okay, so you originally didn’t realize it was offensive, due to your own scant research - well, now you know! Change it before he gets any older! Prove your maturity, sensitivity, and intelligence! Don’t sit around whining that you can’t be held accountable because you’re sixteen. You’re apparently old enough to take care of a baby instead of giving it up for adoption. Take care of his name too. Best of luck.

Now that you know this information, why would you even want to keep his offensive name? Laziness?

Cohen sounds kinda like "cone" anyway.

What happens when you or he child moves into an area with a high Jewish population? You okay with offending almost everyone you meet because of ignorance? Would you name your child Allah with the knowledge it’s offensive to Muslims?

I don’t see how she will be seen as ignorant for naming her son Cohen?? Just because it’s a surname? I’m reading these comments and it really makes no sense why someone would be offended. Basically, you’re saying they’re offended because it’s a last name and she didn’t know it was a last name before she used it?? So if I name my son Smith they’ll be offended???

Yeah pp it’s not even an attractive name for a child...

Pp no...work on your comprehension

It’s not because Cohen is a -just- surname. It’s not like naming your child Smith.
If you actually read and ´pay attention to the comments, you’ll understand. Not only the meaning of Cohen, but the others reasons why people are offended.

Almost 1000 baby boys were named Cohen in the US in 2012 alone! All of them should change their name too then?
Yeah I’m lazy because I don’t want to change my two month old sons name, which I love, because *some* Jewish people are offended by it! Haha you guys are insane!

Bye (:

If their parents really cared, they would change their names, yes.

Oh yeah, we’re all just insane and you’re perfectly reasonable... sounds likely.

Now when I meet a Cohen, I’ll probably think of this annoying poster.

There’s always Owen, too.

I personally don’t find it offensive. And I honestly don’t see why anyone would, regardless of its religious connotations.

I agree with the poster. I’m by no means am a teen or uneducated, but I had no clue that Cohen was considered so offensive. Granted, I don’t have a child with that name so I’ve not researched it, but I never would’ve guessed. You’re never going to please everyone and it is a fairly popular name, so I wouldn’t worry too much about offended others. If they take offense and don’t like his name, oh well, that’s their opinion. What matters if you like the name. I would imagine that most people, without googling, would have no clue about this name.

Im a fairly educated woman and I had no idea it was offensive either. Its a shame people find it offensive cause I actually like the name cohen.

I’m a religious Jew and I don’t think it’s offensive. Extremely odd, but not offensive.
Cohen does mean priest, yes, but I don’t think it’s particularly rude or anything. I could possibly see something about the name being a status symbol or something which is now being randomly taken and used, but I don’t know. The reason I think it’s weird is that for Jews Cohen is only a last name, never a first name.
Honestly, though, whenever I think of the name Cohen being used as a first name I think of Cohen the Barbarian from Discworld, so...

I knew Cohen was a Jewish surname but had no idea of it’s religious connotation. The name isn’t offensive to me but I am not Jewish. In fact, I am atheist and even though I would not choose it for my own son, it is a name I rather like.