Can I name my Jewish daughter Mary?

[Anonymous]

Miri and Mira are both also beautiful, or how about the French Mireille?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you self hating?

Over a name?

Is a woman self-hating if she names her DD Anderson?

Is an AA person self-hating if he or she doesn’t shed a European last name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-if you like Mary, use it! 99% (at least) of people will never even think about it or say anything to your dd about it.

I'm a Christian who named dd a Hebrew name, Adah. My folks have a longtime family friend who is Jewish and he was delighted-he loves the name and tells her so. I guess it is an older name and you don't hear it much among Jewish parents anymore (so I've been told).

Do what you want OP.

Except that OP is Jewish. So while 99% of people in the world will not think about it, her circle is heavily populated by the 1% who might care enough to actually make her (or her daughter) feel bad about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

This is not making Jews sound good. I don’t want to believe anyone would make a child feel bad about her name of all things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

This is not making Jews sound good. I don’t want to believe anyone would make a child feel bad about her name of all things.

And you think Christians would react any differently to a Christian boy named Mohamed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

This is not making Jews sound good. I don’t want to believe anyone would make a child feel bad about her name of all things.

And you think Christians would react any differently to a Christian boy named Mohamed?

Oh, well, if Christians do it, it must be okay... Wait!

Isn’t the whole point to repair the world rather than replicating intolerance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

This is not making Jews sound good. I don’t want to believe anyone would make a child feel bad about her name of all things.

And you think Christians would react any differently to a Christian boy named Mohamed?

Oh, well, if Christians do it, it must be okay... Wait!

Isn’t the whole point to repair the world rather than replicating intolerance?

Being surprised by a name and it causing some confusion isn't the same as intolerance. Few if any are suggesting you should mock a Jewish Mary or a Christian Mohamed. But that doesn't mean a few eyebrows won't be raised. Tikun Olam doesn't vitiate human nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

Julius actually wasn't a Roman first name. It was a family name (a nomen, not a praenomen), of the tribe/clan of the Julii. Caesar's own first name was Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

You are taking it away too far. St. Paul, St. Mark- My point is that these are Christan religious names and I can list 20 Jewish Marks and Pauls..while yo can list original sources, so can Mary...but it was culturally taken by Catholic culture.

I am telling you what Jews actually think and say to each other. I am not speculating on history. I am a Jewish woman who has had four babies myself, and heard countless conversations among other Jews, especially those of my mother's generation, about these "Christian"-y name choices. Is Christian-splaining a thing? You don't have to like it, or think it's reasonable, but this is what Jews will say about little Mary. They will say, "That's an odd choice. I don't know why she would name her daughter Mary. It's so Christian." Not all Jews, but enough that if you participate in Jewish life at all, you might want to think twice before setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt feelings, or feeling misunderstood.

This is not making Jews sound good. I don’t want to believe anyone would make a child feel bad about her name of all things.

And you think Christians would react any differently to a Christian boy named Mohamed?

Oh, well, if Christians do it, it must be okay... Wait!

Isn’t the whole point to repair the world rather than replicating intolerance?

Being surprised by a name and it causing some confusion isn't the same as intolerance. Few if any are suggesting you should mock a Jewish Mary or a Christian Mohamed. But that doesn't mean a few eyebrows won't be raised. Tikun Olam doesn't vitiate human nature.

Nor does tikun olam mean we must erase the things that make us a vibrant and distinctive culture. Names are important in every culture and serve as in markers in every culture.

[Anonymous]

What about Marisa/Marissa? I know a few Jewish women/girls with that name. Could easily still be Mair for a nickname.

[Anonymous]

Haven't read the previous comments but another no vote. I'd find that very odd.

[Anonymous]

Why not Marian or Miriam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Marisa/Marissa? I know a few Jewish women/girls with that name. Could easily still be Mair for a nickname.

Or Mari, with a long A. I really like Mireille though.

Or if OP just likes classic girl names that aren't too trendy, how about:

Molly
Nora
Rose
Sally
Lily
Lucy
Maxine (Maxi)
Edith (Edie)
Jane
Justine
Anna
Clara
Delia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is weird culturally because of the Catholic focus with the Virgin Mary, but it is biblically Jewish. No one questions Mark or Paul with Jewish boys, and there are a ton of Jewish men with those names...very New Testament. It really is just cultural.
Now, Christine, Christina, Chrissy...that is a Christian name.

Not entirely true. Jews are "Saul," which was Paul's Jewish name. Jewish "Paul"s again, are largely named after older relatives who picked an assimilated Christian version of the traditional Jewish name.

"Mark," like "Julius," are/were popular Jewish names because they are Roman names.

-- mom to a "Julius Saul," named after an Orthdox great uncle (deceased) and a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Paul and Pauline.

Julius actually wasn't a Roman first name. It was a family name (a nomen, not a praenomen), of the tribe/clan of the Julii. Caesar's own first name was Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar).

And the first name of the guy who invented the Caesar Salad was actually Cesare. Stop the world, I want to get off!