Is Luke too Christian?

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds weird, but my husband and I are Jewish and we love the name Luke. I know it's from the new testament and I don't know any Jews with this name. Any Jewish moms out there think it's too odd?

[Anonymous]

Not Jewish here, but is this really a concern now and days?

[Anonymous]

I love the name Magdalena, but decided it was too aggressively Christian for my circumstances. I would definitely think it was interesting if I met a little Jewish boy named Luke, but I wouldn't judge.

[Anonymous]

I know a Jewish boy named Lucas, if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely too Christian. But I just read that nonJews name their kids Ezra. To the PP - it is a concern for religious families who take into consideration the meaning of the name. We are practicing Jews and would not name our children something strongly associated with Christianity (Luke, Christopher, Theresa). We gave our kids names from the Torah because it is a link to our religious history. That works for us but that's because the connection and meaning of the name was important to us.

[Anonymous]

Star Wars.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. Practicing Jewish here and was going to say if you're not following the tradition of naming after a relative it doesn't matter. Then I looked up Luke and read about the Gospel of Luke. Now I'm with the PP. Assuming Wikipedia is correct, the meaning is way too Christian for a Jewish boy. Even if you're not practicing, he might want to when he's older and might be embarrassed about his name. Or, he won't and all this worry will be for nothing. What is you and your husband's criteria for a name? Is it only something you like or does the meaning matter? That might guide your selection. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I think of it as a Catholic name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Star Wars.

Haha, I was thinking the same thing. And so will your DS, if he's anything like our 5 year old DS and all his friends, Jewish or non...

[Anonymous]

We are Jewish and are planning to name our baby Lucas (with Luke as a NN). I got a little bit of push back from my mother, but none from my sister, who is a Rabbi. She even came up with a beautiful Hebrew name for him. We are also naming him after two of our relatives who have passed away, so we are in keeping with that tradition. I think it is fine if you love that name like we do and if your family is not extremely religious and expecting you to use only names from the Torah.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, YES. I would laugh to myself if I met a Jewish boy or man named Luke.

[Anonymous]

Jewish here and would not use the name. I'd probably do Lucas as a middle name for compromise and pick a different first name.

[Anonymous]

Catholic here -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- doesn't get more New Testamenty (yes, new word) than that.

[Anonymous]

I was raised Christian but I'm not religious. I stay away from names like Mary but it wouldn't bother me at all if a Jewish family chose Luke.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lapsed Protestant in an ethnically Jewish neighborhood. My 4yo has a (jewish) friend named Luke. I never thought a thing of it, until now. And luke seems to be doing fine at the temple preschool. I realize I'm only one person but so many people are disconnected from religion these days I don't think everyone will make the connection and if they do they may not care.