Contentious doll names - gods and so on.

To answer the first question in the first post, no I don't thik there is any name that I wouldn't go with if it really fit my doll. I can't think of any name that I consider offencive really.. Unless the name was actually formed as a sentence that could be considered offencive. A name standing by itself can hardly be considered offencive I think.. It's just a name after all.

 

QFT.

Back to the discussion at hand, I have a doll named Siddhartha, the name of the prince who became the first physical Buddha. When I got Sid, I was going through a transitional period and the name had a significant meaning for me. I seek enlightenment, as do we all, and gave him the name in honor of my personal journey. If someone wants to get offended by it, it's certainly their right, but I meant no disrespect and that's good enough for me. I don't think that a doll name, even a controvercial one like Satan or Hitler, should be cause for alarm.

 

Personally, I wouldn't name a doll after a real person and use their character. My current doll is entirely my own character, as will be any others that come to live with me. However, I think if it's your doll, name it what you want and do what you want with it.

Still, I think there's some things you should keep to yourself. Your doll's an infamous mass murderer from real life? Fine by me, but I don't want to see his latest kills splashed all over the internet, thank you very much.

 

Alot of people on this thread have said that you shouldn´t go with names like Lucifer and Jesus or Mohammed because they push buttons and how we should respect their beliefs- and then went on to saying that names like Artemis and such are OK because no one believs in them anymore.

Well said hobbywhelmed.

Morale of it all; (and excuse my language on this)
Shut up about demanding respect from others if you aren´t going to show them some respect yourself.

Sometimes a name can actually be just a name. It doesn´t have to mean the doll owner is disrespecting your religon or you, or worship Satan.

<- DarkRegret.

"Those people are dead and so are they´re faith?" How can someone say something like that about another people and they´re belief and then demand respect? Not to mention getting angry when we refuse to give it to them?

 

I agree. Greeks aren't a dead race, there are plenty of Greeks! There are also plenty of Greeks who worship the old Gods, so that religion isn't dead either.

With names of Gods I really do think you should take your cue from the culture the Gods come from. There are lots of Greek men called Dionisios and Greek women called Athena, but not so many called Zeus and Hera. Some Gods' names are used as everyday names whilst others are not.

 

I think you dolls name should be special to you no matter what it is. I haven't really thought about naming my boy yet...(I don't have him yet)this post made me think about it. Heh...now it's gonna be on my mind all day.

 

I think that's a good ideal to follow.
I would not take a name I could be afraid for (well, maybe if I meet a guy named Martin and have to introduce a doll called Martin I would feel silly but that's an everyday name) or that could hurt other peoples feelings.
I would have no problem with someone calling his doll Jesus or Mohammed- as long as it fits the character.
In some countries these are normal names and why should a doll not get such a name?
(Ancient) Gods?
Well, why not, I know many dogs called Zeus etc so why don't name a doll Zeus?
At least... If you would call your dog the name you have in mind and you wouldn't mind calling it anywhere in the world with the dog following you- it is a good name^^

 

[/insert zomg newbie ramblings here]

I come from a roleplay board, and generally, people use whatever names they want. Depending on what doll I get first, I intend on using a rather original name; in fact, if you were to google "Aaiiry Bluderaine", you would find nothing but my roleplay posts(And my boyfriend's guildwars posts, freaking stole the name from me >_>)

But past that? Who cares what name it is? I've had dozens and dozens of characters, bakers dozens, even. Francesca, Phineas, Angelika, Lumina, and common ones like Danny, Mark, Amanda, Katie, oddly spelled names like Jaceon, Ashlyn, Arlys, and even colors like Ebony, Ivory, and Verde(Why no, I don't have a small village worth of characters, why would you think that?)

Really, it's one of those live and let live things. I'm not particularly religious, but I see where it wouldn't be fair to name an inanimate object Jesus. I also see where it's not fair to force someone to change "Hayzeus"s name to Fred or Joe just because Suzy Christiansen says so.

XD I'm starting to think I'm just that laid back that even if something offended me I wouldn't care. Someone said "Do whatever pops your cork"? Yeah, do whatever floats your boat. It's your doll, you paid for it o_o

 

I personally don't think there is any name that you couldn't give a doll. Verbs of course, do not count in my opinion, and swear words don't count as names either (imo). If the name resonates within me as the doll's name, that's what it is.

Name of ancient gods/goddesses/figures? Oh yes please! I already have one. Now, I would never try to base a doll off of them, but if the name fit, it fit. I literally research names, finding out what kind of names are out there. I admit to being very fond of pretentious names.

Using my dolls as examples, Astra: Quoting wikipedia (unreliable at times, I know) "In Greek mythology, Astraeus (or Astraeos) was an astrological deity and the Titan-god of the dusk." Astra is no such god-like figure, but the name fits him well. I think he has several hidden names he isn't tell me, though. So I shall wait and see.

Var: I didn't name him after anyone, but Ivan fit him so well, I made his name Russian and incorporated Ivan into it, thus coming out with; Varfolomei Ivan Alkaev. I'm half expecting their names to suddenly change, I'm still getting to know my bois.

As far as other modern religions go, I wouldn't name a doll Jesus; I don't find it to be an attractive name at all. I don't mean to offend anyone, but it's just not a name I find appealing. Buddha? I simply can't see myself with a doll named Buddha. It's always seemed more like a title than a name. As for Satan/Lucifer? Overused.

As far as 'scary' names go...as I learned from the great J.K. Rowling through ALL of her books: fearing a name only gives the owner power over you.

That's how I feel about things, some may agree and some may disagree. I'm not going to change how I feel to please others because I know others wouldn't change for me - and I wouldn't want anyone to.

 

Speaking of J.K. Rowling... my boyfriend has nicknamed Gwenllian 'Lord Voldemort' because 'she has scary eyes' As much as I adore the complexity of the character of Lord V/Tom Riddle, I'd never name a doll after him...too many connotations (and I might get sued by JKR/WB!)

 

AW! D: *pats on back* Never mind the silly man, he simply cannot appreciate her. I'd rather my bois have scary eyes than look high (Astra) and possessed (Var) - now that's only at certain angles, but it's a LOT of certain angles. xD And yea, as cool as Moldy Voldy's name is...I might give the nickname eventually, but I could never actually name a doll Voldemort (for various reasons including chance of getting sued).

 

But they have the ability to be names since they're in an open class of words, meaning that words can be added in like "google", which is both a noun and a verb.
I will try to make "hoobity joop" into a verb and then name my doll that.

 

Oh yes, I know they have the ability and if you make the decision to do so, well have fun with that! And would you really? I'd love to see what kind of doll you'd match to that name.

 

As long as Hoobity Joop became a word, I would totally name my doll that.
It would probably have a two toned colour theme going on. I'm leaning toward black and pink.

 

nameing them doesn't bother me, I could care less if it offend other, after all, I can't live my life worry about what 'other' who doesn't know a darn thing about me and can care less, would feel when it doesn't make me happy to bend to their will. I see to many do that and personality think it foolish. Sorry if it rubs anyone the wrong way. But i do wreck my brains over my boy names...and indeed it boils down to if it fits...not if it offend.

 

An interesting concept to consider is cultural beliefs in the power of a name. I'll take the Egyptian example because it's what I am familiar with.

The ren or name was a source of power and identity for a person. However, the Egyptians believed you also had a secret name, the name of your soul. Learning this secret name was how Aset (Isis, if you prefer)* recieved her magical knowledge from Ra.

Another example of this is their belief that eradicating a name eradicated the soul. This is why pharaohs would often chisel names of their predecessors of monuments. Perhaps this is also where the concept of someone's 'name living on' comes from. If you place a headstone for someone, their name is remembered and they achieve immortality.

I really don't mind what people name their doll, but it is interesting how important names can be. Just some things to ponder.

*The common names we hear when learning about Egypt are actually Greek. For example, Aset is actually the Egyptian name. I think perhaps Herodotus is to blame for this, but I'd have to look it up to doublecheck.

Now, my doll's name came to me while I was watching a History Channel special on Lucrezia Borgia, the Blood Countess who killed lots and lots of people. My doll is not a character of her, but I liked the name. (Pronounced Loo CRETZ ee ah).

 

One thing I have noticed in reading this thread over is that many people assume ancient religions are dead. It's simply not so in many cases. Many pagans of various types return to older deities (I'm no expert...so, if I'm wrong it's ok to say so).

I'm sure we don't want to turn this into a 'religious' thread. It is interesting to see the authoritative way some people are speaking about certain religions, though.
I guess my point is not to "assume" anything about religious beliefs here. We do want to focus on the dolls and the thread at hand, but we also don't want to offend anyone. We never know who still holds such beliefs that is reading. (Like for the record, there are still thriving churchs of the Egyptian faith.)

Thanks!

 

What I think matters is intent. If you like the name, whether its Jesus, Mohammed, Zeus, Baphomet, Lucifer etc but understand some people will probably ask you about it then theres no problem in that. Just be mature about it. Dont expect to call your doll 'Satan' and not get quizzed!
At the moment Im having a debate about my new doll and his name as I may call him after a god I have respect for, just because I like the name and its connatations. Of course, some gods that are quite transmorphic can be easier depicted and tastefully done. For example the god Pan maybe depicted as a full on fawn, or just have a hint of Satyr about him in character. I think its true what the poster who said Jesus Christ would have to be depicted very tastefully , hopefully out of love rather than shock value. Im not Christian but I would find a Jesus doll tacky personally.
I have a doll friend who called their doll after a god, and it was well done, but we good humouredly used to find it quite silly, but after some time (and we are not hysterical people!) we really did think there was something not right about the doll because we had named it after this certain god.
All in all I would think about the implications and connatations in calling a doll after a god that you personally have belief in.

 

Well why does anyone have a name makes everything unique. If a child called a "table" a "chair" the child would be corrected right away because that isn't his name. It shows the importance of how names are in the world.

 

In a lot of books I've read about gods and the spirit world in general, the names given to spirits are usually not just names, but it's what they ARE. For instance, I am human, but my name is Liz. In this instance, if an angel's name is Raphael, that also explains what he IS as well. The composition of the name is so important in spirit names. A spirit's name is never a coincidence, and many things factor in. For instance, "Raphael" means something to the effect of "God's healer", which is what he is. When we humans are named, our parents can't always have such a clear picture of what the universe intends for us (), and so our names become more generic to us, something that sounds good and we are simply used to being called by. They have meanings that are sentimental to us and those who gave us the name, but they're meanings don't always coincide. With spirits and gods though, this is allegedly not the case at all. I think some others in this topic have posted things similar to what I'm about to say, but knowing a spirit's name gives one a certain power over it.

That said, it would seem that speaking a spirit or god's name could have a unique effect to it, especially if something so close to a human form (a doll, for instance) were to possess this name. It makes me wonder what we are invoking everytime we talk to our doll "Michael" or "Lucifer". Interesting!

And as a side note, this is all just jabber from books and what not. Obviously no one has to believe this is true. I just want to make sure no one gets offended.