Contentious doll names - gods and so on.

but wasnt his name Jehovah??

 

Actually, it hints that he has a name in the bible, but to hear it would make one go deaf and to see his face would make one blind. SUPPOSEDLY!

At least, that's what I was taught before I converted to Paganism.

 

I would not name a doll Jesus but that’s partly because i don't want to have to defend the name and also because even though it in my mind does relate to the son of god. I personally don't like the name. And also i think that almost any name someone some where is not going to like so it really shouldn't matter what you named your doll if you liked it
.

 

I have characters whose names are variations of Gabriel and Luciver (as well as other biblical names), but I didn't do it because of the religious connotations, I did it because Gabriel has always been a name I liked, and the other was an homage to a character in a book with a name similar to Luciver. I am aware of the religious meanings and they do sometimes subtly enter the story, but I do consider them Just Names. In real life, people name their kids after religious/historical figures, so why not name our dolls?

I think giving a doll a name for the purpose of shocking and offending people is wrong, but if you choose a name for your own reasons that might offend people, don't worry about it. Just don't get offended if they voice their offense, explain it instead.

 

yes it is.
(in response to OctoberAnna)

 

I pretty much would name a doll anything, as long as I thought it sounded fairly nice and didn't carry too many bad connotations (am I using that word right? I think I am...but am still rather paranoid about using the wrong words.). I've even got a few name ideas from this thread, oddly enough! Like Damien, who was evidently the spawn of Satan in a movie or something like that...I think. But if that's true, and it is just from a movie, then I have no problems with it. Especially since there are a lot of people who probably haven't seen it and just think the name sounds good, like me.

 

I kept the old name "Clover" I felt the name Kirakishou sounded nice next to the name Clover so stuck it in there she does have that crazy Kirakishou look to her if you pose her head to the side too much (anyone who has read the Rozen Maiden manga know Kirakishou all to well) I was originally gonna make it Clover Rhiannon but Kirakishou sounded better

 

Jesus (as a name for a person or doll that is not in reference to the Savior) always makes me think of John Turturro in "The Great Lebowski" - "Nobody messes with the Jesus." But it is a very popular name in many cultures, as is Salvatore, which also refers to Jesus. My screen name is an invocation of the Virgin Mary, and I think it's going to be the name of my SWD Nana, I want to do some drawings/paintings of her as Mary, and I have always fantasized about doing a tattoo of that.
Icons and statues are big with us, (referring to us Catholics that is) we seem to have thrown the whole no worship the idol thing aside (yes I know about the relations and parallels between Paganism and Christianity), I don't see anything wrong with using a doll as a representation. Most people don't make dolls of things they revile, you probably wouldn't make yourself a Jesus just to poke fun at him or constantly contradict him. Your doll that is.

 

Being raised as a non-christian (Actually, not religious at all) I wouldn't be offended at all if someone would decide to call a doll Jesus. I can imagine some people would be somewhat offended, but then that's a matter of location, too.
For example, on one of the first pages someone mentions names of 'bad' people like Hitler. If you'd name a doll hitler and you would be in the countries surrounding Germany (such as The Netherlands where I am) you would probably be frowned upon. Probably even by me because right now that is just not acceptable in my opinion. To me, personally, it would come across as a sign of agreeing with him, which everyone has the right to, but according to the law, you can not express that opinion anymore. (Freedom of opinion stops where insulting starts)
Hitlers first name, Adolf, however, became a lot less popular after the second world war. But I can imagine someone calling their doll Adolf because they like the name and not specifically because of Hitler, even though some people might see the link.

Going back to biblical names because that seems to be the main thing that is discussed here. It's the context. In some places you can't call your doll Jesus, and in some you can. I guess it really just depends on how understanding the people around you are.

As Stella Maris said, most people wouldn't make a Jesus doll to make fun of him, and I agree with that. Because if someone would do that, it would be a lot more offensive than just calling a doll something because you like the name.

 

I can't see naming a doll after a god wrong, people name things after gods all the time and get away with it through games, movies, ect. I was always taught that the Christian God's name is Yaweh also known as Jehovah. Yaweh/Jahveh was the traditional name that was written in the bible in hebrew, it was short for jehovah and translated to his other name; God. Atleast that was what my christian school has taught me e.o;
Either ways, many movies have dogs and pets named Zeus and others gods. For some reason people find the biggest disgrace to name things after Gods, but in a way it seems like praise to me. You wouldn't name something after a god if you didn't like the name in the first place. Jesus itself is a very common name throughout some countries, and at the time of Jesus' birth his name wasn't anything special. The name Jesus at that time was a normal common name, and i'm sure there are many other people named jesus from that era. Otherwise archaeologist wouldn't make so many mistakes everytime they say, "We found Jesus!".

 

My doll is named after a Greek god (Aristaeus), but only because I liked the sound of the name. He is a lesser known god, and since Greek mythology isn't a religion anymore I don't think anyone should be bothered by it. In fact I don't mind names from religions, but a doll named Jesus I can see making some uncomfortable.

 

I named my Dollmore Kif Elf Pado 'Owa', after the Japanese mythology dragon of the sea, Ōwatatsumi. I have the full intention of having my dolls character be that of Owa, but with my own twist- a pretentious teenage water dragon who had too much power and thinks hes amazing.
If anyone contacted me about it being offensive, I would most likely just mention that I am not disrespecting, but representing the sea god. In many religions, idols are used to represent gods. Why not a doll?

 

In Celtic Paganism it is traditional to name your children after gods and goddesses as a way of asking for their protection or in hopes your child will have their positive attributes. I don't see anything particularly insulting or offensive about naming a doll after a god. Some day I hope to have my own Cernunnos doll. He won't be a character but my own ideal of my personal favorite god. So far I haven't really found the correct mold for him, but someday.

 

I'm not insulted by folks using whatever names strike their fancy. I might question their taste and ingenuity though.

There are so many possible names, I would try really hard not to use anything cliche if I was presenting a particular character. The goal for me is creativity and individuality. Sadly, deities, angels, devils, vampires, and other popular literary figures don't fit that aim. I like cultural themes, but you have to forgive others if they can't figure out how to pronounce them.

 

Personally I wouldn't name a Doll the same name as some-one I know. Just because then I would associate my doll with that person. And no matter how much I like the person, my doll is a person all their own!

 

Thinked this long. Nope, i wouldnt have proplems to name my doll after gods or messiahs or something. But then again, i wont do that because they dont suit my dolls. Propaply never will...
Well.. Never say never.

 

I don't mind gods of mythology and even some of the Hindu ones but I wouldn't feel comfortable naming anything after monotheistic deities mainly because I've had a bad history with monotheism and thus don't want to associate with it anymore than I have to. I will name things after communist dictators for giggles, like my cats for example. All four are named after communist dictators/philosopher for the purpose of being funny and original. For the most part I will stick with names that have meaning if it strikes my fancy.

 

Why even connect to name to a god at all? Why not just let it be the name for that particular doll? I honestly don't think most would name their doll after a god and want you to think of that god. They want you to see the character of the doll. I honestly don't have a problem with it. Be is Jesus or Shiva, a name is just a name. You give it meaning. I mean souldoll made a Shiva doll which is a bit off the mark of the deity but still a somewhat acurate. I don't think the people that buy her will bring her home and call her Shiva. They'll make her their own.

 

I actually thought Lucifer and Damien would be cute for a father-son/brothers pair...

 

Lucifer is not a bad name it means giver of light or bringer light and Damian means to tame. The only reason people think it's some "evil" name is because of The Omen. It's kind of annoying when people freak out about those name :\
Personally who cares if someone names it after a mythological being or biblical or w/e. If someone is offended I say you have a stick up you're butt get over it.