Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dolores on October 23, 2013, 10:53:57 AM
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Should a Catholic who was given the name of something other than a Saint by his or her parents legally change his or her name?
Does it matter whether the name is given is neutral, bizarre, or evil? For instance:
"Daisy" is a not a Saint, but could be described as a neutral name.
"Moon Unit" is not a Saint, not evil, but is certainly a bizarre name for a woman.
"Desdemona" is not a Saint, and comes the Greek meaning "wretched" or "ill-fated".
I've also heard of a boy who was named "Lucifer".
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I suppose it is a matter of doing the paperwork, but I don't think there would be an obligation to do so legally.
One could always use their baptismal name. I know a lot of trad. Catholics with bizarre names, thanks to being born in the 80s. They just use them, as they are fairly common, though not saints names.
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If the name causes distress why not change it?
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I think that would be my feeling too. I don't see any obligation to do so. One could always go by a middle or confirmation name.
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If the name causes distress why not change it?
Absolutely! Change it to any good Traditional saint's name. For example, Barack, Rodham, Trayvon—the range of choice is virtually unlimited, even without taking into account all those great names with apostrophes in curious places that one encounters among linemen and running backs in the NFL, especially those who played college ball for the Fighting Muslims Irish of Obama Tech Bergoglio Tech Notre Dame.
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Should a Catholic who was given the name of something other than a Saint by his or her parents legally change his or her name?
Does it matter whether the name is given is neutral, bizarre, or evil? For instance:
"Daisy" is a not a Saint, but could be described as a neutral name.
"Moon Unit" is not a Saint, not evil, but is certainly a bizarre name for a woman.
"Desdemona" is not a Saint, and comes the Greek meaning "wretched" or "ill-fated".
I've also heard of a boy who was named "Lucifer".
This is what canon law has to say about the names of those to be baptized;
Can. 855 Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.
I think the person shoud us a name that they feel most comfortable with. They could use their confirmation name.
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Thank you all for your input. My first name is Eglantine. I was told of its association with witchcraft, so I no longer go by it in common conversation. Do you think I should change it legally?
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My mother is named Diana, but the priest would not baptize her as Diana because of the pagan goddess, so he baptized her in the name of Mary, though she goes by Diana.
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Thank you all for your input. My first name is Eglantine. I was told of its association with witchcraft, so I no longer go by it in common conversation. Do you think I should change it legally?
Nope. I looked up the meaning and did not find the same. I suggest you contact a trad priest who knows about names, there are some that are great with names, there is a possibility that it could have a Catholic root that you overlooked. I wouldn't have a problem with it or change it, if it were me. Were you baptized by a different name?
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My mother is named Diana, but the priest would not baptize her as Diana because of the pagan goddess, so he baptized her in the name of Mary, though she goes by Diana.
The priest was wrong. There is a Blessed Diana.
A member of the d'Andalo family, Diana was born near Bologna Italy, and convinced her father to withdraw his opposition to the founding of a Dominican priory on land he owned in Bologna. Dominic received her vow of virginity, but she was forced to remain at home by her family. Later she joined the Augustinians at Roxana but was forcibly removed from the convent by her family. She was injured in the struggle but later escaped and returned to Roxana. Sometime later Blessed Jordan of Saxony convinced the family to found a Dominican convent in 1222 for her, staffed with Diana and four companions and four nuns brought from Rome, two of them Cecilia and Amata. Diana died on January 9, and when Cecilia and Amata died, they were buried with her. All three were beatified in 1891. Feast day is June 9th.
http://catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=408
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Thank you all for your input. My first name is Eglantine. I was told of its association with witchcraft, so I no longer go by it in common conversation. Do you think I should change it legally?
Eglantine is a French name which has a Latin origin meaning "Latin etymology: "aculeatus" which has thorns"
It is another version refering to St Rose. The main forms of this name are Rose and Flower (Fleur).
http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/prenom/556/Eglantine.html