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Traditional Catholic Faith => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jacob III on January 14, 2013, 12:09:31 AM

Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Jacob III on January 14, 2013, 12:09:31 AM: My wife is due in August and Reuben is our top name for a boy. My name is Jacob and the boy will be my first son. I want the boy (not sure of the gender yet, but hypothetically-speaking) to have a strong Catholic faith, education and upbringing, but I wonder: is the name Catholic enough? Does it matter?

In case you're wondering, if it's a girl: Catherine, Margaret or Florence (3 wonderful saints!)

Thanks!
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Telesphorus on January 14, 2013, 12:14:30 AM: People will think he's Jєωιѕн.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: ggreg on January 14, 2013, 03:23:04 AM: Your choice but I would go for something more normal. Reuben is bit weird.

All my children have Russian name that sound familiar to English speakers.

Anna, Alex, Marianna.

We avoided names like Bogdan, Olga and Vitalik for obvious reasons,
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Catechist99 on January 14, 2013, 11:01:30 AM: Not to mention that in the Bible Reuben is not exactly a heroic figure (he committed incest). Ruben was deprived of his birthright in punishment of an incest which he committed in Chanaan (Genesis 35:22; 49:4).

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13214b.htm

Wise to select something else that will bring honor to Our Lord and your family.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: michaela benedicta on January 14, 2013, 02:33:00 PM: Thank you for asking us for our opinions, Jacob! :)
I am sorry, but I have to agree with everyone thus far. Reuben just reminds me of a sandwich, plus, people will always misspell it, mispronounce it, etc.
How about Richard? John? Mark? Matthew? A plethora of strong Catholic male names are there for the choosing.
Congratulations, by the way!! Whatever the baby's name winds up to be, I am sure that it will have two wonderful, loving parents to guide it back Home!!

Love,
+michaela
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: michaela benedicta on January 14, 2013, 02:39:37 PM: Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!) Let me tell you, if I would have charged everyone who started singing the song a nickel, I would be a millionaire by now!! Please avoid torture for your children at all costs. My parents were hippies, I barely scraped by without being named "moonbeam" or something.... :roll-laugh1:

Love,
+michaela benedicta
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Domitilla on January 14, 2013, 05:10:23 PM: If your name is Jacob, how about James?
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Capt McQuigg on January 14, 2013, 05:12:11 PM: Terrible name for a Catholic but a wonderful name for a wonderful sandwich! :smirk:
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Marlelar on January 14, 2013, 06:08:08 PM: Quote from: michaela benedicta
Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!)

I'll bite - Yellow Submarine?

Marsha
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: michaela benedicta on January 14, 2013, 06:12:19 PM: :roll-laugh1:
You slay me, Marsha!!!
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Marlelar on January 14, 2013, 06:18:08 PM: Now in all seriousness, I too would recommend a traditional saint's name which isn't too exotic. Skip the ones like Zosimas or Wiborada; and probably any saints name that appears in any "Top 10" list of popular names.

from: Saints names (http://www.catholic.org/saints/)

"Pope Saint Zosimus was born in Mesoraca, Calabria and was Pope from 18 March 417 to 26 December 418"

"Saint Wiborada of St. Gall (also Guiborat or Weibrath) (died 926) was a member of the Swabian nobility in what is present-day Switzerland. She was an anchoress, Benedictine nun, and martyr, as well as the first woman formally canonized by the Vatican."

Marsha
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: JMacQ on January 14, 2013, 06:42:18 PM: It sounds Jєωιѕн, definitely. Like calling him Levi.

But frankly, why asking a forum of people who don't know you and you don't know?

Prayers for your wife and the child.

:pray:
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: clare on January 15, 2013, 02:28:41 PM: Quote from: michaela benedicta
Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!)...

Dear....?
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Elizabeth on January 15, 2013, 09:41:14 PM: :scratchchin:
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Hobbledehoy on January 15, 2013, 10:08:00 PM: Quote from: Jacob III
My wife is due in August and Reuben is our top name for a boy. My name is Jacob and the boy will be my first son. I want the boy (not sure of the gender yet, but hypothetically-speaking) to have a strong Catholic faith, education and upbringing, but I wonder: is the name Catholic enough? Does it matter?

In case you're wondering, if it's a girl: Catherine, Margaret or Florence (3 wonderful saints!)

Thanks!

As has been said, Ruben was disgraced by reason of his coninquination: "Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not: because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch" (Gen. cap. xlix., 4).

You should name your son Joseph, as he inherited the solemn benediction of Jacob: "The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills should come; may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren" (ibid., 26).

The Patriarch Joseph was a great exemplar of virtues, especially fortitude, prudence, chastity and meekness. He was the great type of another and greater Joseph, who would be a most welcome Patron and celestial tutor for your son, as no other Saint loves Jesus and Mary as much as St. Joseph: since one cannot truly love a person only after having known him, it follows that St. Joseph's super-excelling love for Jesus and Mary was consequent upon, and concomitant with, a very great knowledge of the sacred Mysteries of the Redemption and the dignities of the Virgin Mother of God, a knowledge greater than those of the Apostles and even of the Precursor but hidden and revealed only centuries afterwards for the sake of those souls who aspired higher and higher unto the unknown heights of the great dazzling darkness that envelopes the mystical union of the soul with God (St. Teresa of Avila being the best example, for she learned the science of prayer and was able to teach by tutelage of St. Joseph):

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d89/platonic123/Sacred%20Miscellany/SCAN3534.jpg)

Post script: I think Mary Josephine is an awesome name for a girl.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Capt McQuigg on January 16, 2013, 12:52:29 PM: Thanks Hobbledehoy!!!!

Not only is Reuben a Jєωιѕн name but Reuben lost his place as the firstborn because of his actions toward Bilbah.

It's a disgraceful name!

Still, though, a truly wonderful sandwich!
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Quo Vadis Petre on January 16, 2013, 01:26:00 PM: Quote from: michaela benedicta
Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!) Let me tell you, if I would have charged everyone who started singing the song a nickel, I would be a millionaire by now!! Please avoid torture for your children at all costs. My parents were hippies, I barely scraped by without being named "moonbeam" or something.... :roll-laugh1:

Love,
+michaela benedicta

I'll bite, too. Strawberry Fields?
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Capt McQuigg on January 16, 2013, 01:46:46 PM: Eleanor Rigsby?
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Jacob III on January 16, 2013, 07:51:51 PM: Or lovely Rita, meter maid.

Thanks for the advice folks, it has made us reconsider and decide that a saint's name would indeed be better!
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Sigismund on January 16, 2013, 08:25:54 PM: Quote from: Telesphorus
People will think he's Jєωιѕн.

Some maybe. Most will just think he is names Reuben If you pronounced it with a V instead of a B it would sound Jєωιѕн.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Sigismund on January 16, 2013, 08:26:43 PM: Quote from: Catechist99
Not to mention that in the Bible Reuben is not exactly a heroic figure (he committed incest). Ruben was deprived of his birthright in punishment of an incest which he committed in Chanaan (Genesis 35:22; 49:4).

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13214b.htm

Wise to select something else that will bring honor to Our Lord and your family.

That is a much better reason for not using the name.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Sigismund on January 16, 2013, 08:27:55 PM: Quote from: Marlelar
Quote from: michaela benedicta
Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!)

I'll bite - Yellow Submarine?

Marsha

I am guessing Rita or Michelle.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: PenitentWoman on January 16, 2013, 08:43:23 PM: Quote from: michaela benedicta
Oh, and P.S....
The name DOES matter.. before I changed my name to michaela, my parents named me after a Beatles song.... (I will leave it up to you to figure out which one!) Let me tell you, if I would have charged everyone who started singing the song a nickel, I would be a millionaire by now!! Please avoid torture for your children at all costs. My parents were hippies, I barely scraped by without being named "moonbeam" or something.... :roll-laugh1:

Love,
+michaela benedicta

Penny Lane?
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: Peter in Chains on January 16, 2013, 08:56:46 PM: Hey, Jude!? :confused1: :scratchchin:
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: WhollyRoaminCatholic on January 16, 2013, 09:09:00 PM: I knew a Reuben when I was younger. He was a good kid, and the kind of guy who would probably have been a good man and husband. I haven't seen him in probably 20 years, so I don't know how he turned out.

My guess is that he was pretty solid.
Title: Would "Reuben" be an appropriate name for a Catholic boyman?
Post by: michaela benedicta on January 16, 2013, 10:22:21 PM: No worries, Jacob III!
thank you for asking us... of course now you have to post some newborn pics (insert malevolent laugh here!) just kidding! But some pics would be great!

OK, OK, sorry about the name thing! It was between "Michelle" by the Beatles and "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers. :smoke-pot: I promise, if any one of you even THINK of the tune, I will find you!! ha ha! just kidding :) Then you will have to pony up a nickel for my retirement fund.

Love,
+michaela "she came in through the bathroom window" benedicta