Naming things after gods...

[Bix]

I've noticed people naming things, especically pets, after various gods and goddesses. How do you think the deities feel about this? Would they be offended or honored? Why or why not?

[Ojuice5001]

I think the gods like that idea. In ancient cultures like Rome and Egypt, the gods' names and images were to be found all over the place. It just makes them feel that much more at home in the material world. Yes, in some ways, the omnipresence of the gods' names was a much more meaningful equivalent of the fact that we constantly see the names of commercial brands today.;) Basically, the gods just like to have things named after them, and as long as our intention was respectful, they don't mind that it's just an individual animal that we feel fond of.

[argento_occhi]

For me, I don't think i'd name a pet or anything DIRECTLY after a deity (eg, this is Aset, this is Yinepu, etc), because that's adding a burden to them that may not be appropiriate. I mean, it depends on the pet, though. I wouldn't do it personally because I wouldn't want it myself. I'm sure They feel honoured by it, though I think intent is more important here. I'd definitely give Kemetic names associating someone with a deity, but I wouldn't name someone directly after a deity. I think it takes a lot of strength to carry around the name of a deity, and I've always felt like this. I was thinking of posting about this myself lately, but you beat me to it. I hope this is coherent. My brain's still waking up.

Argent

[Darkdale]

I've noticed people naming things, especically pets, after various gods and goddesses. How do you think the deities feel about this? Would they be offended or honored? Why or why not?

I don't think they really concern themselves with what we name our pets. Obviously if the intent is to honor them, I'm sure they appeciate it.

[Aidron]

Depends. I might name something after one of my gods to honor them and keep their name alive if it is something appropriate to carry their name. I certainly would not a dog of mine Poseidon, but Artemis? Certainly. If a friendly owl or dove started coming around I might affectionately refer to it as Athene or Aphrodite, though if that happened I'm certain it actually would be the respective goddesses working through these vessels as I've certainly never seen an owl or dove around here.

Whatever it is that I named after them it would have to be A.) appropriate and B.) sacred in its own right, both to honor and prevent blasphemy of their names. I wouldn't name a pack of cigarettes Zeus for example, but an eagle at a preservation park, certainly.

[raminda]

I think that as long as it is done respectively, then it should be okay.

[Karma Chameleon]

What about automobiles?

[Dawa Lhamo]

Well, I worship Krishna, among others, and even though I'm not a Hare Krishna, I think they have a good perspective on it: They sometimes will be walking down the street in their robes, and the children will yell out "Krishna! Krishna!" to taunt the Hare Krishnas. But they think it's wonderful that these children are saying the name Krishna, because the name is so holy, they *can't* use it as an insult, but will instead be unwittingly blessed.....

I like that. I think that naming things after a god (or people) isn't disrespectful unless you are trying to be, and that to spread the Divine around like that is perfectly acceptable.

While I don't think we'll see a Honda Jehovah any time soon (can you imagine the uproar???), I wouldn't mind driving a Chevy Hathor or something. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

[KEishin]

I wouldn't mind driving a Chevy HathorIt would be a luxury model right? ;)

I named my last car after a lesser-known Greek god . . . but maybe I should have named it Christine instead! It was a very unhappy car.

My feeling is that naming is a very powerful activity, so be careful what you name your stuff. A cat named Loki (a friend of a friend did that) will not likely be too docile, (as they found out to their dismay).

[Nantonos]

What about automobiles?

Yeah, there is both a car and a lightbulb called Mazda for example.

[Kyan's Daddy]

I've noticed people naming things, especically pets, after various gods and goddesses. How do you think the deities feel about this? Would they be offended or honored? Why or why not?

Well, I had named three of my dogs litter of puppies after deities...
Apollo, Orion, and Persephone. Of course, they got nicknamed "Apples, Oh-eeee, and Sephie", but still, they were named for deities... And you know what? I think the deities approve. Think about it, most of us absolutely ADORE our pets, and what better honor could you give them?

[Khuinaset]

It would be a luxury model right? ;)

I named my last car after a lesser-known Greek god . . . but maybe I should have named it Christine instead! It was a very unhappy car.

My feeling is that naming is a very powerful activity, so be careful what you name your stuff. A cat named Loki (a friend of a friend did that) will not likely be too docile, (as they found out to their dismay).

I agree completely. I don't find it disrespectful, but if you're going to do it, you might want to be aware of Who you're naming it after and what the likely consequences are!

[storm_child]

Hey,
I think its fine to, and like most have said its more of a compliment. As far as naming a cat Loki, lol mine is named loki she has a strong personality, very playful and demanding. I luffs my little fluffs baby though and wouldnt want her anyother way. i added pics of her i hope it works. one is just a cool black and white i took of her lol.

Grrr... pics didnt show... ill try this again..
still didnt work.. ill try on a new thingy.

[storm_child]

HA that should work.. my cat loki.

[AuroraSilvermist]

Well, I wouldn't think the gods would be offended. Personally, I think of deity as metaphor and not actual entities, so I don't have a problem with naming pets after gods and goddesses. Our cat, named Eris, is proof of that. She's a mischief maker, but essentially harmless. We like 'em a bit on the fiesty side. :lol:

Speaking of naming things after gods, ever hear this joke?:

While a family is away on vacation, a burgaler breaks into their house. He is busy trying to steal their home entertainment system when he hears a gravelly voice say, "Jesus is watching you!"

He whirls around, thinking that someone has discovered him, but finds no one in the room. He had made certain that the family was away so, thinking that he's just jumpy and imagining things, he goes about his work disconnecting wires. Suddenly the voice speaks from the darkness again, "Jesus is watching you!"

The burgaler peers through the darkness and sees a parrot in a large cage. "Was that you, parrot?" he laughs, relieved.

The parrot responds, "Aaawk! Jesus is watching you! Jesus is watching you!"

"Bunch of religious nuts must live here," the burgaler mutters. "Say, what's your name, birdie?"

"Aaawk! My name's Moses! My name's Moses!" replies the bird.

The burgaler chuckles. "Moses! What sort of crazy religious people would name a bird Moses, anyhow?"

"Aaawk!" squawks the parrot, "Same kinda people who'd name a rottweiler Jesus!"

[Ishtara]

Guilty as charged... I named my cat Ishtar (hence my forum name) _whistle_

That was four years ago, though, and I definitely would not have called myself spiritual back then. So I certainly had no disrespectful intention when I picked this name, but I did not choose it to honour the goddess either. I just liked the way it sounded, it reflected my interest in Middle Eastern cultures and somehow it suited my cat...

Now that I am more spiritually aware, would I do it again? Perhaps, but I probably would not name my next cat after any of the Netjer; their names are just too powerful and meaningful to me to do that. What I might do is name a pet after one of their attributes: Feather to remind me of Maat or Sistrum to remind me of Hathor, for example.