Helena Frith Powell (pictured) says she attracts the road at naming a baby after the satan
YES
By Helena Frith Powell
When our son was born, I attempted to get a number of ridiculous names previous my husband: Raphael, Salvador, Angelo, even Gabriel. However not at any second in my postpartum confusion did it happen to me to counsel Lucifer.
I admit it has a sure melodic high quality. It journeys off the (forked) tongue fairly properly. However the truth that my baby can be sharing the identify with Devil would have put me off.
But, based on the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics, 15 ladies in England and Wales named their baby Lucifer final 12 months. I do know 2020 was a foul one, however the reality Lucifer is now extra common than Nigel, Trevor and Gordon is stunning.
Do these 15 ladies know the origins of the identify? Or are they simply basing their alternative on the beautiful dismal Netflix TV present?
I used to be at college with a buddy referred to as Arthur. He was so embarrassed by his identify that when buddies referred to as out to him on the street, he would go searching as if to say, ‘Who’s the poor sod with that foolish identify?’
Funnily sufficient, Arthur has shot up 200 locations up to now 20 years and is now quantity three on the record of hottest boys’ names, after Oliver and George.
Think about calling Lucifer in a crowded grocery store. I, for one, would run for canopy. Or what about in church? At a christening or in cherished wedding ceremony vows on the altar? That may be sacrilegious.
When our daughter Bea was given a furry toy canine as a affirmation current, she named it Lucifer as a joke, since this was meant to be the day she renounced evil for good.
However for those who search on the web for Lucifer, all you get is the TV present starring the devilishly good-looking Tom Ellis.
Think about calling out ‘Lucifer!’ in a grocery store
There isn’t a point out of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Misplaced printed in 1667, which additionally stars a flawed hero. Hailed as the best English poem ever written, Lucifer rebels towards the tyranny of Heaven, declaring it’s ‘higher to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven’.
I’ve nothing towards uncommon names. Though my husband vetoed my selections for our son, he did find yourself with an unusual identify impressed by an actual hero: Leonardo.
However I draw the road at naming a baby after the satan. Particularly a boy who would presumably must reply to the shortened type, Lucy.
For whereas a rose by every other identify would possibly scent as candy, a baby referred to as Devil is simply incorrect.
Kate Spicer (pictured) argues the phrase Lucifer doesn’t maintain the reflexive horror it as soon as did
NO
By Kate Spicer
Rising up, I had a cat referred to as Lucifer. Within the Eighties, the phrase had robust associations with Devil. But in addition with Disney.
We didn’t assume our expensive little black puss was the personification of evil or a witch’s acquainted. Our Lucifer was named after the cat within the animated movie of Cinderella.
Again then, the phrase Lucifer was a spooky thrill for teenage boys who scared themselves by doing Ouija boards of their bedrooms and by listening to the music of Judas Priest and Motorhead backwards (apparently the supply of hidden Satanic lyrics, as any college child of the time knew).
However the way in which we take into consideration each language and faith is consistently evolving. The phrase Lucifer doesn’t maintain the reflexive horror it as soon as did after we have been a considerably extra God (and satan)-fearing society.
In case your reference factors are Dante’s Inferno and the King James Bible, you in all probability gained’t select Lucifer as your baby’s identify.
However for those who take pleasure in British actor Tom Ellis within the TV present of that identify, and skipped RE courses at college, you wouldn’t assume twice.
It’s time it had a rebrand — nobody’s a complete angel
The origins of the phrase and identify Lucifer are historic, and diversified. In Roman folklore, Lucifer was the identify of the planet Venus, often known as the morning star. In 4th-century Italy, there have been bishops with the identify. Its precise that means as a phrase is ‘gentle bringer’.
It isn’t a phrase unique to the Bible. The primary child Lucifer was not the fallen angel that grew to become the satan. That’s simply an opinion, and everyone knows how very incorrect interpretations of non secular texts will be. In reality, it’s about time Lucifer had a rebrand. Nobody’s a complete angel.
Most of us aren’t petrified of the occult any extra, we all know what it’s. Simply superstition.
Witchcraft doesn’t maintain the identical horror it as soon as did both; certainly, since a really justifiable rebrand by feminist historians, we all know the witches of historical past have been principally persecuted herbalists and healers.
So let’s develop the hell up (no pun supposed) and produce Lucifer again into our lives.
There may be at all times a rash of infants blessed with bizarre names after a well-liked TV present. Keep in mind the variety of child Chardonnays within the wake of Footballers’ Wives (51 in 2003, 65 for those who embrace the misspelt Chardonays).
Somewhat Lucifer than Chardonnay, any day. It’s merely not the satan of a reputation any extra.