Am i allowed to name my baby after a biblical character?

Question

i was thinking of Satan.
If i can call him matthew, mark, luke or john - why not Satan?

Would the church christen him? I have equal rights under european conventions to do this.

Answer 1

Of course.
By the way: Very unique name, I like them.

Answer 2

You may name him anything you like. But if you baptize the child, you are also agreeing to raise him in a Christian home and with Christian principles. That may be a bit hard to believe if you name him Satan. I wonder what your real purpose of this question happens to be. I do not know about European conventions, but I would have to talk with you for some time about why you would choose Satan as a name for your child, before I would do the baptism.

Answer 3

I suspect this is a hypothetical question and that you aren't seriously planning to do this. On that level--technically, thee's nothing that says you couldn't name your child Satan or have him christened that way, though the priest would probably raise his eyebrows and ask you if you were sure..

But if you are serious, I beg you to be kinder to your child, and leave your desire to be a cultural rebel out of his naming.

Someday, your child will have to go to school and hang out with other children. Other children--and their parents--can be cruel, especially if they are the wilfully ignorant type of Fundamentalists who take the Bible literally.

Your child will also have to someday look for work. Employers seek any reason to screen out an applicant's resume. If you think they will be any easier on an applicant named Satan than they are on black people or the handicapped, you are dreaming.

If you name your child Satan, my bet is that he will change that name on his 18th birthday or reduce it to an initial for his professional identity. The name would only be useful for a narrow range of careers.

Think of your child first, and consider not doing this. There are better ways to open people's eyes and make them think.

Answer 4

This is not a Communist Country, like Sweden, where I believe you have to submit your name to the government before you can name your baby.


If you want to name a sweet baby Satan, it is your business. However, I wonder why you would want to do that. Do you love the name?
The child will have a hard time in life if you name him Satan.

Someone else said it: your child will be teased and ridiculed in school. He will have a hard time getting a job with that name. He will more than likely come to hate you for naming him that and will change his name as soon as he can.

I hope this is not a serious question. I can't imagine a mother who would give her child a name like that just to be a smart-alec.

Answer 5

Personally I think Satan is a little harsh. Why not one his many other names like Lucifer, Belial or Legion.

Good luck with the Christening. I'm thinking the church won't like this one very much!

Answer 6

It's funny in the abstract. The real issue has nothing to do with the christening. The real issue is how many fights do you want the child to get in? This is a name that a parent has to hate their child to give him. I doubt he will appreciate your sense of humor after all the problems he will have over this name in life (but people shouldn't treat him any differently--yeah but they will).

But like I said, funny in the abstract.

Answer 7

I don't know that you would want to actually ATTEND any church who would christen a child 'Satan'.
Of course the boy would need extensive psychiatric help, and he would probably sue you when he is an adult. If he hasn't murdered you in your bed yet.
Ever read 'Rosemary's Baby'?

Answer 8

If you wish to be the cause of your child having endless, unnecessary problems in life, go ahead.
But if you do, why be concerned at all if some church would christen him?
May your will be done!

Answer 9

Hmmm... if you're willing to name your child Satan, you probably don't care whether the Church approves or not. In fact, you're likely looking for disapproval. I really doubt that any Church would sanction your choice.

I find it quite amusing that you're literally "playing the Devil's advocate" here. :)

Answer 10

Yes you MAY. The question is WHY? Why torment your little baby with ridiculous name like that.

Imagine him/her applying for a job. "Hi, I'm Satan. I'd like a job application." Come on, get real.

Answer 11

Of course you can. The child will grow and when he is old enough can go to court and not only change the name to something more convenient, but also to divorce the parents that gave him such a name.