What is in a name, Catholics debate

Imagine the plight of sisters Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the butt of amused sniggers with their names evoking Biblical towns, a reader wrote recently in the Catholic weekly ‘Examiner’.

In this case, the sisters, the readers were told, changed their names to Betty and Jerry to save themselves from embarrassment. But for many people labeled with strange and meaningless names by well-meaning parents, there is no liberation.

The issue of names has become a subject of debate in the Catholic community after a Jesuit priest, father Joseph Dias, said parents should stop giving silly names to children.

Father Dias said that he took up the subject after the pope raised the issue in a sermon at Vatican City in March.

“I have been baptising children and parents come up with all kinds of strange names,” said Dias who said that he recently came across a boy with the name ‘Asprin’.

Father Dias said people are naming children after perfumes (Chanel), Russian ballerinas (Natasha) and pop stars.

“Names give you an identity. We are supposed to be witnesses to our faith. That is the reason why children were named after saints. Names should be of some value or should be of a personality who can be a role model for the child. How do you emulate a diamond if you are named after it?” asked Dias.

In South India, father Dias said, there is a trend of giving children the complete name of a famous person. He said he has come across a Father John Kennedy and a Prince Albert. “What happens when these young people grow up? They become the butt of jokes. Imagine me introducing a ‘Father John Kennedy’,” said Dias. “Children are not places or commodities. If I had such a name, I would be embarrassed.”

Father Tony Charanghat, spokesperson for the archdiocese of Bombay said that while he believed that parents had the right to give names of their choice to children, some names could be embarrassing. “Psychologists say that if a name is a subject of ridicule, it can hurt self-image,” he said.

Father Dias said the trend started after Catholics adopted Indian names. He clarified that he is not opposing Indian names. Father Charanghat said that names should reflect the local culture. “Nirmala which means immaculate is an example,” he said.

Community members who did not agree with father Dias’ views pointed out that even Christian names have Jewish origins.

Santa Cruz resident Cynthia D’Souza said that people should have freedom to give children names of their choice. “People have to keep in mind that the child could be embarrassed by the name. Children can be cruel and strange names could get teased,” said D’Souza.

“I do not believe that naming someone after a saint makes that person saintly. I know that there is a lot of pressure on children named after a saint to stand up to high expectations. Every child is special and I think parents should give children names that are special and easy.”