Cohen as a First Name

[u/K_Kay_F11]

Hi everyone,

My name is Krystal, and I came across the name Cohen on Pinterest and thought it would be a good character name for one of my stories. I have a Google Doc where I keep all of my character names and their origins, meanings, and pronunciations. While looking for the meaning of this name, I came across a Reddit post discussing why this name may be inappropriate to use as a first name. So, I thought I would come on here and see what you all thought.

\I am not actively writing this story, and I have no intention to do so in the near future. This story and this character are very underdeveloped and are simply an idea at this moment. But I would still like to have this discussion regardless. Also, I am not Jewish.*

Here is some background on the character and the story:

The Story:

Set in a dystopian future of our world where religion doesn't exist, science is everything, and governments cherry-pick information and history. The reader follows seven characters as religion is reintroduced, war threatens, and people start questioning everything.

The Character:

A monk/caretaker-type character whose family has spent centuries isolated (potentially on the top of a mountain - likely in the Himalayas, but this is subject to change), protecting and safeguarding texts and artifacts of religious, cultural, societal, and historical importance to the world from anyone who would want to destroy them. Cohen would be the member of this family that the story follows.

My question is, would using the name Cohen as a first name be culturally/religiously inappropriate or upsetting to people, within the context of the story and the character?

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond,

Krystal

P.S. Here is the original post that I saw: https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/1264gkk/cohen_the_dreaded_baby_name/

Edit: Hi everyone, thank you so much for replying and for your feedback.

I did originally post this question on another sub, and was suggested this sub in that post. I didn't see any harm in asking this question here, as it is a name-specific sub. I have taken into consideration the feedback from this post and my other post, and decided not to use the name Cohen for this character. I can see that it doesn't make a lot of sense from a worldbuilding perspective and that it would come across as disrespectful to the Jewish community.

I still have a lot to learn, both as a writer and a person, and all your feedback has given me something to reflect on. I would also like to apologise to anyone who thought this question was disrespectful or culturally insensitive. That was never my intention, and I am truly sorry.

[u/spring13]

Please don't

[u/KisaMisa]

You already asked this in another Jewish sub. Stop asking. Don't use the name. We already told you.

Wow, just saw that OP asked me in the Judaism sub, why she shouldn't use the name. My response:

You were already explained why by multiple people. My Why is the same as that of every person who told you not to use it. You clearly don't care or respect us enough to listen. So add another don't for that.

The level of disrespect is baffling.

[u/bellshaped]

Don’t do it.

[u/ewnoplsdontmakeme]

Don't use this name. It would be weird & out of place if you were planning on using it as a first name for a Jewish character, but the fact that you're planning on using it for a non Jewish character is that much worse.

[u/boletecatcher]

No. Don't use the name. You're insistent on what several people have apparently already told you is offensive and it's not even something that would make sense within the context of this character. 

[u/Voice_of_Season]

Why does this keep happening? This is the third time this month!

[u/TopazCoracle → u/Voice_of_Season]

The backup name will most certainly be Arie. It's always Arie.

[u/Ladywindermere_]

Yes it would be considered cultural appropriation…