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[Opinions] WDYT of Pagan?
I recently watched a film where one of the main characters was a woman named Pagan. Do you think this is usuable and what kind of mn would work best? I've always liked the name Megan and could like this as a fairly similar yet more unusual alternative. Or it could just end up on my GP list. :)
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Interestingly enough, I could find merit in the use of Pagan as a given name. Somehow, though, I find it more masculine than feminine, which makes no sense whatsoever... Maybe it's b/c I knew a girl with the surname Pagan, and I find surnames as fns more masculine? I dunno. I do think, however, most people's association would be Pagan religions/beliefs, just like many people associate the name Christian with Christianity and Evangeline with televangelists.

This message was edited 7/25/2007, 6:53 AM

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Sorry, but no.Regardless of the original meaning, the name now has a very strong negative connotation. I like Megan too, but there are other alternatives (Margaret and Reagan, for example) that I think would work far, far better.
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Well...It's beyond me as to why you would name something a name that, in my mind calls up images of witchcraft and sorcery. But I guess if that doesn't bother you...
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It doesn't seem like a real name to me, and I don't think the existence of Christian can be used to justify it. You wouldn't name a child Jew or Muslim now, would you?
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I actually like it [m]as a GP only for me. If Christian can be used so can Pagan, IMO. I wouldn't use either though.Pagan Elizabeth something like that.
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I think it's too trendy sounding, personally. I think it perhaps has potential as a name in time.It also reminds me of Hagan so I think it could be either a boy or girl...but I'm leaning towards girl.
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No.Fortunately, Paganism has a bad rap. It's too bad, because it encompasses many, beautiful religions. But it just wouldn't work, I think. It's too bad that Christian is the only respected religion name.
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Pagan looks ugly. Besides that I don't like the association with the religious beliefs, much like many people don't particularly like the religious associations with the name Christian.
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While it shouldn't be perceived as a worse name than Christian, a child named Pagan would be forced to endure a great deal of prejudism. I would advice not using it.
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Sadly I agree. I think if I were to use Pagan, it would have to be as a middle name. It's unfortunate but I do think it would invite too much negative comment as a first name.
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I have a friend named Pagan, so I obviously think its usable. However it has always given her trouble with the fact that she is Christian and her name means the exact opposite. I personally would stick with Megan.
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I don't care for itIsn't pagan a type of religion?
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From Wikipedia...
The term Pagan is from Latin paganus, an adjective originally meaning "rural", "rustic" or "of the country." As a noun, paganus was used to mean "country dweller, villager. From its earliest beginnings, Christianity spread much more quickly in major urban areas (like Antioch, Alexandria, Corinth, Rome) than in the countryside (in fact, the early church was almost entirely urban), and soon the word for "country dweller" became synonymous with someone who was "not a Christian," giving rise to the modern meaning of "Pagan".
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thanks :)

This message was edited 7/23/2007, 12:31 PM

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I prefer Megan. Pagan isnt really my style.
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