Does "Lorelei" Sound Pagan???

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2006
Does "Lorelei" Sound Pagan???
12
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:02pm
I recently had someone comment that the name Lorelei sounded pagan to them (I suppose because of the siren association). In reality, Lorelei simply means "murmuring brook," which really doesn't have anything to do with paganism. What are your thoughts? Do you associate Lorelei with paganism? This is definitely not what I'm going for when choosing this name....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2006
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:03pm

That would not be my first thought if I heard Lorelei, but then again I don't know a lot about Paganism.

Michelle

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:13pm

I don't associate it with a paganism at all. It reminds me of the mother on Gilmore Girls (though maybe it's spelled differently- I can't really recall....)

Also, it sounds more Hawaiian than "pagan" to me, so if you want to stretch it and say that it's "pagan" b/c some Hawaiian natives have more pagan beliefs... I don't know...

Edited to add:
There are names that are FAR more "pagan" than this one... I think you'll be fine with this name. I don't think many pagans would associate paganism with this name, lol...




Edited 8/4/2006 4:20 pm ET by veildancer
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:28pm

What?! If they meant to say it sounded like a mythological name or that they'd heard of the legend behind the name Lorelei, I could understand that, but I can't believe someone would comment that a name your considering for your child sounded "pagan" -- unless you actually were a practicing pagan, but that would be a different story. Just seems a bizzarre comment to make, and I'd take it as exactly that. Something to write in the baby book, in any case! LOL

Also, keep in mind that the term Pagan may have been used lightly, referring to the name's mythology or relationship to nature, etc. -- not necessarily the strong negative association many in America would have.

~Kelli

Ps. I just did a search for names with "pagan" connotations, and Julian came up as the name of the last pagan Roman emperor! I doubt you'd get any such comments with the name Julian, however, so perhaps that could be a good comeback if this is a person you will see again. Just a funny little tidbit.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:29pm

No. It reminds me of a Valkyrie in Wagner's Ring opera cycle. My first impression would be that it is a German name, and maybe the child's parents had German parents (like Heidi or Gretchen).

What does "Pagan" sounding mean anyway? Is any name not in the bible pagan? This person's comment sounds a little bit extreme to me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2005
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:42pm
I actually laughed when I saw your subject line. I don't meant to make light of your concerns, but I don't see even the remotest connection here and it really surprised me. Lorelei is a beautiful name with a history in mythology. I think the vast majority of people will think of either the sirens or (more likely) Gilmore Girls. I can't imagine how anyone would connect it to pagans.



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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2006
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 4:47pm
It makes me think of the Gilmore Girls too, and I love it! I would never think Pagan.
Meg

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2005
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 5:38pm

What on earth!? Exactly what is a pagan name? I'm really confused as to how someone thinks Lorelei is Pagan! I love the name and my first thought is Lorelei off of Gilmore Girls!

Dawn

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2006
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 5:59pm

Well, it doesn't sound Christian...

To me, though, 'pagan' doesn't seem especially negative, just non-Christian. At least she didn't say it sounds heathen - that would be more explicitly negative, I think.

I love the name Lorelei from one of my favorite Pogues songs and would likely have seriously considered using it if it wasn't for the Gilmore Girls. I like the show, but wouldn't want everyone to think I had named my kid after a TV character!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2004
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 6:21pm

I probably know more about pagans than the average person. And Lorelai is NOT pagan. As a pp said 'extreme comment'

I wouldn't let it bother you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2006
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 7:43pm

Everyone, thanks for the feedback! My concerns have been alleviated. My main reason for wanting to use the name is that I have German/Austrian roots, and I wanted a name reflective of that. Plus, I just think it's a beautiful name - exotic yet recognizable.

Thanks again for the input!

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