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Help[Opinions] WDYTO Lilith
I've been seriously considering Lilith lately. I also really like the sound of the variant Lilit, but I would only use that as a middle.
I was raised non-denominational Christian, but apparently some Jews (and possibly Catholics? Is that true?) grew up with the Lilith myth. How well-known do you think this connotation is? Does it make the name unusable?
Lately I've been thinking, who cares? I just think it's a pretty name. I think it can also make a statement that a woman doesn't need to be submissive and should dismiss a myth clearly invented to portray her as subservient.
Actually I wouldn't use the name Delilah because I found the biblical character cruel growing up, but I wouldn't judge someone who did use it (unless they started bragging that it was a biblical name), but I toy sometimes with using Jezebel as a middle.
Thoughts on Jezebel as well? I feel that would be more problematic as an fn, even though it's very pretty, since Jezebel is also an old-fashioned way of calling someone a harlot.
ETA: Current combo is Lilith Naomi, but I'm not settled on it.
I was raised non-denominational Christian, but apparently some Jews (and possibly Catholics? Is that true?) grew up with the Lilith myth. How well-known do you think this connotation is? Does it make the name unusable?
Lately I've been thinking, who cares? I just think it's a pretty name. I think it can also make a statement that a woman doesn't need to be submissive and should dismiss a myth clearly invented to portray her as subservient.
Actually I wouldn't use the name Delilah because I found the biblical character cruel growing up, but I wouldn't judge someone who did use it (unless they started bragging that it was a biblical name), but I toy sometimes with using Jezebel as a middle.
Thoughts on Jezebel as well? I feel that would be more problematic as an fn, even though it's very pretty, since Jezebel is also an old-fashioned way of calling someone a harlot.
ETA: Current combo is Lilith Naomi, but I'm not settled on it.
This message was edited 3/13/2021, 8:45 PM
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I think it honestly depends on what region you live in. I never heard of Lilith until I heard it from my nana who believed in some non-traditional Christian lore. * she was Catholic but it wasn't relating to her faith in this belief as far as I know* but say if you live in a Jewish neighborhood or something it might raise some eyebrows but other than that I don't think it would be an issue. Lilith is pretty & Striking and reminds me of Frasier & Cheers. She was a very good, strong character. Who wouldn't want their daughter to grow up to be an intelligent, independent doctor?
This message was edited 3/14/2021, 9:54 AM
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I was raised Catholic but I wasn’t “raised “ with the Lilith myth. I must just have heard of her somehow at some point, plus I read about her when I got Into Jewish literature, one of Primo Levi’s book is titled “Lilith.” It’s much more useable than Jezebel imo, indeed for the harlot implications and some racist ones, but it sounds kind of clunky.
Delilah is useable but I’m not crazy about it.
Delilah is useable but I’m not crazy about it.
This message was edited 3/14/2021, 8:16 AM
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It's so obvious-goth-kitsch that I LOVE IT.
Lilith has a very good reputation in the New Age community, if that helps at all. She's definitely seen as a figure of female empowerment. At least, that's what she is in the woo-woo circles I run in.
I love Jezebel because it's just a cool name, and honestly I love the bad reputation the character has. When I think about what my grandmother would say if I named a kid Jezebel, it makes me cackle. She can't even handle Charlotte because it's too close to "harlot"! Jessabel is a slightly gentler version I suppose.
Lilith Naomi is pretty. Pairing Naomi with Lilith does tip the name into religious territory, so if you want to avoid the whole Judeo-Christian thing I'd just steer clear of that. Lilith Noemie maybe? Lilith Leonie? Hmmm, purely from an aesthetic standpoint I don't like how Lilith is all tall pointed towers and Naomi is like low rolling hills. I want to pair Lilith with something similarly vertical.
Lilith Yvette!
Lilith Iris. Lilith Irit!
Lilith Juliet
Lilith Lisette
Lilith Odette
Lilith Callista
Lilith Priscilla
Lilith Kristina
Lilith Drusilla
Lilith Ellen
Lilith Fenella
Lilith has a very good reputation in the New Age community, if that helps at all. She's definitely seen as a figure of female empowerment. At least, that's what she is in the woo-woo circles I run in.
I love Jezebel because it's just a cool name, and honestly I love the bad reputation the character has. When I think about what my grandmother would say if I named a kid Jezebel, it makes me cackle. She can't even handle Charlotte because it's too close to "harlot"! Jessabel is a slightly gentler version I suppose.
Lilith Naomi is pretty. Pairing Naomi with Lilith does tip the name into religious territory, so if you want to avoid the whole Judeo-Christian thing I'd just steer clear of that. Lilith Noemie maybe? Lilith Leonie? Hmmm, purely from an aesthetic standpoint I don't like how Lilith is all tall pointed towers and Naomi is like low rolling hills. I want to pair Lilith with something similarly vertical.
Lilith Yvette!
Lilith Iris. Lilith Irit!
Lilith Juliet
Lilith Lisette
Lilith Odette
Lilith Callista
Lilith Priscilla
Lilith Kristina
Lilith Drusilla
Lilith Ellen
Lilith Fenella
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I'm glad to hear of your positive associations with Lilith and Jezebel.
I like Hebrew names, and would want a sibset of Hebrew/Bible heavy combos. I'm not religious, but I was raised religious, and I just love the history and the feel behind the names. You can call it hipster or whatever, using Bible-heavy names, but not being religious lol. It just doesn't bother me.
Lilith Iris and Lilith Kristina are cool. Many of the others are nice, but feel a bit L-heavy for me, sorry.
I was also thinking Lilith Naomi Joy, but Joy doesn't flow with my maiden name.
I like Hebrew names, and would want a sibset of Hebrew/Bible heavy combos. I'm not religious, but I was raised religious, and I just love the history and the feel behind the names. You can call it hipster or whatever, using Bible-heavy names, but not being religious lol. It just doesn't bother me.
Lilith Iris and Lilith Kristina are cool. Many of the others are nice, but feel a bit L-heavy for me, sorry.
I was also thinking Lilith Naomi Joy, but Joy doesn't flow with my maiden name.
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Myths do have power, though not over everybody, and it's only sensible to consider this. Lilith is a pretty familiar character - I'm neither Jewish nor Catholic (atheist in fact) and I know the story well. It's out there.
I dislike Lily and all the similar names - Lilith, Lilian - going around. So it's not an issue for me. I find Delilah and Jezebel excessively biblical, apart from their unpleasant personalities: once again, no problem.
I dislike Lily and all the similar names - Lilith, Lilian - going around. So it's not an issue for me. I find Delilah and Jezebel excessively biblical, apart from their unpleasant personalities: once again, no problem.
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it can also make a statement that a woman doesn't need to be submissive and should dismiss a myth clearly invented to portray her as subservient
This is why I like it, solely.
I adore Jezebel and definitely would use it!
Edit: delilah reminds me of the song hey there delilah. Good song.
Naomi is sweet. I'm biased though (name of one of my sisters)
This is why I like it, solely.
I adore Jezebel and definitely would use it!
Edit: delilah reminds me of the song hey there delilah. Good song.
Naomi is sweet. I'm biased though (name of one of my sisters)
This message was edited 3/13/2021, 9:58 PM
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I was raised without religion entirely but I still knew that Lilith / Lilit is a demon before I read about the Jewish myth.
It seems to me like that myth is just some crap that some smug medieval patriarch invented and inserted into lore at some point to intimidate women. It used a pre-existing name, or a name very similar to the name, of a thing that was never a woman, but was an evil spirit, in demonology prior to the Jewish myth. A name chosen to sound negative and make people unsympathetic to the character.
So I think it's kinda iffy to use it as a feminist statement, because of this confusing etymology - it seems to have been a demon for a long time before anyone named a woman character it. I'm not a big believer in demons, but I've never proven they don't exist, and I don't think it's something I'd want to mess with, so I wouldn't name a daughter Lilit any sooner than I'd name a son Pazuzu.
I wouldn't use Delilah just because I don't like it very much. I have never seen an etymology for it that suggested it came before the Bible story. It seems to have been created to sound negative. But I don't think Delilah is a bad name, the way I do Lilith. Delilah is just a Bible name. Not sure, but I think people use Bible names to remind of meaningful stories, not so much to show honor or admiration of the characters or their actions. (Another reason I wouldn't invoke the Lilith myth for feminist reasons)
I agree with you that Jezebel would be more problematic as a first name, because it has a pretty well-known meaning in sorta-contemporary slang. I'm kinda skeptical that it's actually a different etymology from Isabel. I don't think anyone knows for sure. I like the name, and personally I wouldn't be as squicked by it as I would by Lilith (I'm probably in a small minority). But I wouldn't use it.
It seems to me like that myth is just some crap that some smug medieval patriarch invented and inserted into lore at some point to intimidate women. It used a pre-existing name, or a name very similar to the name, of a thing that was never a woman, but was an evil spirit, in demonology prior to the Jewish myth. A name chosen to sound negative and make people unsympathetic to the character.
So I think it's kinda iffy to use it as a feminist statement, because of this confusing etymology - it seems to have been a demon for a long time before anyone named a woman character it. I'm not a big believer in demons, but I've never proven they don't exist, and I don't think it's something I'd want to mess with, so I wouldn't name a daughter Lilit any sooner than I'd name a son Pazuzu.
I wouldn't use Delilah just because I don't like it very much. I have never seen an etymology for it that suggested it came before the Bible story. It seems to have been created to sound negative. But I don't think Delilah is a bad name, the way I do Lilith. Delilah is just a Bible name. Not sure, but I think people use Bible names to remind of meaningful stories, not so much to show honor or admiration of the characters or their actions. (Another reason I wouldn't invoke the Lilith myth for feminist reasons)
I agree with you that Jezebel would be more problematic as a first name, because it has a pretty well-known meaning in sorta-contemporary slang. I'm kinda skeptical that it's actually a different etymology from Isabel. I don't think anyone knows for sure. I like the name, and personally I wouldn't be as squicked by it as I would by Lilith (I'm probably in a small minority). But I wouldn't use it.
This message was edited 3/13/2021, 9:20 PM
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Thanks for pointing out the older demon connection. However, I don't believe in demons in the slightest and I don't think even my religious family would really mind because demons aren't mentioned very much if at all in the Bible from what I understand. Most Protestant sects do not follow or give much credence to any religious texts outside the Bible.
I'd be curious if some cultures may have more negative connotations with the name however because of the older demon connection.
I'd like to ask some Muslim friends if they've heard of Lilith/Lilit for example. My best friend is from Morocco and I've gone with her to visit her family there, so a bigger issue in that culture may give me pause.
I'd be curious if some cultures may have more negative connotations with the name however because of the older demon connection.
I'd like to ask some Muslim friends if they've heard of Lilith/Lilit for example. My best friend is from Morocco and I've gone with her to visit her family there, so a bigger issue in that culture may give me pause.
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