What do I do when neo-pagans assume I gave my daughter a pagan name?

[Kathie123]

I’d like some advice about how to evangelize to certain people. Ten years ago, we named our daughter Gaia, after my husband heard it and was told it meant “nature” and “joy.” Years later, we learned that neo-pagans use the word to mean Mother Nature or the Earth Goddess and pretty much worship Gaia (the goddess, not my kid!).

Every once in a while – like 50 times so far! – I meet someone who smiles and says, “I just love her name!” and adds that he or she goes to the Unitarian church, or indicates that he or she is pagan. So the person assumes I am a tree-huggin’, dope-smokin’, goddess-worshippin’ pagan gal on my way to a clothing-optional drumming circle, just like he or she is. Not to be uncharitable.

I usually say “thank you” and change the subject. But I want to say something that would gently turn the conversation to the Church, that would plant a seed – no nature pun intended – that the Church loves nature and the God that gave it to us. Would you please forgive this long story and suggest something to say?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Unusual names draw their share of inane remarks. In this case, since the name Gaia is so closely linked with neo-pagan ritual, your daughter is going to suffer more than her fair share of speculation as to your intentions in naming her. The remarks you’ve reported, by the way (e.g., “I just love her name!”), do not indicate that the person who makes them is a “a tree-huggin’, dope-smokin’, goddess-worshippin’ pagan … on [his or her] way to a clothing-optional drumming circle.” Even if the person were Unitarian or pagan, that would not necessarily mean that he or she abuses drugs or worships goddesses, so please be careful of the speculation that you yourself have been tempted to draw.

As for what to say in response to remarks that assume that you named your daughter after a pagan goddess, you need merely feign incredulity and say, “Why, we had no idea the name had such associations! My husband chose the name because he believed it meant ‘nature’ and ‘joy’ and wanted to honor God’s creation.” Your daughter, in response to the questions she may one day get, might say, “My family is Catholic, so my parents named me ‘Gaia’ in honor of God’s creation.”