As devilish moniker becomes more popular than ‘Nigel’…. Is naming your child Lucifer a hellish choice?

By Helena Frith Powell

When our son was born, I tried to get several ridiculous names past my husband: Raphael, Salvador, Angelo, even Gabriel. But not at any moment in my postpartum confusion did it occur to me to suggest Lucifer.

I admit it has a certain melodic quality. It trips off the (forked) tongue quite nicely. But the fact that my child would be sharing the name with Satan would have put me off.

Yet, according to the Office for National Statistics, 15 women in England and Wales named their child Lucifer last year. I know 2020 was a bad one, but the fact Lucifer is now more popular than Nigel, Trevor and Gordon is shocking.

Do these 15 women know the origins of the name? Or are they just basing their choice on the pretty dismal Netflix TV show?

I was at university with a friend called Arthur. He was so embarrassed by his name that when friends called out to him in the street, he would look around as if to say, ‘Who’s the poor sod with that silly name?’

Funnily enough, Arthur has shot up 200 places in the past 20 years and is now number three on the list of most popular boys’ names, after Oliver and George.

Imagine calling Lucifer in a crowded supermarket. I, for one, would run for cover. Or what about in church? At a christening or in cherished wedding vows at the altar? That would be sacrilegious.

When our daughter Bea was given a furry toy dog as a confirmation present, she named it Lucifer as a joke, since this was meant to be the day she renounced evil for good.

But if you search on the internet for Lucifer, all you get is the TV show starring the devilishly handsome Tom Ellis.Imagine calling out ‘Lucifer!’ in a supermarket  

There is no mention of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost published in 1667, which also stars a flawed hero. Hailed as the greatest English poem ever written, Lucifer rebels against the tyranny of Heaven, declaring it is ‘better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven’.

I have nothing against unusual names. Although my husband vetoed my choices for our son, he did end up with an uncommon name inspired by a real hero: Leonardo.

But I draw the line at naming a child after the devil. Especially a boy who would presumably have to answer to the shortened form, Lucy.

For while a rose by any other name might smell as sweet, a child called Satan is just wrong.