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General Articles About Jewish Names

(adapted from Chabad.org)

Naming a baby seems pretty basic—I mean, all parents do it, right? But if you think about it, it's an awesome responsibility, since the name you choose will be attached to your child for the rest of their life. read full article
On the most basic level, a Jewish name is a keystone of Jewish identity. Our sages tell us that although more than two centuries of exile and slavery had all but assimilated the Children of Israel into the pagan society of Egypt, they remained a distinct entity because they retained their Hebrew "names, language and dress," and thus merited their miraculous redemption. read full article
We just had a daughter, and my rabbi told us that we should name her at the first possible opportunity. I understand that we name girls at the Torah reading, which can happen on Monday, Thursday or Shabbat. That does not leave us much time to mull over the name. Why is that? Why don't we get a full 8 days, like we do before circumcising and naming a boy? read full article
First a word about names and their significance: Names are considered very significant in Judaism. The sages of the Midrash recommend that "one should name one's child after a righteous person, for sometimes the name influences the person's behavior and destiny." As such, Jewish parents have always searched for positive names to give their children, often naming after deceased relatives and righteous scholars read full article
Traditionally, a Jewish name is given to a woman in a synagogue during the course of the public Torah reading. The rabbi, gabbai (beadle), or Torah reader recites a special prayer, wherein you are introduced with your new Jewish name. It is similar to the prayer said upon the birth and naming of a baby girl. read full article
The practice of not marrying someone with the same name as one's own parent—whether a bride with the same name as the groom's mother, or a groom who has the same name as the bride's father—is a tradition mentioned in the Testament of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid (1150–1217). read full article
This question actually hits very close to home. A few years ago, my daughter gave birth to a baby on a Monday night. My mother-in-law (my daughter's grandmother) passed away two days later, on Wednesday night. On Thursday, a half hour after the funeral, the baby was given the name of her great-grandmother. Not only was it not inappropriate, it was considered a great merit for the soul of my mother-in-law that a child was named after her so quickly. read full article
Ashkenazi Jews do not name their children after someone who is alive at the time. Moreover, they won't name after a deceased individual if a close living relative has the same name. Sephardic Jews, on the other hand, do name their children after living relatives—and it is very much an honor for that relative. read full article
It is indeed true that traditionally we do not name a child after someone who died young. In an instance where one wishes to name a child after such an individual, another name should be added to the child's name, and the added name should be the first one. For example, if the person who died young was named Rivkah, the child can be named Chaya Rivkah. read full article
When praying for a person in a dire predicament, such as an ill individual, his or her Hebrew name is mentioned along with his/her mother's name. For example, "Avraham ben (the son of) Devorah" or "Rachel bat (the daughter of) Chaya." (The same holds true when requesting a blessing from the righteous, the "Tzadik." It is customary to write in the note the names and mother's names of all those on whose behalf the petitioner is requesting a blessing or prayer.) read full article
Choosing a name is a big deal. A person's name is not a mere label; it expresses the essence of its bearer. The letters that make up your name, its sound and its meaning are descriptions of your soul. Only a prophet has the vision and foresight to know which name fits the soul of your child. read full article
You are correct; very few people—if any—seem to have been named after relatives in biblical times. Instead, children were named after the circumstances of their births, or other memorable events. In this they were following the example of the very first two biblical names: Adam was named for the adamah (earth) from which he was formed, and Eve (Chavah) was thus named for she was the mother of all chai (life). read full article
Quite a lot, actually. For starters, we are told that parents are granted a minor degree of ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) when they select names for their children. So it's not an arbitrary decision. read full article
A growing body of research suggests that an individual's name can have a profound impact that can reverberate from childhood to adulthood. A study by professors at the University of Melbourne and New York University found that people with simple, easy-to-pronounce names are more likely to be favored for a promotion at work. "The impact of names comes from how people expect to see you," says a professor from Ohio University. And while pre-judging people based on their name might seem unfair, we sometimes do so subconsciously when making decisions. read full article
At first blush, this seems strange, since the sages place great significance on a person's name. A name can affect the trajectory of one's life and may predispose one to certain tendencies (which can be overcome with effort). Based on the verse "The mention of the righteous is for a blessing, but the name of the wicked shall rot," they caution us to name children after people with good characteristics. read full article
The general custom is that for a matter relating to familial affiliation, we use the father's name. This is based on the verse in Numbers: "They declared their pedigrees according to their families according to their fathers' houses..." Indeed one's tribal affiliation and whether one is a kohen or a Levite is dependent upon one's father. Thus, if one is getting an aliyah or signing a halachic document such as a ketubah or get, we use the father's name. read full article

General Questions About Jewish Names

A Jewish name is typically associated with Jewish tradition, history, and culture. Some are biblical (e.g., David, Miriam), while others have Yiddish or Hebrew origins (e.g., Moshe, Rivka, Shlomo).

Many Jews have both a secular name and a Hebrew name used for religious purposes (e.g., in synagogue or for life cycle events). However, not all Jews use a Hebrew name regularly.

Jewish names often have biblical or Hebrew roots, are sometimes derived from Yiddish, and often reflect religious or cultural significance.

Yes! Some common Jewish surnames include Cohen, Levi, Goldstein, Rosenberg, Katz, and Weiss. However, Jews also have last names from the countries where they lived.

No. While names like Goldstein and Rosenberg are common, many Jewish last names come from other sources, such as occupations (e.g., Schneider = tailor) or places (e.g., Berliner = from Berlin).

Hebrew Names & Naming Traditions

It depends on tradition. Ashkenazi Jews often name children after deceased relatives, while Sephardic Jews may name children after living relatives. Many choose names based on biblical or Hebrew meanings.

A Hebrew name is a name used for Jewish religious purposes, often consisting of a given name and a reference to a parent (e.g., "Moshe ben Yaakov" or "Sarah bat Avraham").

Yes! Many Jews have double Hebrew names, like "Yaakov Yitzchak" or "Chana Leah."

Popular Hebrew names for boys include David, Moshe, Yosef, Yitzchak, Yaakov, and Eliyahu.

Common Hebrew names for girls include Miriam, Rivka, Sarah, Esther, and Tziporah.

Yiddish & Sephardic Naming Traditions

Yiddish names come from the language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. Examples include Menachem Mendel, Shloime, Faiga, and Bluma.

Sephardic Jews have names with Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or Hebrew influences, such as Ezra, Elior, Yael, and Aliza.

Many Jewish names combine biblical or traditional elements for extra meaning or honor multiple relatives.

"Ben" means "son of," and "bat" means "daughter of" in Hebrew. For example, "Levi ben Avraham" means "Levi, son of Abraham."

Yes. Names like Daniel, Michael, and Rebecca have Jewish roots but are widely used in many cultures.

Religious & Modern Naming Practices

Converts often choose a Hebrew name that resonates with them and are given "ben Avraham" or "bat Sarah" as their second name to signify being a child of Abraham and Sarah.

Some old-fashioned Yiddish names like Feivel or Zlata are less common today, but some people still use them to honor their heritage.

Yes. In Jewish tradition, a person might change or add a name for spiritual reasons, such as for healing or starting a new chapter in life.

No, Jewish religious names use the format "First Name ben/bat Parent's Name," rather than including last names.

The name Gabriel means "God is my strength" and is a popular Jewish name.