Jewish Baby Naming Traditions

Names carry on the Jewish heritage

When it comes to naming a child in the Jewish tradition, there are no hard-and-fast religious laws. If you are expecting a child and are contemplating the question of Jewish names, consider speaking with a rabbi. Alternatively, if you are more interested in Jewish culture generally than in the Jewish religion itself, consider speaking with a Jewish studies scholar or a historian who focuses on Jewish culture, or simply reach out to any knowledgeable Jew. Make sure you explore a name's literal meaning before giving it to your child.

Two Names

In the United States, home to the largest population of Jews in the world (including Israel, by some estimates), it is customary to give a newborn child two names, an Anglicized one and a Hebrew one. This is done to help American Jews connect with their Jewish heritage. Sometimes the two names partially or fully overlap if the English name is also a Hebrew name, such as Sara or David, but this is not required. The child's medical birth certificate will usually establish the English name as the one with secular legal standing, while the child's synagogue may provide its own certificate establishing the Hebrew name's religious legitimacy.

Biblical Names

Many Jews, especially in the Orthodox denomination of Judaism, are fond of naming their children after biblical figures who appear in the Torah reading for the week of the child's birth. For instance, if a child is born during the week when the Torah tells the story of Jacob, parents might name their child Jacob (or "Yacov" in Hebrew).

Names from the Natural World

As with many other cultures, Jews often name their children after objects in the natural world, such as Diklah, which means "palm grove," and Rebecca, which means "snare." These names have the distinct advantage of invoking the Jewish ethnic heritage without explicitly appealing to the Jewish religion, which may be preferable for secular parents or Jews who follow a non-Jewish religion.

Virtue Names

Also similar to other cultures, Jews often name their children after virtuous concepts (and sometimes not-so-virtuous ones), such as Anna, which means "grace," Saul, which means "prayed for," and Leah, which means "weary."

Name After a Relative

Jews commonly name their children for deceased family members. One notable distinction between the Ashkenazi and Sephardic branches of Judaism is that the Ashkenazi do not typically name their children in honor of relatives who are still living. The reasoning for this taboo is superstitious: In times past, Ashkenazi Jews were wary of confusing the Angel of Death by giving the same name to two living family members, fearing that the angel might mistakenly come for the child rather than the older relative. The Sephardim have no comparable prohibition and routinely name their children after living family members.

References

• Woodbury Jewish Center: Jewish Baby
• Behind the Name: The Etymology and History of First Names

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish