A Brief History of Hebrew Names
“Every Man Has Three Names: One His Father and Mother Gave Him. One Others Call Him.
And One He Acquires Himself!” Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:1.3
Q: Are there religious rules or regulations concerning the naming of a Jewish child?
A: Actually, there is no law on names.
How a baby receives a name in Jewish families is a matter of custom and sentiment rather than law.
The baby may be named after a relative or friend.
Or, a baby can be named after a famous tzaddik (righteous person), biblical character, or noted person.
The Torah and our sacred literature and history provides a rich store of meaningful names to choose.
The Bible alone contains more than 3,000 names.
A name is chosen carefully because it is the meaning that is important.
For example, a baby named after King David is associated with love, as King David was called “the beloved.” Solomon was known as the “wise king.”
Abraham was “the patriarch.”
Ruth reminds us of the loyalty and devotion of Ruth in the Bible.
Our Hebrew name is the way to carry on tradition, a link to past generations, and an assurance of our future.
The naming of a baby keeps family memories alive, and is a living reminder and constant memorial to the person named after.
Customs differ between the Ashkenazim (Central and Eastern Europe) and the Sephardim (Middle Eastern).
The reason for different practices among Jewish people of various countries can be associated with the culture and folklore of the time.
Presently we can identify two customs:
For Ashkenazi Jews, children are usually named after a deceased relative whose memory the parents wish to honor.
Among the Sephardim a son is usually named after a living grandfather.
Either way, the name memorializes a person whose qualities the parents would like instilled in the child.
The use of non-Jewish first names came into general practice as a result of the widespread dispersion of Jews.
Therfore, in America (and many European countries), a child is given both a Hebrew name and a name common to the land of birth.
Traditionally, a baby boy receives his Hebrew name after the circumcision.
The naming of a baby girl can take place during a synagogue service when the Torah is read.
The father or parents (depending on Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform tradition) are called up to the Torah to proclaim the daughter’s Hebrew name.
A special option is creating your own meaningful ceremony.
Before naming a child, the following information is important to know:
- The father’s Hebrew name
- The father’s father’s Hebrew name
- The mother’s Hebrew name
- The mother’s mother’s Hebrew name
Our Hebrew name is our link to B’nai Yisrael, the Children of Israel.
Sources:
“A Jewish Child is Born” by Nathan Gottlieb
“The History and Ritual of Circumcision, Redemption of the First Born Son, Adoption, Conversion, and Choosing and Giving Names” Bloch Publishing Company, New York 1960