Naming Children: Difference between revisions
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# Generally speaking, Ashkenazim do not name children after living people<ref>Sefer HaChassidim 460</ref> for fear of shortening the other person's life<ref>Yehuda Ya’aleh (vol. 2 Even HaEzer, Choshen Mishpat 106; Yoreh Deah 246)</ref> or to avoid violating a living parent's honor by calling the child the same name as the parent in his presence.<ref>Sdei Chemed (Chattan veKallah 5), Chelkat Yaakov Yoreh Deah Siman 136, Aseh Lecha Rav 2:57 and 6:69</ref> | # Generally speaking, Ashkenazim do not name children after living people<ref>Sefer HaChassidim 460</ref> for fear of shortening the other person's life<ref>Yehuda Ya’aleh (vol. 2 Even HaEzer, Choshen Mishpat 106; Yoreh Deah 246)</ref> or to avoid violating a living parent's honor by calling the child the same name as the parent in his presence.<ref>Sdei Chemed (Chattan veKallah 5), Chelkat Yaakov Yoreh Deah Siman 136, Aseh Lecha Rav 2:57 and 6:69</ref> | ||
# Some say that if there is no reason to pick a particular name, even Ashkenazim are advised to choose the name of one of the Neviim or a recognized Tzaddik and genius of our times, even if he's still alive.<ref>Iggerot Moshe (Orach Chaim 4:66). See Minchat Elazar vol. 4 Siman 27 and Beis Yitzchok 5747 page 5</ref> Others allow naming after a living person if it will give the namesake tremendous satisfaction and raise his low spirits.<ref>Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv named his third child, a daughter, after their childless neighbor as an act of kindness to uplift her gloomy spirits. HaShakdan vol. 3 page 182; Rav Elyashiv, Yehuda and Malky Heimowitz, Artscroll Mesorah, p. 109.</ref> | # Some say that if there is no reason to pick a particular name, even Ashkenazim are advised to choose the name of one of the Neviim or a recognized Tzaddik and genius of our times, even if he's still alive.<ref>Iggerot Moshe (Orach Chaim 4:66). See Minchat Elazar vol. 4 Siman 27 and Beis Yitzchok 5747 page 5</ref> Others allow naming after a living person if it will give the namesake tremendous satisfaction and raise his low spirits.<ref>Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv named his third child, a daughter, after their childless neighbor as an act of kindness to uplift her gloomy spirits. HaShakdan vol. 3 page 182; Rav Elyashiv, Yehuda and Malky Heimowitz, Artscroll Mesorah, p. 109.</ref> | ||
# | # Sephardim in general have the custom to name children after living relatives, starting with the father’s parents and then the mother’s, unless there are additional factors such as a loss of the mother’s parent, in which case the paternal grandfather’s Mechilah would be needed.<ref> Yabia Omer vol. 5 Yoreh De’ah 21, Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol. 2 10:2)</ref> | ||
# If one is naming after both parents (such as to appease everybody), the name of the paternal father should come first.<ref>Ben Ish Chai (Shanah II Shoftim 27), Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol. 2 10:3)</ref> | # If one is naming after both parents (such as to appease everybody), the name of the paternal father should come first.<ref>Ben Ish Chai (Shanah II Shoftim 27), Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol. 2 10:3)</ref> | ||
# Even by | # Even by Sephardim this Minhag is not ubiquitous. In Morocco and Iraq, specifically, they would not name after the living, while in Algeria and Tunis, they would. Some say that if the living relative gives permission, it's nevertheless ok in any location.<ref>Netivot HaMaarav pg 139, Nahagu Ha’Am Shonot 7, Ateret Avot vol. 3 pg. 80, [http://halachayomit.co.il/en/Default.aspx?HalachaID=2044 HalachaYomit.co.il]</ref> | ||
# In the case of a mixed marriage, where the mother of the baby’s family does allow it, but the father's does not, the baby may be named for its mother’s living family members.<ref>Yabia Omer vol. 5 Yoreh De’ah 21, Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol. 2 10:4), Shalmei Simcha page 458</ref> | # In the case of a mixed marriage, where the mother of the baby’s family does allow it, but the father's does not, the baby may be named for its mother’s living family members.<ref>Yabia Omer vol. 5 Yoreh De’ah 21, Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol. 2 10:4), Shalmei Simcha page 458</ref> | ||
# If the child is the product of a broken marriage, some recommend not naming the baby for members of either family to avoid aggravation from the opposite side.<ref>Chashukei Chemed Gittin 26b</ref> | # If the child is the product of a broken marriage, some recommend not naming the baby for members of either family to avoid aggravation from the opposite side.<ref>Chashukei Chemed Gittin 26b</ref> | ||
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## Which Pesukim to recite at the end of the Amidah for those who recite a Pasuk that begins and ends with the first and last letters of one’s name. | ## Which Pesukim to recite at the end of the Amidah for those who recite a Pasuk that begins and ends with the first and last letters of one’s name. | ||
==Naming After Tzadikim== | |||
#If parents wanted to name their child after a certain tzadik and later they find out that the tzadik had a middle name they can add it to the name of their child.<ref>Shemot Baaretz p. 89 quotes Rav Shach about someone who named their child Meir after Rav Meir Shapiro and really his name was Yehuda Meir and so they added the name Yehuda later on.</ref> | |||
==Specific Names== | |||
# It is the minhag Yisrael to name even after angels such as Refael, Michael, Gavriel, Azriel or Uriel.<ref>Shemot Baaretz (Rav Chaim Kanievsky, p. 39)</ref> | |||
# Although Rabbi Yehuda Hachasid advised that people shouldn't call their children by the names Yehuda and Shmuel the practice of the world is to use those names and assume that Rabbi Yehuda Hachasid only meant this stricture for his descendants.<Ref>Shemot Baaretz (Rav Chaim Kanievsky, p. 34)</ref> | |||
==Changing or Adding a Name== | |||
#Initially a person should not change their Hebrew name completely but there are times when it is possible to change your name completely.<ref>Shma Garim 3:1</ref> | |||
#If someone is very sick it is allowed considered possibly a meritorious act to give them an additional name.<ref>Shma Garim 3:2 based on Rosh Hashana 16b, [https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1158837/jewish/The-Laws-of-Jewish-Names.htm Chabad.org]</ref> | |||
#For a woman if they add another name that name should not be Rachel, Bat Sheva, Tamar, or Leah, however, good names include Chana, Sarah, and Yocheved.<ref>Shma Garim 3:3</ref> | |||
#If a parent gave their child a name by mistake or gave them a bad name it is permitted to change their name.<ref>Shma Garim 3:5</ref> | |||
#If parents mistakenly named their child a name that was someone else who is living in the family and that living relative is bothered by this, the parent should add another name to their child and call him by this new name. If parents named their child two names and one of the names was the name of a living relative who is bothered by this the parents should just call their child by the other name. If even that bothers the living relative they should change the name completely.<ref>Shma Garim 3:6</ref> | |||
#If they named after a certain person and mistakenly thought the name was another name, the naming doesn't count and they can change it.<ref>Shma Garim 3:7</ref> | |||
#If the father made a mistake at the time of the kriyat shem they shouldn't change it. If the one saying the kriyat shem made a mistake it is irrelevant and the father established is the real name.<ref>Shma Garim 3:8</ref> | |||
# When changing the name of a married person they need to write a new Ketubah. They should consult with an expert rabbi on this matter.<ref>Shma Garim 3:12</ref> | |||
=Further Reading= | =Further Reading= | ||
# Shalmei Simcha chapter 67 | # Shalmei Simcha chapter 67 | ||
# Shma Garim by R' Mordechai Gross | |||
# Sefer Vayikareh Shemo BeYisrael (Oppenheim) | |||
# Sefer Vayikareh Shemo BeYisrael (Levi) | |||
# [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/735718/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/choosing-a-name-for-a-child/ Choosing a Name for a Child] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz | # [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/735718/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/choosing-a-name-for-a-child/ Choosing a Name for a Child] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz | ||
