Naming Children: Difference between revisions
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→Changing or Adding a Name
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==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== | ==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> | # 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> | # 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= | ||
