Jewish Naming Traditions: Why Names Matter So Much and How the Rules Differ

Names in Jewish culture carry specific weight. They connect the living to the dead, the present to the past, and the individual to the family line. The customs vary significantly by community. In Ashkenazi tradition, children are named after deceased relatives. The soul of the person who has died is honored by giving their name to a new child. Naming after a living relative is considered bad luck. The result: every Ashkenazi family tree carries the names of ancestors forward through generations. Sephardic tradition does the opposite. Children are named after living relatives, typically starting with grandparents. This is considered an honor to the living grandparent. In a Sephardic family, a grandfather and his new grandchild commonly share the same name. Most Jewish Americans have both a Hebrew name and a secular English name. The Hebrew name is used in religious contexts — for aliyot, for the ketubah, for prayers for healing, and for burial. Many secular names are anglicizations of Yiddish names that were themselves translations of Hebrew names. Sadie may come from Sarah. Harry may come from Hershel, which comes from Tzvi. Irving may come from Israel. Boys receive their Hebrew name at the brit milah on the eighth day after birth. Girls are typically named at a synagogue Torah service. Many liberal communities hold a simchat bat ceremony that mirrors the brit milah in formality. Even families who observe little else often name children after grandparents. The name is the thread.