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According to Jewish tradition, the naming of your child is a charming thoughtful spiritual moment. Based on kabalistic teachings, the name you select for the baby will have a strong effect upon her life. Yet even greater, the Talmud tells us that parents receive one-sixtieth of prophecy when picking a name. An angel comes to the parents and whispers the Jewish name that the new baby will embody.

Yet this still doesn't seem to help parents from agonizing over which name to pick! So how do we choose a name? And why is the father's name traditionally not given to a son -- e.g. Jr., or Ben Herman II? Can a boy be named after a female relative? Can the name be announced before the Bris?

Ashkenazi Jews - only name a child after a friend or relative who has passed away. This will keep the name and memory alive, and in a metaphysical way forms a bond between the soul of the baby and the deceased relative. This is a great honor to the deceased, as its soul can achieve an elevation based on the good-deed of the namesake. The child, meanwhile, can be inspired by the good qualities of the deceased -- and make a deep connection to the past. (Noam Elimelech - Numbers)

What if you would like to use the name of a relative who passed away, but another living relative has the same name? In that case, if the living relative is closely related to the baby -- parent, grandparent, or sibling -- then you should not use the name.

Sephardic Jews - name children after a friend or relative who are still alive. This source comes from the Talmud, which records a child named after Rabbi Natan while he was still alive (Talmud/Sabbath 134a).

Several people choose a name based on the Jewish holiday that corresponds with the birth. For example, a baby born at Purim-time might be named Esther or Mordechai. A girl born on Shavuot might be named Ruth. Likewise, names can also be chosen from that weeks Torah portion. Many names and events are mentioned in each Torah portion, offering a spiritual connection between the baby and that particular biblical figure.

We find in the Bible, Leah named her fourth son Judah. This comes from the same root as the word "thanks." The letters can also be rearranged to spell out the holy Name of God. The significance is that Leah wanted to particularly express her "thanks to God." (Genesis 29:35) If you want to name a male after a female, you should try to keep as many of the letters of the name as possible.

Queen Esther, the hero of the Purim story is a name that comes from the word "hidden." Esther was known to be a very beautiful woman (she was chosen to be queen), but whatever her external appearances, her hidden internal qualities were even more beautiful.

It is important to choose a name that will have a positive effect, since every time it is used the person is reminded of its meaning (Midrash Tanchuma - Ha'Azinu 7). The person who is called Judah is constantly reminded of how much gratitude we should have toward God!


Similar English & Hebrew names.
Many parents pick Hebrew and English names that compliment each other. The names may:
a) Sound alike or start with the same letter
b) Be variations or equivalencies of the same name
c) Have the same meaning

Some have the custom to avoid using the name of a individual who died at a young age, or suffered an unnatural death. The reluctance stems from the fear that the misfortune may, in a spiritual method, be carried over to the new bearer of the name. Although "dying young" is a relative term, Rabbi Feinstein offers some guidelines:

If an individual died a natural death and left children, this is not considered "bad fortune" which would rule out the use of the name. The prophets Samuel and King Solomon both died at the young age of 52, yet traditionally Jews have always used their names. Then again, if a person died an unnatural death, then Rabbi Feinstein suggests that the name be altered. It may be for this reason that when naming after the prophet Isaiah -- who was murdered -- many Jews omit the last letter of his name in Hebrew, Yeshaya instead of Yeshiyahu. (Yam Shel Shlomo - Gittin 4:30)

Rabbi Y. Kamenetzky, a renowned scholar from the previous generation considered the age of 60 the demarcation between young and old. The Talmud (Moed Katan 28a) relates that Rabbi Yosef made a party when he reached 60, celebrating the beginning of longevity.

Traditional we don't announce the new name until the ceremony. This is based on the fact that God changed Abraham's name in conjunction with his circumcision -- at age 99 (Genesis 17:15). Also, the boy only receives the full measure of his soul at the circumcision, and a person cannot truly be "named" until attaining that completion. (See Zohar - Lech Lecha 93a, Ta'amei Minhagim 929)

Naming ceremonies are beautiful, often highly emotional ceremonies for welcoming a child into the world.   Adult - Getting a Hebrew name for the first time, should uses the same torah blessing process (as a girl)   Girl's - Names are given in the synagogue on a day when the Torah is read; the Rabbi makes a special blessing.   Boy's - Hebrew names are given during the ceremony of a bris - a ritual circumcision. Which takes place on the baby's eighth day of life, at the end of the morning service. If the baby is not so well, it should be delayed jugged by an observant Rabbi.

Boys Translation A AARON ABBOT AVRAHAM ADAM AKIBA ALTER AMICHAI AMIEL AMIR AMITI AMON ARI, ARIE, ARIEL ARYEH ASHER AVI AVICHAI AVIGDOR AVIMELECH AVISHAI AVITAL AVIV AVNER AVSHALOM high mountain father father of amultitude red earth replaces old my parents are alive of the Lord's people proclaimed truth faithfu lion of God lion of God lion of God happy father my father is alive father protection father is king gift from God father of dew young father of light father of peace B BARAK BARAM BARUCH BEN BEN-AMI BENYAMIN BENZION BETZALEL BINYAMIN BINAH BOAZ lightning son of the nation blessed son son of my people son of the right hand son of Zion in God's shadow son of the right hand understanding swift C CAIN CALEB CHAIM CHANAN CHANOCH possessed bold life initiating dedicated D DAGAN DANIEL DOVID DERON DOREN DOV grain God will judge dearly loved free gift bear E EFRAT EHUD ELAN ELAZAR ELEAZAR ELIEZER ELIAHU ELKANAH EMMANUEL EFRAIM ESHKOL ETAN EVAN EZECHIEL EZRA honored meaning unknown tree God helps God has helped God has helped possessed by God God is with us fruitful grape cluster strong rock strength of God helper F FISHEL fish G GAVRIEL GAL GEDALYA GERSHON GIL GILAD God is my strength wave God has made great stranger Happiness monument of stones H HADAR HAREL HERSH HILLEL glory mountain of God deer greatly praised I ISAAC ISAIAH ISREAL ITTAMAR child of laughter God's helper ruling with the Lord island of palms J SEE -Y - K KEFIR KEREM KINORI lion cub vineyard my harp L LAZER LEB LEVI, LEV LIOR LOT God is my helper heart united my light veiled M MANUEL MATTHIEU MAYIR, MEIR MENACHEM MICHAEL MORDECHAI MOSHE God is with us gift from God enlightens comfort who is like God warrior saved from water N NADAV NADIV NAFTALI NACUM NACHMAN NATANAEL NECHEMYA NISSIM NOACH NOAM gives noble wreath compassionate compassionate gift from God comfoted by God wonders comfort pleasantness O OVADYA ODED OREN ORI OVED, OVID serves God encourages tree my light worker P PESACH PINCHAS to pass over dark-skinned Q - - R RAANAN R'PHAEL REUVEN fresh God's healer behold a son S SHAI SHALOM SHAUL SHIMSHON SHLOMO SIMCHA SHIMON SHMUEL gift peace longed for bright sun peace joy obedient asked of God T TUVYA TZADOK TZION TZVI goodness of God just sunny mountain deer U URI, URIEL UZZIEL, UZZIAH God is my light God is mighty V VERED rose W - - X - - Y YAAKOV YAGIL YAIR YEHONADOV YARON YEDIDYAH YERUCHAM YEHOSHUA YEHUDA YERACHMIEL YESHAYA YIGOL YISREAL YISSACHAR YITZCHAK YOEL YONAH YOSEF held by the heel He will rejoice enlighten gift from God singer beloved by God beloved by God God's help a jew loves God God lends shall be redeemed God's prince reward humorous God prevails dove God shall multiply Z ZACHARIAH ZALMAN ZEV ZEVULUN ZIMRA ZOHAR remembered by God peace wolf habitation song sparkles

Girls Translation A ABARRANE AVIGAIL ABBEY ABBIE ADINA AFRA AHAVA AHUVA AILAT ALEEZA ARIELLA ATARA AVERA AVITAL father of many father rejoices father rejoices father rejoices delicate young deer loved one loved one behind Joy lioness of God crowned transgresses father of dew B BAILA BATSHEVA BATTZION BATYA BECKY BINA BLUMA BRACHA white oath daughter of Zion daughter of God captivating understanding flower blessing C CHANA CHASIDAH CHAVA CHAYA CHAVIVA CHEDVA CHEMDA graceful pious life life dearly loved joyous charming D DALYA DANIELLA DAPHNA DAVINA DEVORAH DELILAH DINA tree branch God is my judge victory cherished bee desired avenged E EDEN ELIZA ELISHEVA EMUNAH ERELAH ERETZ ESTER perfect devoted to God God is my oath faith angel land star F FAYGA FREYDE FRUMA bird joy pious G GAL GALYA GANA GILA GITA GITTEL GOLDA wave God shall redeem garden eternal joy wine press good gold H HADAR HADASSAH HODIYA spectacular myrtle tree Praise God I ILANA IRIT ITI tree flower with me J SEE -Y - K KEFIRA KELULA KEREM KEREN KINNERET KREINDEL KSENA KYLA lion cub victorious Vineyard horn harp crown praise be to God Victorious L LAILA LEAH LEEBA LEVIA LIOR nightfall tired beloved join my light M MALKA MANUELA MIRIAM MIRI MOLLY MAVA MAZEL MEIRA MERAV MENACHEMA queen God is among us rebellious bitter bitter pleasant luck light abundant consolation N NAAMAH NAOMI NAAVA NECHAMA NEDIVA NITA bird pleasant beautiful comfort giving grace O ODEDE ODELEYA OFRA ONA ORA ORZORA strong I will praise God fawn graceful light God's strength P PENINA PAZYA PERI pearl God's gold fruit Q QETURAH: incense R RAANANAH RACHEL RANIT RAPHAELLA RIVKA RINA RONA RUSE unspoiled ewe lovely tune healer captivating joyous song my joy friend S SABRA SARA SHACHAR SHALVA SHAYNA SHULAMIT SAPPHIRA SHIFRA SHIRA SIMCHA SHOSHANA to rest princess dawn tranquility beautiful tranquil beautiful beautiful tune joyous rose T TALYA TAMAR TEMIMA TEMIRA TIKVA TIVONA TOVA, TOBA TZIPPPA TZIPORA TZIVIA TZIYONA dew of heaven palm tree without flaw tall hope love's nature goodly bird bird doe of Zion U URANIT URIT UZIELA light light My strength is God V VARDA VERED VIDA God's gift rose dearly loved W - - X - - Y YAEL YAFFA YARKONA YEHUDIT YOCHEVED YONA YORDANA YOSEPHINA YOVELA goat beautiful green praise God's glory dove descended from God will multiply rejoice Z ZAHAVAH ZAHARA ZEHIRA ZEMIRAH ZEMORA ZEVULA ZOHERET ZISEL golden to shine protected joyous melody branch Palace sparkle sweet

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