Choosing a Hebrew name for your baby
Bringing a new person into the world is a life changing experience. There are so many things to learn and so many decisions to make - including, how to name your child. Not an easy task considering that she will be carrying this moniker with them for the rest of her life.
Below is a brief introduction to choosing a Hebrew name for your child, from why a Hebrew name is important, to details of how that name can be selected, to when a child is traditionally called.
The role of names in Jewish life
Names play an important role in Judaism. From the moment a child is named during a British Milah (boys) or an appointment ceremony (girls), through their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, and until their wedding and funeral, their Hebrew name will identify them uniquely in the Jewish community. In addition to the main events in life, a person's Hebrew name is used if the community says a prayer for them and when they are remembered after the transmission of their Yahrzeit.
When a person's Hebrew name is used as part of a Jewish ritual or prayer, it is usually followed by the name of the father or mother. So a boy would be called "David [son's name] ben [son of] Baruch [father's name]" and a girl would be called "Sarah [daughter's name] bat [daughter of] Rachel [mother's name].
Choosing a Hebrew Name
There are many traditions associated with choosing a Hebrew name for a child. In the Ashkenazi community, for example, it is common to name a child as a relative who has passed away. According to Ashkenazi popular belief, a person's name and soul are closely intertwined, so it is unfortunate to name a child as a living person because this would shorten the life of the elderly person. The Sephardic community does not share this belief and therefore it is common to appoint a child as a living relative. Although these two traditions are exactly opposite, they share something in common: in both cases, the parents name their children as a loved and admired relative.
Of course, many Jewish parents choose not to name their children as a relative. In these cases, parents often turn to the Bible for inspiration, looking for biblical characters whose personalities or stories resonate with them. It is also common to name a child based on a particular character trait, after things found in nature or after aspirations, which parents may have for their child. For example, "Eitan" means "strong", "Maya" means "water" and "Uziel" means "God is my strength".
In Israel parents usually give their child a name that is in Hebrew and this name is used in both their secular and religious life. Outside of Israel, it is common for parents to give their child a secular name for daily use and a second Hebrew name for use in the Jewish community.
All of the above is to say, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to giving your son a Hebrew name. Choose a name that is meaningful to you and that you think is best suited for your child.
When is a Jewish child named?
Traditionally a child is named as part of his British Milah, who is also called Bris. This ceremony takes place eight days after the birth of the baby and is meant to signify a Jewish boy's covenant with God. After the baby is blessed and circumcised by a mohel (a trained professional who is usually a doctor), he is given the his Hebrew name. It is customary not to reveal the baby's name until now.
Girls are usually named in the synagogue during the first Shabbat service after their birth. A minyan (ten Jewish adult men) is required to celebrate this ceremony. The father is given an aliyah, where the bimah rises and reads from the Torah. After this, the girl is given her name. According to Rabbi Alfred Koltach, "the denomination can also take place in the morning service on Monday, Thursday or on Rosh Chodesh since the Torah is also read on those occasions".