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Yitro appears to be an overall positive character in the Torah. At least as much as Noah or Saul, yet I do not know of contemporary (or even ancient) Jews named Yitro. Why is that?

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  • 5
    I know people named Chovav
    – Double AA
    Commented Feb 6, 2012 at 14:12
  • 7
    Who's stopping you?
    – user1095
    Commented Feb 6, 2012 at 14:12
  • 4
    I know a kid named Jethro - he was adopted and converted.
    – Zoli
    Commented Feb 6, 2012 at 22:25
  • 8
    I converted and my name is Yitro Chayim :)
    – user7348
    Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 19:09
  • 2
    Gid'on named his firstborn son Yeter which is another name for Yitro. (Shoftim 8:20)
    – Double AA
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 15:35

1 Answer 1

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A possible reason why we do not name children Yisro.

Perhaps the reason we do not name Yisro is due to the fact that Yisro decides to return to Midian and ignores Moshe’s plea to remain with the Jewish people and help guide them into the Land of Israel. http://www.torah.org/learning/rabbiwein/5767/yisro.html

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  • +1. I'd also add his second-guessing Hashem: "If He commands you to do this [appoint judges, as per his suggestion], you will be able to endure, but if He prevents you [from doing it], you will be unable to endure" (Rashi to 18:23).
    – Alex
    Commented Feb 7, 2012 at 4:17
  • 1
    Plus his faith in Hashem was only in supporting the winner.
    – CashCow
    Commented Jan 7, 2015 at 16:33

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