Is there a comprehensive list which we can pick names from? I’m looking for all traditional names, not names that are modern creations or not Jewish originally.
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@DoubleAA Why didn't you flag this question? It's not about Judaism AND it asks for a list, both off this site's scope.– Al BerkoFeb 14, 2019 at 19:13
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@AlBerko Where do you get that comprehensive lists are out of scope? Just because it’s a list doesn’t mean it’s too broad.– DonielFFeb 15, 2019 at 5:15
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Alexander wasn't originally a Jewish name– DudeFeb 15, 2019 at 13:31
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I'm voting for closed but cause "Jewish names" historically shift based on location, culture, etc and therefore there is no real religious aspect to Jewish names. This isn't about Judaism so it's off topic.– AaronFeb 15, 2019 at 16:59
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2 Answers
Considering your criteria, I'm assuming you would appreciate this seffer: שמות בארץ
It's everything Reb Chaim Kanievsky has to say about names, which to use and which not to use.
As found there, even according to Rabbi Kanievsky, it's fine to use names that weren't traditionally Jewish if there was a gadol who had that name already or if someone in a medrash had that name.
In fact he writes there that he thinks he remembers a Medrash Teiman that listed someone with the name Chaim. (Yes I was looking to see what he had to say about the nontraditional name Chaim. What can I say. I'm that guy.)
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Re. untraditionally Jewish names... His opinion (if you’re citing correctly, I haven’t read the book) is most probably based on the R”I (Tos. Shab. 12b s.v. שבנא) who opines that even a name once held by a wicked person can be given if there were other [righteous] people bearing the same name. (Others follow suit but I think R”I is the basis for it.)– OliverFeb 14, 2019 at 5:24
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That is quite possible. I don't recall offhand if he mentioned any source for his opinion. If I make it back to the shul I saw the seffer in, maybe I'll try to check.– user6591Feb 14, 2019 at 13:19
Multiple lists are available online. They don't make the exact same distinction as you but provide background information for each name that should allow you to decide which is appropriate.
See e.g.,
- chabad for boys
- chabad for girls
- aish for boys
- aish for girls
- behindthename
We also used and liked the print book Best Baby Names for Jewish Children.
Last, if helpful, I listed here a number of sources on halachot of baby names.