Questions tagged [names]
Questions about the purpose, meaning, halachos (rules), etc. of names.
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Why is the name of Eliezer often missing?
Very often in the Torah Eliezer's proper name is omitted when he is discussed. Examples include the story of finding a wife for Yitzhak where he is referred to as eved or ish, his accompanying Avraham ...
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Why are the names of some mitzvos changed to from "al" or "lo" to "bal"
For example,
אַל תְּשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם בְּכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵץ וְלֹא תִטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם (al t'shaq'tzu...)
is commonly called בל תשקצו (bal t'shaq'tzu),
אֵת כָּל־...
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The name change of the Divrei Chamudos
The shaar blatt (page with the brief list of what's in the book) of my Shas (and this Shas) says that the Divrei Chamudos was originally called the Lechem Chamudos and the Maadanei Yom Tov was ...
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Why doesn't the king of Belah get a name?
Bereishis 14:2 names the 5 kings who were on Team B in the war between the 4 kings and the 5 kings. Regarding 4 of the 5 kings on Team B, we are told their name and their domain. But by the king of ...
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The hebrew meaning of the name Laila
My wife and I just had a beautiful little girl and we named her Laila Grace. I was curious of the meaning of Laila and decided to search the web. I came to an interesting comment that I am hoping ...
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What was Avraham Avinu's mother's name?
What was Avraham Avinu's mother's name?
Our shul received a paper with questions on Simhat Torah, with this question being one of the harder ones. Is there a midrash on her name?
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Naming after two people
Can one person be given one name (as opposed to a double name) which is meant to "correspond" to two different deceased individuals?
I.e. Chaim and Shprintza have a daughter. Chaim's grandmother was ...
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Process by which one changes their name
Leaving aside the reasons why someone would change their name. Is there a process that a person needs to go through in doing so?
At what point does the new name-change comes into effect?
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י-ו as a name of Hashem
Sometimes the letters י-ו seem to serve as a name of Hashem. For example, many authors replace י-ו with טז in a numbering system, presumably so as to not write Hashem's name, similar to replacing י-ה ...
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What is the meaning of surnames that number-related? [closed]
I deal a lot with names, whether given names or family names, especially as I collect genealogical information. So recently I'm puzzled about some Germanic-Jewish names that are related to numbers. "...
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Are we precise in which name of God we use outside of Chumash?
In the chumash, there is a distinction between the use of Elokim (midat hadin, the characteristic of justice/law) and the four letter name (midat harachamim, the attribute of mercy).
Rashi on 1:1 ...
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Sigmund Freud's Jewish Name [closed]
What was the eminent Psychologist, and father of Psychoanalysis' Jewish Name (as when they called him up to the Torah)?
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From where do we know that Yaakov has the spirit of prophecy when referred to as Yisroel?
The Torah frequently shifts in references to Yaakov. I have heard that it refers to him as Yisroel when he is experiencing prophecy, and as Yaakov when his prophetic abilities are lacking, as they ...
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What is the proper hebrew pronunciation of Rav Hirsch's first name?
Among the Modern Orthodox I hear Rav Hirsch's name only said in its English form ("Samson"). Amongst the Yeshivish I hear the form "Shamshon." My question is, was his Hebrew name Shamshon or Shimshon?
...
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Can a Jew name a child after a (deceased) non-Jew (non-relative)?
Can a Jew name a child after a (deceased) non-Jew (non-relative)? Is there any prohibition against it?
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Does a Kohen have to be concerned about the surname of a potential mate?
In this question various surnames are explored that are strongly associated with being a Kohein. Some of them are rather unambiguously chosen simply because the chooser wanted to indicate their status....
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Jacob's Dual Names and Wives
The third Patriarch's birth name was Jacob. He is given another name, Israel, in Genesis 32. Jacob had two primary wives; Leah and Rachel.
I have heard the idea that the Rachel was the betrothed ...
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2
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Naming Kids Similar to Living Relative
In Ashkenazik circles, can a child be named similar to a living grandparent?
How close is too close?
Examples:
David & Davida
Mira & Meira
Chana & Chanan
Gila & Gilaad
Misha & ...
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Who or what was Gilaad?
In parshas pinchas ch 26 vs 29 we find Menasheh had a son Machir who had a son Gilaad (גלעד). In fact this family group was called "Gilaadi" (גלעדי). At the end of parshas Matos ch 32 vs 39 - 40 we ...
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Why are the names of some Masechtot in Aramaic while others are in Hebrew?
I noticed that the names of some Masechtot have an Aramaic plural ending - nun - such as "Gittin", while others have a Hebrew ending - mem - such as "Bikurim". Was there some pattern or logic in ...
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Expounding a student's name
The Gemara in Berachos 39a has the following account:
תני תנא קמיה דרב נחמן בר יצחק מניח הפרוסה בתוך השלמה ובוצע ומברך אמר ליה מה שמך א"ל שלמן א"ל שלום אתה ושלמה משנתך ששמת שלום בין ...
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I forget his name. Now what?
If someone was given the name of a sick person to daven for them, and when they get to refa'enu (blessing for healing) they can only remember the person's name but not their mother's name, how should ...
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The Priest-King's name
In Kings II ch. 15, עזריה, Azariah son of Amaziah is said to reign over Judah. During his reign he is stricken with leprosy and lives out his days in this state, while his son Jotham rules in his ...
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The Tyrian Smith's Name
Kings I ch. 7 tells of Solomon enlisting a Tyrian smith named חירם, Hiram to fashion many implements that were used in the Temple.
Chronicles II ch. 2 speaks of the King of Tyre sending a smith named ...
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Secular Names for Days of the Week
Is there a problem using the secular names for the days of the week?
If there is a problem, is it because:
1) The names originally come from Polytheistic gods
OR
2) The people forbidding them are ...
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What's the source for naming children after Alexander the Great?
I know many Jews whose actual bris-given name is Alexander, and this has been a popular name even among great tzaddikim of the past (such as R. Alexander Ziskind). I've heard a legend (mentioned on ...
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Given name of Rabbi Yose
What was the given name of Rabbi Yose?
Was it Yosef or Yose? If it was Yose, is that a derivative of Yosef, or a totally different name with some other meaning or significance?
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Source for multiple names [duplicate]
What is the source of giving multiple names?
Who is the earliest person who had two given names? Any Tannah Amorah or Rishon?
Note that I am aware that people in tanach (Moshe Avraham etc.) as well ...
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Children's Names
I noticed a lot of times in the TaNaKh, how children were given specific names for a specific reason.
Take Binyamin for example, his original name at birth was "Benoni" (son of my sorrow) but his ...
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Jebediah (?)
Some claim that Jebediah is a Hebrew name.
Is it a Jewish name?
Either way; what does/would it mean, and how is it/would it be spelled and pronounced in Hebrew?
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Why does the Gemara sometimes use the word Ben and sometimes use the word Bar?
Why does the Talmud sometimes refer to someone as Ploni ben Ploni, and other times as Ploni bar Ploni?
Classic example:
In Bava Batra 14b the gemara says Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai
In Bar Ilan's ...
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Why were some Jews called Yishmael? [duplicate]
Why is it that we find Jews (and even sages) by the name Yishmael? It seems rather strange that we would choose to name our children after someone who was the progenitor of a nation seen to be an ...
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Giving a child the same name as a living distant relative
The Ashkenazi custom is not to give one's child a name shared by another living close relative. How close is too close? Can you give a child a name possessed by his/her (living) cousin? Second cousin?
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Naming children after opposite gender [duplicate]
Are there any issues with naming a boy after a woman, or a girl after a man?
We do see many examples of people making male names more feminine e.g. Daniella, Gavriella.
I once heard that the latter ...
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Titles and prefixes for calling people up to the Torah
When people are called up to the Torah by name, often there is a title that goes with them, such as "ha-bachur" for a young man, "ha-rav" for a rabbi (and/or someone with semicha), and other such ...
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Why do we call people up to the Torah by name?
In shul, if a guest is honored with an aliyah, I watch as the gabbai walks over (or sends someone) to get the guest's name, then call that same person up by that name. Once the guest has been told ...
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Sources for Mashiach's Name
I know that Mashiach's name is mentioned in several sources, perhaps the majority of these sources are Midrashim (correct me if I'm wrong). But anyone know where I can find this subject commented ...
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Is there a reference that explains the literal meaning and etymology of the names of the Hebrew months?
Is there a reference that explains the literal meaning and etymology of the names of the Hebrew months? I am looking for something that explains both the common Babylonian names as well as the Tana"ch ...
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Are there any name combinations that may not be used?
Are there any combinations of names that may not be given? There are many names which aren't commonly paired together but is there any reason not to or just common practice and preference?
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Non-Jew who takes a Jewish name
Let's say someone goes through an invalid conversion, and now they incorrectly think they are Jewish. They pick a Jewish name for themselves, and they are called up to the Torah by that name and use ...
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Is there any reason why some people's names in Tana"ch include their grandfather (or beyond)?
In most cases, when peole's names are mentioned in Tana"ch only their and their father's names are mentioned (e.g. - Yehoshu'a bin Nun). In some cases, the grandfather is also mentioned (e.g. - ...
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Is there a limit to the number of names you can give someone?
I have two Hebrew names. One of my sons has 3. Many people I know have 3; someone I called to the Torah had 4. At 3, people who have to address you often, (rebbes, teachers) seem to get confused. (can'...
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What was the name of Sarah's mother?
Seder Hadoros mentions Avraham's mother, how old Nachor was when Sarah was born, and even a Peshat that Lot was her brother, though no mention of Sarah's mother's name. Any other sources that mention ...
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Names in kesuba and gittin
The name a person is given at birth has no real relevance, it all depends on what he is called at the moment. One can change ones name as often as one likes (but not one's fathers). Today when women ...
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What type of name should an androgynous be given?
An androgynous that has both signs of a male and female, should they be given a female name, a male name, or a "neutral" name (like "simcha" or "yona".) Is there any makor for this?
(I realize this ...
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Does the verse in Tehillim 147:4 imply that one cannot name a star after a person?
Usually, around Mother's Day and Valentines Day, I hear a radio commercial suggesting that, as a gift to your loved one, you can name a star after him / her. (Amazing gimmick - no inventory!!)
In ...
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Source of the name Achira - What did עינן have against his brother?
The nasi of Shevet Naftali's name was Achira (אחירע), which translates to "my brother is evil." What did Enan (his father) have against his brother, that he should give his son such a name?
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שאול - Sha-ul vs She-ol
Ignoring vowelization, Sha-ul and She-ol is spelled the same way
שאול
We know that Shaul's name was derived from the root radical שאל = to question.
However, She-ol is pronounced like ש - אול ...
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Calling female baby by name before official naming
Is there any objection, halachic or otherwise, to calling a baby girl by the name the parents plan on giving it before the mi sheberach prayer is recited at the torah reading following the birth? What ...
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Why do we refer to it as the Well of Miriam?
From what I understand the Well of Miriam in the desert was actually a rock which miraculously brought forth water. As such why do we refer to it as the 'Well of Miriam' and not the 'Rock of Miriam'?