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Middle Name for Kesuba

Rabbanim,

My husband’s English name is “Brett”. He has always believed his Hebrew name is “Baruch”. Recently we came across a Hebrew naming certificate from his Bris that said his Hebrew first name is “Baruch” and his Hebrew middle name is “Yaacov”. Our Ketubah has his name listed as “Baruch ben Reuven” (without “Yaacov” and without my father in law’s Hebrew middle name of “Avraham”). We asked his parents and they said the first name is
“Baruch” and middle name is “Yaacov”. Does this mean his Hebrew name is “Baruch” or “Baruch Yaacov”? If it is “Baruch Yaacov”, do we need a new Ketubah or do we need to modify our existing Ketubah? Similarly, my husband’s father has always believed his Hebrew name is “Reuven” and once we brought our concern up to him he acknowledged that he too has a Hebrew middle name of “Avraham”. Is his Hebrew name “Reuven” or “Reuven Avraham”? Our Ketubah cites his name as “Reuven”. Also, should we be concerned as to whether my in-laws need to change their Ketubah if his Hebrew middle name is not included?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Answer:

There is no need to make any adjustment to the Kesuba.

The reason for this is that a middle name that was given at a Bris but never used since then does not really keep the status of a “name.” A name doesn’t depend on the Bris but depends predominantly on usage. If the given name for purposes of aliyos and general use is Baruch, then this is the name, and there is no need for more (the same applies to your father in law).

If this were to be a Get, Heaven forbid, we would be careful to mention the English name Brett as well as Yaakov – but for purposes of a Kesuba there is no need for concern.

Best wishes.

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