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Do not like grandmothers name

Question:

Hi, my grandmother recently passed away and we are iyh expecting a child. I simply do not like my grandmothers name. What can I do if we have a girl. Adding a name won’t do as she had two names and don’t like either. Thanks

Answer:

This is a common issue nowadays. There are many people with a European background, and their grandmothers were called Yiddish names that are not common nowadays, and the parents either don’t like the name or they are afraid that the child will not like the name that they are given. There are different ways that this is dealt with. One way would be to add a name to the grandmother’s name, even if you are only using one of the two names plus a different name that you added on. Then practically you can use the other name. Another option is to call the child by a name that is similar to that name, which would be acceptable to you. As a side point this issue can be quite sticky, and it would be a good idea to get an idea, what your parent says about giving such a name.

As a side point, personally I have a child that we named after a great grandparent with a very uncommon name, and we don’t have any problems with it. People occasionally ask, what is this name about? So we explain it. But otherwise the child has no problems with the name. So in a way it can be a matter of attitude, but if you don’t want to give the name you have these two possible options.

 

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for your answer. Would it be possible perhaps to send some sources as to what the general idea of naming a child after a grandparent? Is it simply making your own parent happy similar to say – living somewhere that your parent wishes you to? Or there is actual “real-ness” to naming after a deceased. Thank you

    1. There is a ninyan of kibiud av v’em to naming after a parent etc. Aside from this there is also the idea that the child that gets a name from after someone, that there is a connection between the two neshamos, this is why there is a preferance to naming a child after Gedolei Yisroel. See Shemos Baaretz chap. 4.

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