Frequently Asked Questions

In Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish tradition, babies are typically named after deceased relatives to honor their memory. The name doesn't have to be an exact match — many families choose a name that starts with the same letter or carries a similar meaning. Sephardic Jews, by contrast, often name children after living relatives. Beyond honoring family, parents may choose names based on the Torah portion of the week the child was born, the meaning of the name, or simply because they find the name beautiful.

Hebrew names come from the Hebrew language and often appear in the Torah and other sacred texts — names like Moshe, Rivka, and Dovid. Yiddish names emerged from the Yiddish language, which blends Hebrew, Germanic, and Slavic elements — names like Velvel (wolf), Golda (golden), and Zissel (sweet). Many Jews historically had both: a Hebrew name (shem hakodesh) used for religious purposes and a Yiddish name (kinnui) used in daily life. Today, either type can be used as a child's primary Jewish name.

While Yiddish names come from Jewish tradition, there is no religious prohibition against non-Jews using them. Many Yiddish-origin names like Goldie, Hershel, and Zelda are already used broadly. However, it's respectful to learn about the cultural significance of the name you're choosing and to use it with awareness of its heritage. Some names carry deep religious meaning that may feel more appropriate within a Jewish context.

A Jewish baby boy is traditionally named at his brit milah (circumcision ceremony) on the 8th day after birth. A baby girl is typically named at the first Torah reading after her birth, when the father is called to the Torah and the name is announced. In some communities, a special naming ceremony called a simchat bat or zeved habat is held for girls. The Hebrew/Yiddish name given at these ceremonies is the child's official Jewish name, used for all religious purposes throughout their life.

There is no strict requirement, but it is very common in diaspora Jewish families to give a child both a Hebrew/Yiddish name and a secular name in the local language. The Hebrew name is used for religious occasions (being called to the Torah, the ketubah/marriage contract, prayers for healing), while the secular name is used in everyday life. Some families choose names that sound similar in both languages, like Ari/Ari, or that share the same initial letter.

In Ashkenazi tradition, it is customary not to name a child after a living relative. This practice is rooted in folk beliefs — some say it could 'confuse' the Angel of Death, others believe it could shorten the living person's life by transferring their spiritual identity to the child. However, this is a custom (minhag), not a religious law (halacha). Sephardic Jews have the opposite custom and frequently name children after living grandparents as a sign of honor.

You have several options: use the same first letter (honoring Grandpa Morris with the name Mendel), use a name with the same meaning (honoring someone named Rose with the name Raizel or Shoshana), use the Hebrew equivalent of their Yiddish name or vice versa, or use the relative's name as a middle name. The important thing in Jewish tradition is the intention to honor — the exact name match is secondary.

For boys, the naming takes place at the brit milah (circumcision) on the 8th day. For girls, there are various ceremonies: the traditional approach is for the father to be called to the Torah and announce the name; more modern options include a simchat bat (celebration of the daughter), a zeved habat (Sephardic naming ceremony), or a creative ceremony incorporating both traditional and modern elements. All ceremonies typically include a blessing, the announcement of the full Hebrew name, and an explanation of whom the child is named for.

The Ashkenazi practice of naming after the deceased (not the living) is rooted in the belief that a person's name carries their spiritual essence. By giving a new child the name of a departed loved one, the family ensures that the person's memory and spiritual influence continue in the next generation. The child is believed to inherit some of the namesake's positive qualities. This practice also reflects the Jewish value of 'zikaron' (remembrance) — keeping the names and stories of past generations alive.

Protection names (sometimes called amuletic names) were given to ward off evil spirits or the Angel of Death. Names like Alter/Alte (old one) expressed the wish that the child would live to old age. Chaim/Chaya (life) was sometimes given to a sick child in a special renaming ceremony called 'shinui hashem' to confuse the Angel of Death. Other protection names include Zayde (grandfather) and Bubbe (grandmother) — names expressing longevity — and names of strong animals like Ber (bear) and Leib (lion).

Shinui hashem (literally 'changing the name') is a Jewish practice where a gravely ill person is given an additional name, typically Chaim (for males) or Chaya (for females), meaning 'life.' The belief is that by changing the person's name, you change their spiritual identity, potentially averting a negative divine decree. A special prayer (Mi Sheberach) is recited, and the new name becomes part of the person's official Hebrew name going forward. This practice is still observed in traditional communities today.

Gematria is the Jewish practice of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters and finding meaning in the resulting numbers. Each Hebrew letter has a fixed value (alef=1, bet=2, etc.), and the gematria of a name is the sum of its letters. Some parents choose names whose gematria matches a meaningful word or concept, or whose numerical value has kabbalistic significance. For example, the name Chaim (חיים) has a gematria of 68, and the word for 'wisdom' (חכמה) has a value of 73 — related through various gematria methods.

Kinnuim (singular: kinnui) are the vernacular Yiddish names that Jews used in everyday life, as distinct from their formal Hebrew names (shem hakodesh). A man named Yehuda in the synagogue might be called Leib (lion) at home — because the tribe of Judah is symbolized by a lion. Naftali's kinnui was Hirsh (deer), from Jacob's blessing comparing Naftali to a running deer. Many kinnuim became independent names over time, and today names like Velvel, Golda, and Shayna are chosen for their Yiddish beauty rather than as translations of Hebrew names.

Animal names in Yiddish tradition often originated as vernacular translations of Hebrew names with animal associations. Jacob blessed his sons by comparing them to animals: Judah to a lion (hence Leib/Leibel), Naftali to a deer (hence Hirsh/Herschel), Benjamin to a wolf (hence Velvel/Wolf). Over time, other animal names were adopted independently: Ber (bear) for strength, Fishel (little fish) for fertility, Faiga (bird) for freedom, and Toiba (dove) for peace. These names reflected the close relationship between shtetl Jews and the natural world.

Yes, Yiddish is still a living language spoken by an estimated 600,000-1,000,000 people worldwide. The largest Yiddish-speaking communities are Hasidic Jews in New York City, Jerusalem, Antwerp, London, and Montreal, where Yiddish remains the primary language of daily life. There is also a growing secular Yiddish revival, with university programs, new literature, theater productions, and even Yiddish-language podcasts. Choosing a Yiddish name today is one way to connect with this living linguistic tradition.

Yiddish names typically have Germanic, Slavic, or Romance language roots and emerged from the everyday spoken language of Ashkenazi Jews. Examples include Golda (gold), Shayna (beautiful), Velvel (wolf), and Freida (joy). Hebrew names come from the Hebrew language and often have biblical or liturgical origins — Moshe, Rivka, Dovid, Esther. Some names bridge both worlds: Mendel is Yiddish but derives from the Hebrew Menachem, and Raizel is Yiddish but relates to the German/Latin word for rose.

Absolutely. Yiddish names are experiencing a significant revival, driven by several trends: the broader fashion for vintage and heritage names, increased interest in Jewish cultural identity, the popularity of shows like Shtisel and the musical Fiddler on the Roof, and a desire among younger Jewish parents to connect with their Ashkenazi roots. Names like Goldie, Zelda, and Hershel are appearing on mainstream baby name lists, while more traditional choices like Gittel, Feivel, and Kreindel are being rediscovered by families seeking unique names with deep cultural meaning.

There is no single standardized system for spelling Yiddish names in English, which is why you'll see many variants (Shayna/Shaina/Sheina, Herschel/Hershel/Hersh). The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research established a transliteration standard, but many families use phonetic spellings that feel natural in English. This means the 'correct' spelling is largely a matter of family tradition and personal preference. When choosing a Yiddish name, consider which spelling will be most intuitive for English speakers while still feeling authentic.

YIVO (the Yiddish Scientific Institute, founded in 1925) established a standard system for writing Yiddish words using the Latin alphabet. This system aims for consistency and linguistic accuracy. For example, YIVO would spell שיין as 'sheyn' rather than 'shayn' or 'shine.' However, for personal names, many families prefer traditional or phonetic spellings over YIVO standards. Both approaches are valid — YIVO standardization is most important in academic and literary contexts.

The 'ch' in Yiddish and Hebrew names (as in Chaim, Chaya, Chana) represents a guttural sound produced in the back of the throat — similar to the Scottish 'loch' or the German 'Bach.' It is NOT pronounced like the English 'ch' in 'church.' If you can't produce the guttural sound, a close approximation is an 'H' sound with more friction. Some English speakers default to a hard 'K' sound, but the authentic pronunciation is softer and more breathy.

The '-el' ending in Yiddish names (Mendel, Fishel, Herschel, Gittel) is pronounced like the English word 'pull' but with an 'e' — approximately 'ell' as in 'bell.' This ending is a Yiddish diminutive suffix, adding an affectionate, intimate quality to the name. Double-diminutive endings like '-ele' (Avremele, Goldele) add even more warmth and are pronounced 'eh-leh.'

The 'tz' (or 'ts') in names like Itzhak, Yitzchok, and Shprintze represents a single consonant sound — the same sound as the 'ts' in 'cats' or the 'zz' in 'pizza.' In Hebrew, this sound is represented by the letter tsadi (צ). It appears at the beginning, middle, or end of names and is always crisp and quick, never drawn out.

Yiddish had several regional dialects — Lithuanian (Litvish), Polish, Galician, and Romanian — each with distinct pronunciation patterns. A name spelled 'Chaim' might be pronounced 'KHAH-yim' in Lithuanian Yiddish but 'CHAH-yim' in Polish Yiddish. Similarly, the name Moshe might be 'MOY-sheh' in one dialect and 'MAW-sheh' in another. Modern usage tends toward a standardized pronunciation, but family tradition often preserves regional variants.

Many Yiddish names work beautifully in English-speaking contexts. Names like Goldie, Zelda, Kayla, Hershel, and Liev have crossed into mainstream usage. Others, like Shayna, Raizel, Mendel, and Gittel, are distinctive but easy to pronounce. Some names may require occasional spelling explanations, but this is true of many heritage names from any tradition. The growing trend toward unique, meaningful names means that Yiddish names are increasingly welcomed and appreciated.

Traditional Yiddish naming was strongly gendered, but a few names can work for any gender. Simcha (joy) is traditionally both male and female. Some parents today are using nature-based Yiddish names across genders, or choosing names whose sound works regardless of gender. The broader trend toward gender-neutral naming is beginning to influence Jewish naming choices as well.

There are several approaches: match by first letter (Emily → Eidel, Michael → Mendel), match by meaning (Grace → Chana, which means 'grace'), or match by sound (Lily → Liba, Casey → Kayla). Some English names already have direct Yiddish equivalents because they share historical roots — Anna and Chana, Rose and Raizel, Pearl and Perla. Online Yiddish name databases and a rabbi can help you find the best match for your specific situation.

In traditional Ashkenazi practice, Jews typically have one Hebrew/Yiddish name (or a compound name like Chaya Mushka or Menachem Mendel). The concept of a separate 'middle name' is more of an English-language convention. However, many modern Jewish families give their children a Hebrew/Yiddish first name and middle name, often honoring two different relatives. Compound names that combine two names (like Rivka Leah or Yosef Chaim) are also common and count as a single Jewish name.