Giving the Name:
Precedence of the Father or the Mother
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1)
Regarding which one of the parents the privilege of giving a name
belongs — I have not heard an explicit ruling on this. My opinion is
that in places where there is no established custom, the names should be
given in alternating order:the
first name belongs to the father, the second name belongs to the mother,
the third name again to the father, etc.
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Both Parents Should Agree |
2)
The giving of the name should be by agreement of both parents together.
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Naming a Grandchild
After His Grandfather |
3)
If a child has been given two names, and afterwards they remember that
the child’s grandfather bears one of these two names, the child should
not be called by the two names jointly, but only by the other name [not
shared by the grandfather]. (The same applies to the name in English.)
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Name Given by the Parents;
A Name Given by Others |
4)
The giving of the name is to be done by the father and mother,
as is stated in various seforim.
The parents may, however, allow someone else to give the name, acting as
their agent.
If in fact it has not been done this way (and instead the name was given
by the grandmother or the like without the parents’ permission), the
parents must decide on the particular name they wish. If a name was
already given during a Mi
Shebeirach, the name should not be canceled (G‑d forbid), but
another name can be added.
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The Names Yehudah and Shmuel
According to the Testament
of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid |
5)
It is the common practice to disregard the passage in the Testament
of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid concerning calling someone by the name
Yehudah or Shmuel;
in fact, the Testament itself
implies this.
In addition, many precautions mentioned in the Testament
were meant only for his own descendants;
and in fact, we know that Maharsha
was his descendant, and yet his name was Shmuel, and his father’s name
was Yehudah.
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Naming After A Living Person |
6)
Regarding naming of a child after a grandfather who is still living:
Generally speaking, the customs differ between Sephardim and Ashkenazim.
Among Sephardim, not only are they not careful to avoid naming a child
after a living person, but just the reverse — naming the child after
his living grandfather is regarded as
an honor for the grandfather; thus, when the child’s father wishes
to honor his own father, he names his son after his father while he is
still living. But among Ashkenazim, we are scrupulous not to name the child after a living grandfather
(rather, we name him only after someone who has already passed away).
It is known that the very fact that we are particular about something
causes it to have an [undesirable] effect. Therefore, we must be careful
about it.
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Naming After One’s Rebbeim |
7)
It is the custom among chassidim to name their children after their
Rebbeim
and Rebbetzins.
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No Other Name Should Be Appended
to the Names of the Nesi’im |
8)
Regarding names given after the Nesi’im,
my father-in-law objected to combining such a name with another name,
for we do not mix together what is holy with what is common.
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Naming After a Father
who Disappeared During War |
9)
Regarding naming a child after one’s father [i.e., the child’s
grandfather] who disappeared during war: [there is no objection to this]
if the father and mother both agree to it.
