Ask the Rabbi
- Family and Society
- The Jewish Household
- Names and Name Changing
Question
Dear Rabbi,
We recently had a baby boy and we want to name him after my deceased grandfather and grandmother. Their names were Ruvim and Rivekka. Can we name our child, let say, Richard or Roman and consider that he is named after my gradparents equally?
Answer
Neither Richard nor Roman are Jewish names and a Jewish baby boy at his circumcision should be given a Jewish name. The people you want to memorialize both had proud Jewish names. A baby can be given two Jewish names to commemorate two separate people.

Naming after someone alive
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 11 Tammuz 5763

The Name Ro’i (Reish, Alef, Yud)
Various Rabbis | 13 Adar I 5765

Nickname
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Cheshvan 24, 5786




