- Family and Society
- Names and Name Changing
765
Question
My husband’s father was tragically killed in a traffic accident several years ago. When we have children iy"h we would like to give our first son my father-in-law’s name. Is it permissible for us to name a child after someone who died from unnatural causes?
Answer
It's permissible.
Nevertheless – the common custom is not to give someone a name after a person that had a bad life, was killed, died young etc. since the name has an effect on the person who carries it.
This custom is based on the Sefer Chassidim (244) and was copied by many Poskim.
You can always add a second name or change the name a little from the original.
My rabbi used to say based on the Talmud (Psachim 110 b) – if you are not concerned it does not concern you.

name
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 8 Tevet 5763
Giving the name Nimrod
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Sivan 28, 5770

Naming a child after non-observant grandparents
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 30 Nisan 5763

Hebrew name
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 8, 5777

Question concerning sitting shiva over a broken heart
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 19, 5785

Stone setting
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 19, 5785

Mourners
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 15, 5785
