Why do Ashkenazi Jews name babies after deceased relatives?

It's a long-standing Ashkenazi custom to name a child after a deceased relative as a way of honoring their memory and carrying it forward. The name doesn't have to match exactly—many families choose a name with the same first letter or a similar meaning.

Do you need both a Hebrew name and an English name?

It's common but not required. Many Jewish families give a child a separate Hebrew name used for religious purposes, like being called to the Torah, alongside an everyday English or secular name. Some families use the same name for both.

Are Yiddish names still used today?

Some Yiddish names have faded from common use while others remain popular or have seen a modern revival, especially among Ashkenazi families who value that specific Central and Eastern European Jewish heritage.

Can you choose a Jewish name just because you like how it sounds?

Yes. While many families follow specific naming customs, plenty of parents choose a Hebrew or Jewish name simply for its meaning or sound rather than as a strict continuation of family tradition. Both approaches are common today.

Jewish Baby Names and Their Meanings: A Guide

Q: Why do Sephardic Jews name babies after living relatives?

Sephardic and Mizrahi tradition generally favors naming a child after a living relative, often a grandparent, as a direct expression of honor and closeness while that person is alive to see it, unlike the Ashkenazi custom of naming after the deceased.

Quick answer: Jewish baby names generally draw from Hebrew, Yiddish, or modern Israeli roots, and often carry a specific meaning tied to Torah figures, nature, or virtues. Many families also follow a naming custom—Ashkenazi families typically name after a deceased relative, while Sephardic and Mizrahi families often name after living relatives as a sign of honor. There’s no single “correct” approach: some parents pick a name purely for its meaning or sound, others follow family or community tradition closely, and many blend both.

Why Jewish Naming Traditions Vary

If you’ve asked a few Jewish friends how they chose their child’s name, you’ve probably heard different answers—some named after a beloved grandparent who passed away, others chose a name simply because they loved its meaning, and others followed a specific communal custom. That’s because Jewish naming practices vary by background, and none of them is more “correct” than another. Understanding the general patterns can help you decide what feels right for your own family.

Ashkenazi Naming Custom: Honoring Memory

In Ashkenazi tradition, it’s customary to name a child after a deceased relative—often a grandparent or another close family member—as a way of keeping their memory alive. The name doesn’t have to be identical; many families choose a name that starts with the same first letter, or one with a similar meaning or sound, especially if the exact name feels dated.

This custom means it’s generally considered inappropriate in Ashkenazi families to name a baby after a living relative, since the honor is specifically about carrying a memory forward rather than duplicating a name that’s still in use.

Sephardic and Mizrahi Naming Custom: Honoring the Living

Sephardic and Mizrahi families often follow the opposite custom—naming a child after a living relative, frequently a grandparent, as a direct expression of honor and closeness while that person is still alive to enjoy it. It’s not unusual in these communities to find multiple generations sharing the same first name.

Popular Hebrew Names and Their Meanings

For girls

Shira — song
Talia — dew from heaven
Ayelet — deer/gazelle
Noa — movement (also a Torah figure, one of the daughters of Zelophehad)
Miriam/Miriam — traditionally linked to strength or bitterness; Moses’s sister in the Torah
Liora — my light
Adina — gentle, delicate

For boys

Ari/Aryeh — lion
Noam — pleasantness
Eitan — strong, enduring
Asher — happy, blessed
Ezra — help
Uriel — God is my light
Levi — joined/attached; one of the twelve tribes

Many of these names are drawn directly from the Torah and other Jewish texts, though plenty of popular Jewish names today are simply modern Hebrew words chosen for their meaning rather than a biblical connection. It’s also common for a name to work on two levels at once—Noa, for example, is both a Torah figure and a modern Hebrew word, which is part of why these dual-purpose names have stayed popular across generations.

Yiddish Names: A European Jewish Layer

Alongside Hebrew names, many Ashkenazi families carry Yiddish names—sometimes as a given name, sometimes as a “secular” name used alongside a Hebrew one for religious purposes. Names like Faigy (bird), Zelda (blessed), Hershel (deer), and Label/Leib (lion) reflect the Yiddish-speaking communities of Central and Eastern Europe. Some of these names have faded from everyday use, while others have seen a modern revival.

Modern Israeli Names

Since Israel’s founding, a wave of modern Hebrew names—many drawn from nature, values, or newly coined words rather than biblical figures—has become popular both in Israel and among Jewish families elsewhere. Names like Tal (dew), Nofar (water lily), Yuval (stream/brook), and Roi (shepherd/friend) reflect this more contemporary layer of Hebrew naming, distinct from the older biblical or Yiddish traditions.

Choosing a Hebrew Name Alongside an English One

Many Jewish families give a child both an English or “everyday” name and a separate Hebrew name used specifically for religious purposes—being called to the Torah, on a ketubah (marriage contract), or in prayers for healing. The two names don’t need to match or sound alike; some families pick an English name purely for how it sounds and a completely separate Hebrew name for its meaning or family connection.

There’s No Wrong Way to Do This

Whether you’re deeply rooted in a specific naming custom, blending traditions from both sides of a family, or just drawn to a name because you love how it sounds, all of these approaches are part of how Jewish naming actually works today. Many interfaith and multicultural Jewish families create entirely new blends—an English name honoring one grandparent and a Hebrew name honoring another, for instance.

If you’re looking for community input while choosing a name—or just want to meet other Jewish parents going through the same thing—browsing local Jewish communities or checking Jewish events near you can connect you with parent groups, naming ceremonies, and other new families. If you’re expecting and thinking about space to grow, homes for sale and rentals near Jewish community centers and schools are worth a look. New parents often lean on community chessed support in the weeks around a baby’s arrival, and if you’re seeking flexible work as your family grows, local job listings are a good place to start. Businesses offering naming ceremony services, baby items, or related simchas can also add a listing to reach growing Jewish families in your area.

By the HeimishMart Community Desk — HeimishMart is the community marketplace for Jewish homes, jobs, and local life across North America.