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Baby names

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Original poster

English yet "Jewish" names

56 replies

BlazeofLight · 27/01/2015 10:38

My DH is Jewish, I am not (which is tricky at times because his religion is important to him).

It is very important for him that our children have Jewish names to help them connect with their heritage.

I understand that but we struggle to find something we can agree on because I like traditional English names.

DS1 is Samuel. He wanted Isiah, Isaac or Noah. I wanted William, Max, Frederick.

We are now debating what to call DS2. Any suggestions?

(And any one else end up compromising so both partners have a name they can live with, but one that neither loves? Seems sad)

Thank you!

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MrsDiesel · 02/02/2015 20:03

I love loads of these names and have used them for my children without actually realising they were Jewish names. I also have a Jewish name.

I like Issac, Noah, Benjamin, Daniel, Thomas, David and Matthew best.

hoobypickypicky · 02/02/2015 20:00

Joseph, Michael, Reuben, Elliot, Asher, Simon, Simeon, Michael, Micha, Levi, Jacob, Meyer.

18yearstooold · 02/02/2015 19:55

Are there any family names?

A friend of mine follows the tradition of naming a baby after grandparents or great grandparents that have passed

Not using the same name but the same meaning

Bonsoir · 02/02/2015 19:47

Benjamin
David
Michael
Daniel
Simon
Gabriel

albertcampionscat · 02/02/2015 19:40

James, David, Sol (omon)

daughterofliz · 31/01/2015 20:56

I really like Adam, Aaron, Benjamin, Joseph and Daniel (though I agree with the person who said Daniel is a bit similar to Samuel).

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 30/01/2015 21:33

OP, our son has a name that wasn't my favourite and wasn't my husband's favourite. I would have liked James or David. I think he wanted Thomas. In the end we had to work down each other's lists until we found one name on both lists that we could both live with (fairly high up, fortunately) and long before he was born that was his name and it's impossible to think of him with another one. (He's 21 now!)

Charitygirl1 · 30/01/2015 21:25

Thanks Devora! Unhelpfully his big brother has started telling everyone he's named after 'Irish republican army'...

Bue · 30/01/2015 18:05

Jonathan, Nathaniel and Joel are some of my favourites. There are so many beautiful Old Testament names!

I love Judah but DH is having none of it. He thinks it's too overtly religious as well as, I think, being slightly miffed that it was the name of my greatest high school crush Grin

ShatterResistant · 30/01/2015 15:11

Ah yes, Gideon Osborne- I wondered why no-one else had suggested it!

merrymouse · 30/01/2015 00:37

Thomas Hardy characters:

Jude
Michael
Gabriel

Sophronia · 30/01/2015 00:18

Noam
Mordecai
Simon
Tal
Ezra
Saul
Raphael

cece · 29/01/2015 23:43

Jonathan with nn Jonny

MissFenella · 29/01/2015 23:42

Ruben was on my list for a DS

Devora · 29/01/2015 23:36

No one taking up my offer of Pincus, then? We also have a Bruno, a Walter and a Hedwig. In fact, my mum briefly considered calling me Hedwig after an unloved family member.

Devora · 29/01/2015 23:35

Ira is super cool!

Charitygirl1 · 29/01/2015 17:36

I have an Ira.

grocklebox · 29/01/2015 17:33

I did know a 4 year old Methuselah at one point, no kidding. Poor kid.

CakeMakesMeHappy · 29/01/2015 15:47

DH who is also Jewish (and I am also not) loved Reuben and Elijah. We had a daughter in the end so didn't get to use either of these!

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 29/01/2015 15:34

Simeon
Joel
Nathanial (Nate is a fab surname)
Joseph (Joe)
Benjamin
Reuben
Joel
Jacob
David (not much used these days)

Trickydecision · 29/01/2015 15:24

I love Abraham too. DH's ancestors were Huguenot refugees who came to England several centuries ago and Abraham was the first of these. I wish we had used it for the other DS, though whether he would have been too pleased is another matter. He tries to avoid acknowledging his middle name, which is Henry, named after my dad. When he was little he used to say his name was "(biblical first name), then the bit I don't like, Decision".

Trickydecision · 29/01/2015 15:14

Gideon is George Osborne's first name........

MildredDreadful · 29/01/2015 14:58

Is Gabriel a step too far? I love it.

MildredDreadful · 29/01/2015 14:57

We're not Jewish but went for Old Testament names for all ours as we like traditional names with some history to them. We are very English and they work really well. My DC are older now and I still love their timeless names.

Don't want to out myself but we used some of these....

Adam
Joseph
Thomas
Matthew
Reuben
Benjamin
Joel
Isaac
Eli

I think Noah is a bit over used now....

I know an 8yo Abraham....it's lovely. He's known as Abe.

mellicauli · 29/01/2015 14:46

David ticks both boxes..