Do I have a Hebrew name?

[Charlieradioalphapapa]

if my name is Sarah which is Biblical, do I have a Hebrew name or is it just Sarah? My Mum’s Hebrew name was Esther. My Dad’s was Aharon. Is that because they didn’t have traditional Jewish names or doesn’t it work like that. Same with my DBs. They don’t know their Hebrew names either but I assume they have them as they don’t have traditional names. Both sides of our family are Orthodox, but, DPs both rejected their traditional upbringings and brought us up as atheists. I feel very Jewish (culturally ) but know so little. I’ve tried googling but can’t seem to find answer to this.

Hi, Your hebrew name would be the name that your dad announced in Shul when you were born. He would have been called up to the Torah and announced your hebrew name there.
Both Esther and Aron are traditional Jewish names. Esther was a beautiful and special woman involved in the story of Purim.
Aron is also biblical. He was the great priest at the time of the Torah. He was famous for his peace-keeping and mediating skills.
Chances are your Hebrew name is Soroh. Soroh was the wife of Avraham (Abraham) she was a very righteous woman too. I would guess your full Jewish name might be Soroh bat (daughter of) Esther. But you'd have to do some more research into your family to confirm it.

I'd add, that if your dad wasn't religious at the time of your birth and didn't give you a Jewish name in Shul then you don't actually have a Jewish name.
If you'd like to have a Jewish name now, you can call up any Rabbi and ask him to announce your name in synagogue. You can choose any name you'd like 😊

A good resource to find out more is:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/604344/jewish/I-Was-Never-Given-a-Jewish-Name.htm

With regards to your brothers - did they have a Brit milah (religious circumcision ceremony)? If not, I would guess it's likely they don't have Jewish names.

If it helps, my first name is Israeli and it's also my Hebrew name. My older child has a middle name which is also their Hebrew name and my younger one has a first name, middle name and a completely separate Hebrew name which isn't on any official documents whatsoever 😅 There aren't any strict rules about Hebrew names.

That's a very conservative perspective. Other perspectives may be different.

If a Jewish person has a Bible name, or a name traditionally associated with Judaism or Hebrew, then that is also their Hebrew name. If OTOH they have a completely secular name, or a name associated with other faiths or cultures, then they or their parents can choose them an additional, Jewish, name. If they have a Jewish name that has been anglicised, they could revert to the original Hebrew, or they might choose a completely different Jewish name.

It does not have to be officially announced at a service.

Matthew: Mattityahu

Darren: Dorron, David

Elizabeth: Eliyana

Etc

Plus, of course, the bat/ben addition for aliyot and other religious formalities.

Thanks so much everyone. My DPs were members of the shul but never went apart from weddings, funerals. DF wouldn’t have gone to shul when I was born though both DBs had a Bris but no idea if this was in shul. I’ll ask my oldest DB if he knows his or our Hebrew name or whether we have them. I know my other DB like me will have no idea. I’ll read the Chabad link. I’d not want my name reading out in Shul.

I hope you find answers. Must be frustrating not knowing!

I just wanted to add though, that at least in my family the babies names are only rarely read out in shul but they still all have Hebrew names. So I don't think you'll need anything read out in shul for you to have a Hebrew name. My husband's family (100% Iraqi) have a brit milah at home for boys or a shasha naming ceremony at home for a girl. The shasha doesn't involve a rabbi or anything, so it's not a big religious ceremony.

Humdingerydoo. Thanks so much. I would like to know if we have one. Since October 7th even though I’m a cultural Jew only despite coming from an Orthodox family, I feel a need to do more to acknowledge and celebrate my Jewishness.

You do have a Hebrew name. You are שרה בת אהרן ואסתר - Sarah, daughter of Aaron and Esther (transliteration: Sara but Aharon v'Esster)

You do not need anyone to bestow it upon you.

As you can see 2 Jews, 3 opinions 😂

Dilbertian I’m very happy with that thanks. There seems to be a few different opinions but I’m going to go with this.

Get yourself over to the Jewish quotes thread 🤣

I have a feeling that I heard if you are called a specific hebrew name it is your name.

But, is it possible your parents gave you a name in the synagogue at birth? Maybe something entirely different? I know a person called Daniel (a hebrew name) whose actual hebrew name was Yitzhak.

Sarah is a lovely name - it means princess or leader. :).

Doesn't need to be announced in Shul and there's no record of any jewish names. if you weren't given one you can give yourself one if you like. it's only really used in marriage ceremonies or prayers. My MIL decided to give her her own hebrew name when she got married as they couldn't remember the original one (or if there was one).

In Israel they don't have seperate Hebrew names...just use their own names.

Jewishbookwork. My parents wouldn’t have gone to shul after I was born. They had pretty much rejected everything other than the cultural side of being Jewish despite both being fully Orthodox by birth. I think I shall choose my own . I know my Mums but not my grandmas Hebrew name. Can I choose the same one as my late Mum’s?

Bells3032. I had no idea that in Israel Hebrew names aren’t a thing. I don’t actually ‘need’ one as I don’t attend shul either but would like to do more to acknowledge my religion. Thanks both of you ☺️

Most people in Israel have hebrew names, of course they are a thing! Traditional or religious Jews will give their baby hebrew names (often modern Ivrit words) just as Jews outside of Israel do. Secular Jews will use either hebrew words (Stav, Gal, Tal etc) or sometimes non hebrew names (Guy seems popular). Religious or traditional Jews outside of Israel also only usually only have one name, their hebrew name. My hebrew name is on my birth certificate and passport. Although outside of Israel it is more common to have a secular name as well, even for religious Jews. So a Chana might have Anna or Hanna on her passport. Hershel - Harry. The secular name may be used or not. Most religious Jews will go by hebrew names only, some will go by a secular name.

Ashkenazi Jews don't call after living relatives, so you wouldn't be called after your mum who presumably survived your birth. But this is giving a name later in life. So I am not really sure of the answer to your question. Maybe a name that is similar or reminds you of her.

Jewishbookwork. Really interesting. I didn’t know any of this. I think I’ll choose something that feels meaningful. Maybe something related to peace/healing. Thanks for your help.