English or Hebrew version of Torah name

For English speaking (ie, not Yiddish or Hebrew) mothers of boys whose names have a standard English equivalent, did you use the English or Hebrew phonetic spelling/pronunciation? (For example, Jacob or Yacov, Isaac or Yitzhak, Joseph or Yosef, etc.)

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 04 2006 Posts: 2694

moshe is moshe is moshe. when I speak, on the birth certificate, everywhere. he is called moshe.

Platinum Member Joined: May 06 2007 Posts: 8517

Wow, interesting thread - Yitzchak is Yitzchak is Yitzchak. On the birth certificate and everywhere. We also generally don't use nicknames - but when people like non-Jews when they ask, or his cousins who can't say it ask, we say Yitzi. But to everyone else he's Yitzchak.
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Silver Member Joined: Jan 29 2008 Posts: 612

I dont give my kids english names either. hey- if the arabs can be mohammed my kid can be yitzchak

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 10429

If any of us has a name that is the same in Hebrew and English--like Sarah or David--we pronounce it the Hebrew way except when I'm being humorous or if I'm on the phone with a nonJewish person who I know will have trouble with it. It's much easer to say "I'm making an appointment for DAYvid LEEveee" than to say "I need an appointment for DahVEED LEHvi" , have to spell it out, and then the receptionsist says "Oh, DAYvid LEEvee, why didn't you say so?" Unfortunately, we don't all have such convenient names, resulting in some name mangling so serious we miss our turn at the orthodontist b/c we don't recognize our names as (mis)pronounced by the office staff. I assume Hitchcock is some guy's surname, not my son Yitzchak!

A lot of people who are called Dovid or DonKNEE-el call themselves DAYvid or DANyel when they get to college or strt working in the velt but remain Dovid or Donniel at home and among friends. It's not bad, really--then you can tell immediately if it's a personal or business call.

I used to be paranoid about the name mangling till a dear friend with the very simple name of Myra--how can you mess that up?--revealed that she's been called Myrna, Mira, Myrtle, Muriel, Mary, Kyra, Moira...

From what I've seen as of about 20 years ago but even more so recently, it seems to be in fashion among some MO groups to call a child by the English form of the name, like Rebecca, Leah (pronounced LEE-ah), RAYchel, Isaac, and so on. No Hezekiahs or Nehemiahs, though, and so far no Moseseseseses.

My kids don't have biblical names, but my dh and my brother don't use their jewish name in the work place because it's too hard for the non jews to pronounce. They use a name that isn't even near their name, which I think is funny.

Gold Member Joined: May 19 2006 Posts: 1682

my kid is called Noach and is Noah on his birth certificate.

In France most people have either French name + Jewish name on papers, or just the French name. (Marie Miriam LEVY, or just Marie LEVY). Moshe will be called Moise, or Maurice, Ber is Bernard, Yaakov and Yankel are Jacques...
Some names are the same, or happen to exist in French, which makes it easier. Think David, Esther, Sarah, Ida, Adele. Some sound very close (Zissel/Cécile). Sometimes there is just no link, think Fabien for Moshe Hersh. Often you'll only be sure of the name if the person has an alia, or c'v tehillim needed. Even rabbanim. For us, despite what some think, it's not weird, non jewish, "not ideal" or not frum.

Since 15 years or so, though, it's more done to give just a Jewish name, in some circles. In my community, funnily, the frummest all go byFrench name, while a good number of the traditional give modern Hebrew names and no French name. Ilan, Ilana, Maayane, Audelia... and some names are trendy among Jews and non Jews: again Ilan(a), Noam, Noa, Noah...

The Chabad, especially the younger ones, tend to not have a French name. American influence!

My dd's first name is Jewish, but it's a borrowing from French so it sounds totally "common". I don't plan to give non Jewish first names, I'm the weird one.
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Posted: Tue, Apr 29 2008, 4:44 am Post subject:

Rivka is Rivka on her American documents. The only time I've even said Rebecca is if a non Jewish friend asked where the name came from I have said the English equivilant is Rebecca, but she is never called that.

Avraham Tzvi when I get around to doing US citizenship for him will be Avraham Tzvi, it's how we pronounce it and that's his name, not Abraham (nothing against anyone who pronounces it Abraham, or calls their Rivka Rebecca, just we don't).
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"1 in 100" miracle baby Eliezer Yosef, 13 Menacham Av 5772 (TAPVR, now repaired B"H)

did you forget the possibility of having a Yiddish version?
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Diamond Member Joined: Oct 29 2006 Posts: 4461

Also in the states I saw no reason to give a non Jewish name.

Posted: Tue, Apr 29 2008, 9:30 am Post subject:

I hate the use of english names. we're jews and that's that.
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