Names for all communities

amother

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 10:12 pm

Is there such a thing as a name that you can’t tell the person’s background? A name that could be Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Charedi, DL, MO, Chassidish, Temani…?

I’m thinking maybe the super common biblical names like Sara or Moshe? But we don’t like common names. What about “words”, like Chaim/Chaya, Menachem/Nechama? Or Gemara, like Meir or Akiva?

I’m asking because we are in a mixed community and I don’t want my kids to be pushed into a box just because of their names.

amother

Pearl

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 10:15 pm

Just don't do yiddish names that really stand out. Any Hebrew name either biblical or words should be fine.

amother

Burntblack

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 10:53 pm

Combine two common names in an unusual way? Like Leah Sara instead of Sara Leah.

amother

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 11:06 pm

amother Pearl wrote:

Just don't do yiddish names that really stand out. Any Hebrew name either biblical or words should be fine.

But I feel like words aren’t foolproof because for example Malka is more charedi and Shira is more DL and Rachamim is Sefardi and Shoshana is more American, am I wrong?

And I think even for biblical, Devora is more likely to be charedi and Noa to be DL, or Yisrael to be charedi and Evyatar to be DL, you know?

amother

Pearl

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 11:12 pm

amother OP wrote:

I think you're wrong about the first part. Names like Malka, Shira and Shoshana are universal.
Names likeRachamim or Mazal and yiddish names like Gittel or Blima and Mendel can be more community dependent.
If you stick with popular Hebrew names, especially biblical ones, I don't see how they can be boxed in.

amother

Clover

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 11:14 pm

amother Sunflower wrote:

Hillel, Simcha, Shmuel, Avigdor..

Avigdor is not going to pass in Teaneck. Other that Rav Avigdor Miller, I have never heard the name. Simcha is not a great option either.

Devora(h) is perfectly fine in Teaneck-someone above mistakenly said it is a charaidi name.

I can’t advise on universally frum as I only know my community

amother

Violet

Sun, Apr 21 2024, 11:19 pm

Esther, Mordechai, Yaakov, yosef, Daniel, Sara
These transcend all communities. However, more DL oriented people will probably nowadays pick a more Israeli unique name. But can belong anywhere.

amother

Bone

Mon, Apr 22 2024, 12:12 am

Aryeh. It's from the Tanach.

But honestly, I'd pick a name that you love that goes in your community.

I know a Haredi rav with a name used almost exclusively by DL and secular. I'm guessing very strongly his parents weren't Haredi, but apparently he didn't feel like he needed to change his name (it is a Hebrew word with a nice meaning, nothing scandalous like Nimrod, but very un-Haredi)

amother

Powderblue

Mon, Apr 22 2024, 1:45 am

My name is Esther but I go by Esty and it works literally everywhere. Even secular Israelis use it.

amother

Fern

Mon, Apr 22 2024, 2:11 pm

Besides for Sarah, rivka, rochel, leah
And avraham, yitzchak and yaakov

Esther, chana, miriam, devorah, shoshana

Yosef, dovid, moshe, aharon, asher

amother

Oldlace

Mon, Apr 22 2024, 2:36 pm

Bentzion. You see it in all communities from chassidish to MO, it's classic, common enough that everyone knows a few, but not so common that there's 3 in every class. Plus very appropriate for these times.

dena613

Mon, Apr 22 2024, 3:04 pm

amother Pearl wrote:

I think you're wrong about the first part. Names like Malka, Shira and Shoshana are universal..

Shira and shoshana are not typical for chassidim

essie14

Tue, Apr 23 2024, 2:42 pm

The classic biblical names are very safe.
Most of the kids in our circles do have more unique DL names but we have plenty of kids with the following names
Shira
Sara
Rivka
Batsheva
Yehoshua
Moshe
Avraham
Zev
Avigail
Yosef
David
Aharon
Leah

amother

Amber

Tue, Apr 23 2024, 11:23 pm

essie14 wrote:

Even if the full name is acceptable in all communities the nickname might not be. Shevi for batsheva sounds charedi dudu for dovid sounds israeli, suri for sara sound chasidish. Actually sara can be Sarah more secular or soro very frum or just plain sara.

Bnei Berak 10

Wed, Apr 24 2024, 6:25 am

amother OP wrote:

Shoshana is common in Israel for ladies in their 60's, even in non-religious circles.