Where do Yiddish names come from?

amother

↑ Whitesmoke ↓

Today at 1:10 am

amother Glitter wrote:

This is true but not universally so. My husband’s family is not frum and don’t speak Yiddish and his sister was given Chashke for her Hebrew name because she was named for a beloved great aunt. (I realize Chashke comes from Chasiah which is Hebrew origin.) a non frum work colleague just named her baby Golde. I’ve met secular Jews my age with Hebrew names like Masha Mindel. Many Jews find beauty and value in the Yiddish-origin names of their ancestors, even if they don’t speak the language.

It’s also fine to choose to adapt a Yiddish name to fit with your values. But don’t project it on everyone or assume it’s better.

Woah, relax. I clearly said this is MY opinion. I personally happen to like most hebrew versions of names better than their yiddish counterparts. I didn't project anything. And I said that in my circles yiddish names are commonly being replaced by hebrew ones that mean the same thing. I never claimed this to be a universal practice.

amother

↑ Whitesmoke

Today at 1:21 am

amother Glitter wrote:

This is a very ahistorical view. Jews have been using names that are specifically from Jewish languages (Yiddish, Latino, Judeo Arabic, etc etc) for centuries and centuries. To claim a Yiddish name that has been used for centuries by Jews is not “authentically Jewish” but the modern Hebracized version that has only been popular for a few decades is more authentic and better just ignores a very long history of how Jews have chosen and created names.

Im not at all Chassidish but we have many Yiddish names among our family because thats the culture and legacy of our family. I dont feel the need to update these names to a contemporary Hebrew replacement. I dont judge anyone who chooses exclusively tanachi or contemporary Hebrew names or whatever, but don't disparage people who choose Jewish names from deep family traditions.

Ok, you clearly didn't understand my post. Yes, I know this has been going on for years, but after the Jews left a specific land and/or stopped speaking that language, many of these names stopped being considered "Jewish". This is the case for most of the litvish world who no longer live in Europe and many of whom don't speak or understand Yiddish.

You don't have to agree with me of course, but for ME, I still maintain that a Hebrew name (NOT modern Hebrew, but lashon kodesh) is more authentically Jewish than a Yiddish name that has no meaning for me or my family. Yes, even if this word was never a name in the times of Tanach, if it APPEARS in Tanach in some form, to me that's more Jewish than say, Aidel or Shprintza. Feel free to disagree. Names like this include:

-Shoshana
-Ahuva
-Bracha/Baruch
-Chaya/Chaim
-Malka
-Nechama
-Zev
-Aryeh
-Dov
-Tzvi

Etc. Again, feel free to disagree but this is my opinion and the reason I don't give my kids yiddish names.

↑ Ruchel

Today at 4:12 am

amother Snowflake wrote:

Throw the tomatoes, but sometimes I wonder if these explanations are not attempts at retro-fitting. So that bedi'avad it sounds holier and more Jewish than just admitting to having taken a word from some non-Jewish language of the local country.

Never heard a rabbi say baila isn't anything else than Bella and that is fine

Also the one yud? Not what I see including from knowledgeable families