Orthodox Jewish Names Explained — Why So Many Moshes and Chayas

If you work in an Orthodox neighborhood or have Orthodox colleagues, you have noticed the names. There are five Moshes in the class. Three Chayas on the block. Every other boy is a Yosef or a Dovid. The names sound similar because they follow specific rules.

How Ashkenazi Jews Name Children

Ashkenazi Jews (of Eastern European descent — the majority in the US) follow a strict custom: children are named after deceased relatives. Never living ones.

This means:

• If a grandfather named Moshe recently passed away, the next grandson born will likely be named Moshe
• If a great-aunt named Chaya died, a granddaughter may be named Chaya
• The name honors the deceased and — in Jewish belief — creates a spiritual connection between the child and the person they are named for

Why certain names are so common: popular names from previous generations (Moshe, Chaim, Sarah, Rivka, Dovid, Yosef) cycle through families. If every family names a son after Grandfather Moshe, the neighborhood fills with Moshes.

Double names are common: Chaim Dovid, Sarah Leah, Moshe Yehuda. This often happens when the family wants to honor two deceased relatives with one child.

How Sephardic Jews Name Children

Sephardic Jews (of Middle Eastern, North African, or Spanish descent) follow the opposite custom: children are named after living relatives as an honor.

This means:

• A firstborn son is often named after the paternal grandfather (who is still alive)
• A firstborn daughter is often named after the paternal grandmother
• This creates the wonderful situation of a grandfather holding a baby with his own name

Hebrew Names vs. English Names

Most Orthodox Jews have both:

• Hebrew name — used for religious purposes (Torah reading, prayer, marriage document, gravestone). Example: Moshe ben (son of) Avraham.
• English name — used in secular contexts (school, work, government documents). May be a translation (Moshe → Moses), a sound-alike (Chaim → Howard), or completely unrelated.

Some Orthodox Jews use only their Hebrew name in all contexts. Others use English names professionally and Hebrew names at synagogue.

Common Names and Their Meanings

| Hebrew Name | Meaning | English Equivalent | |-------------|---------|-------------------| | Moshe | Drawn from the water | Moses | | Chaim | Life | — | | Dovid | Beloved | David | | Yosef | He will add | Joseph | | Avraham | Father of many | Abraham | | Yaakov | Heel-grasper (supplanter) | Jacob | | Sarah | Princess | Sarah | | Rivka | To bind/tie | Rebecca | | Chaya | Life (feminine) | — | | Leah | Weary / wild cow | Leah | | Rachel | Ewe (lamb) | Rachel | | Miriam | Bitter sea / wished-for child | — |

Naming Ceremonies

Boys receive their Hebrew name at the bris (circumcision ceremony), eight days after birth. The name is announced publicly for the first time as part of the ceremony.

Girls receive their Hebrew name when the father is called to the Torah (usually the first Shabbat after the birth). The name is announced in synagogue. Some communities also hold a separate celebration called a zeved habat or simchat bat.

For Non-Jewish Colleagues

If your Orthodox colleague's name is Chaim or Rivka, use it. Do not shorten it to something easier unless they invite you to. Pronunciation matters — ask once, get it right, and use it. Their name carries family history, religious meaning, and identity. It deserves the same respect you give any name.