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Question
I have been experiencing infertility, but I hope to become pregnant soon with the help of modern medicine and G-d. My husband and I would like to a name after a relative who died tragically at a young age. Do you think naming a child after this person would cause our child to meet the same fate?
Answer
First of all, I wish you luck in becoming pregnant, but you should also know that there are many children needing to be adopted and given a wonderful and warm Jewish home.
Secondly, to answer directly, there is absolutely nothing wrong in naming your child after a loved one, even if it is a relative who died young. You may hear some criticism from others, but their opinions will be based on superstition.
To counter such criticism, perhaps you would add a second name meaning life, such as "Chava" or "Chayim" to the name you have chosen in memory of your relative.
Lastly, if there is any chance that if, G-d forbid, something bad happened to your baby that you would feel responsible for that because of the name you gave your child, then you should not name the baby after your relative. In other words. you should feel completely whole with whatever name you give to your child before you give your child a name.
In my own family, we have chosen to set superstition aside.
Best
Wishes,
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Foundation for Family Education (FFFE)
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