As a matter of fact, Jewish baby naming is said to be quite complicated. This is because Jewish parents are compelled not only to select a secular name, but also a Jewish one for their babies. Once again, the task becomes quite cumbersome for selected people. These days, one can avail the latest, modern way to get around this. They can opt for a name which can be utilized for both like Levi, Ezra or Aaron. However, the question that arises in the minds of most is that why Jews are historically known to select two specific names for the babies.
History of two names for the Jews
Before going ahead, it is very important to understand the tradition of the Jews having two names. Historically, the Ashkenazi (Eastern and Central European Jewish origin) are said to have two names, which is said to date back as far as 12th century. Ashkenazi did have a very long history to have been misunderstood by the gentile community (non-Jewish). The Jews then used to live in Shtetl communities (which were mostly small Jewish towns). They spoke their very own language within the community known as the Yiddish, which is a Germanic language that is written in Hebrew. During the Second World War, the Jews who were captured by the Germans and put in concentration camps were compelled to learn the Polish language so that they could easily communicate with Polish guards.
There were many Jews who worked and even owned businesses outside the Shtetl. The very nature of insular communities is stated to have bred misunderstanding and mistrust to the prevalent gentile community. This forced many Jews working outside Shtetl to decide to adopt secular name that would help them to be better understood by the non-Jewish communities and be accepted by them. Besides this, their name also could be easily pronounced by outside world and they could be better understood.
Reasons that the custom of two names for the babies still prevail
With the Jews no longer confined to the Shtetl and being spread far and wide, they decided to continue the legacy of selecting two names for their babies. These days, they are known to use their secular name for everyday use, but the Jewish name being used only for religious purpose. The Jewish baby is likely to need her or his Hebrew name at the time, when they are requested to be present at the Torah for the Bat or Bar Mitzvah, for their name, in case they visit a Jewish school or for the marriage ceremony. By having the second Jewish name actually refers to something which distinguishes the Jewish community from the other faiths present and also reminds them of their traditions and roots. There are numerous customs and traditions that exist about the Jewish baby names. However, a vital point that needs to be remembered is that the extra complication does remind the Jewish people although they no more are confined to the Shtetl, they are still very much linked to the past.
