Naming #1
May God who blessed our ancestors Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Leah and Rachel, bless and let him/her be known among the Jewish people as at this special time of blessing. May s/he be raised in health, peace, stability and love to long lives of learning, loving and covenanted relationships, and the doing of good deeds. May his/her parents get to see him/her happy, blessed with children of his/her own. May this be God's will, and let us say Amen.
Submitted by Rabbi Brian Field
Secular Humanist Naming
Brit Kedusha by Jody Bolz
Here is your first gift
(this blessing, this echo)
sound you'll answer to
turning, always, to see who spoke.
There is your name,
which people we don't know
will call you years from now,
when your infant face
with its astonished look
is just a picture
and our huge, parental love
a blur of hands.
Your father/mother and I name you . We have given you the name because ...... We have also given you a part of each of our family names, to bridge the generations of the past and those to come in the future.
Your father/mother and I name you . We give you your own name and ours, because you are both your own person and part of each of us.
Your father/mother and I name you . We have given you this name not because it is the name of a relative or ancestor; in fact, there are no on either side of the family. We selected these names because they are beautiful names and the beautiful combination of (baby's names) will provide you with a sense of individuality. We selected this name because it is beautiful and unique, as you are a beautiful and unique human being.
We have given you the Hebrew name of . You are named for.....By giving you this name, we are bridging the generations of the past and present. Your (ancestors for whom baby is named) would have loved to have known you. In the years to come, we will be able to share many stories and memories about them with you.
We name you , sister of (brother/sister) and granddaughter of (grandparents). We accept the responsibility to care for you and nurture you. We pledge ourselves to honor and cherish your uniqueness. We commit ourselves to the integrity of life and recognize the power of our living example.
-by Miriam Jerris
Submitted by Judith Seid
Traditional Eastern European Naming
How shall the baby be called???
(Repeat the child's Hebrew name three times.)
The Guide to Birth Ceremonies for Interfaith Families is also available in PDF or Word formats.
