Rabbi Nechemia Markovits
Board Certified Mohel Since 1986
Jewish Bris - Circumcision, Available in New York Tri-State and abroad 

Once the bris is finished, certain prayers are recited and the official naming of the baby takes place.

We do not name the child before the bris, being that the Divine soul begins to shine its light only from the moment of the bris when the body and soul are fully united. Therefore, since the Jewish name is connected to the soul, the bris is the most appropriate time to give the child its Jewish name.

It is customary to name the child after a righteous person, as the name influences the character of a child.

Ashkenazi Jews often name their children after a dearly departed relative, while Sephardic Jews sometimes name their children in honour of living relatives.

In the case of someone who died at a young age, another name referring to life, or the name of a person who lived a full life is added.

The Jewish naming of a baby girl should take place at the first occasion after the baby is born when the father can be called to the Torah. At that time a special prayer is recited on behalf of the mother and the baby, and a Jewish name is given to the child. The guidelines for naming a baby girl are the same as for naming a baby boy.

Naming the baby is sometimes one of the more difficult decisions confronting his parents and a mohel can often be helpful in insuring that everyone is comfortable with the name.  Please feel free to contact Rabbi Markovits about this topic.