Is it permissible to name one's child with a name from the opposite gender?

Question

Is a person allowed to name a boy with a girl's name and vice versa?

I remember seeing that one musn't, although in Nach one finds these things a lot. I understand it is not best practice for shidduchim, but I would still like to know the sources on this.

FWIW, I know a female N'sanya (although of course in Tanach it's a man's name). — msh210, Jan 02 '12 at 23:38
I think rabbi Kanievsky is against it, in most situations but with names he is a dass Yachid in what he says like his opposition to the Name Shira — simchastorah, Jan 02 '12 at 23:46
One of the more common male (nick)names in Israel, "Avi", is actually only used in Tanach in reference to somebody's mother. — avi, Jan 03 '12 at 14:41
@simchashatorah, Yeah, do you know what R' Kanievsky has agaisnt the name Shira? — jake, Jan 03 '12 at 16:52
Followup to some of these comments: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/26455 — msh210, Feb 20 '13 at 01:50

Menachem · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-17T18:44:01.767

In "What's in a Name", the English translation of Zusha Wilhelm's sefer "Ziv HaShemot", the following is stated (Hebrew version with footnotes here):

1) Some say that one may name a male child after a female. (See Bris Avos 8:37; See also Koreis HaBris, Posach Eliyahu, note 8; See Kuntres HaShemos (revised edition), Vol 7, p. 10; See Sefer HaBris, p. 313; See the Midrash on Pinchas (13:12) ) Others maintain that it is better not to convert a feminine name to a masculine one. (See Sefer HaMetzaref chapter 3; Responsa Tzitz Eliezer, Vol. 11, ch. 56, and references to Vol 7, 49:13)

2) It is not proper to name a female after a male. (See Bris Avos 8:37) Some authorities disagree, and do have a custom of giving a man’s names to a female. (See Responsa HaMaor, Vol 1, p. 134, and in Responsa Mevaser Tov, stating that this is the custom in America. See Noam, Vol. 8, p, 192; See Devash , p. 299)

In the next chapter, the following is stated (Hebrew version with footnotes here):

Some say that one should not give his child a name that is common to both males and females. (See Responsa Divrei Malkiel 3:75; See also Responsa of R. Shmuel di Medina, Even HaEzer 65)

I got a hold of the printed book and added the sources to this answer. The book itself not only brings the sources, but quotes most of them.

As @ba pointed out in the footnotes, the Tzitz Eliezer 21:4:4 brings opinions that permit it, as well as opinions that are against it.

The chasam sofer called his daughter simcha which is common to both @Menachem and perhaps more common to males called bunem or binyamin (because of ben oni) see names in SA. — newcomer, May 18 '16 at 05:43
I'm not sure how this answers the question. It discusses changing names, but although it discusses giving a man's name to women, or neutral names to either, it doesn't discuss giving a woman's name to men. — DonielF, Apr 06 '17 at 02:27

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 02 '12 at 15:36

6

The Rivivos Efraim 1:109 mentions in the name of the Tzitz Eliezer 7:49:13 that it is not proper to name a male after a female or vice versa.

answered Jul 02 '12 at 15:36

Gershon Gold

139,471
12
231
553

1

The Tzitz Eliezer 21:4:4 quoted in my answer mentions this Tzitz Eliezer (7:49:13) and then says he later saw the Shu"T Divrei Malchiel who brings several reason why one should not do this. – Menachem Sep 16 '12 at 00:59

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 19 '14 at 21:37

Short answer from Rabbi Shlomo Aviner:

Naming a Daughter after a Male Relative

Q: I saw that Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that there is absolutely no reason to name a daughter after a male relative (Ve-Alehu Lo Yibul Volume 2, p. 142). And it is written in Shut Tzitz Eliezer (7:49 #13) that a strict person will refrain from doing so. What is Ha-Rav's opinion? Is it permissible to name a daughter after a male relative if he had a name used for both males and females, such as Simchah orYonah, or a name that can be feminized, such as Nachum-Nechama, Yosef-Yosefa or Tzion-Tziona?

A: It is a stricture not to do so, but according to the basic Halachah, it is permissible.

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 28 '14 at 18:48

3

It is preferable to name a baby boy after a man and a baby girl after a woman and to use the original name be it Hebrew, Yiddish or Ladino. If you are naming your son after a woman, the Jewish name needs to be transposed to a male name/equivalent (and similarly if you're naming your daughter after a man.)

Quoted from: http://www.emohel.com/naming.php

It appears therefore that while a boy and be named after a woman the name must be changed, not left as a girl's name and visa versa.

edited Sep 28 '14 at 18:48

MTL

19,073
4
51
161

answered Jan 03 '12 at 13:53

morah hochman

7,428
24
50

1

That Web page doesn't cite any source, though, AFAICT. – msh210 Jan 03 '12 at 16:18
4

why the downvote? – Menachem Jun 28 '12 at 04:07

Is it permissible to name one's child with a name from the opposite gender?

4 Answers4

Linked

Related