Syag Lchochma:
If R’ Chaim says the problem with the name Shira (amongst others) is that it’s not a name, I think it’s highly probable that he holds this an inherent problem, not just a way of getting brachos.
Wolf:
It appears that R’ Chaim holds that a name must meet certain criteria to be considered a Jewish name. This is indeed not just about Shira; that’s just the most (or perhaps only) common application.
1) Also, it should be noted that although Chaim is not a name in Nach, it is still a word used in Nach; perhaps R’ Chaim holds that that is enough.
[mods, would you mind adding this into my previous post? It would read: A Jew should have a name found in Nach (which is kinda strange, cause as far as I know Chaim isn’t a name in Nach either. However, it should be noted that although Chaim is not a name in Nach, it is still a word used in Nach; perhaps R’ Chaim holds that that is enough.)]
2) Chaim and Shalom, life and peace, are certainly no shtus; they are important ideals.
3) The problem isn’t that the concept of song is foreign to Judaism; that is obviously not true. The problem is that naming somebody “Song” is not a Jewish concept.
So I don’t see a pircha on any of these girsa’os of R’ Chaim’s memrah.
Joseph:
I really don’t think what DY is suggesting is subversive at all. As I’ve pointed out, there are other Gedolim who disagree with R’ Chaim’s position on the name Shira; the same applies to shaving, peyos, and watches as well. So li’halacha, one certainly has who to rely on.
But there’s a different issue at hand here. The issue is that if somebody of R’ Chaim’s immense stature tells you to do something, you do it. Even if there is no halachic chiyuv, it is simply a lack of respect to ignore the direct instructions of such a great man.
R’ Asher Areilli is known for his Torah-only approach; he very rarely deals with anything besides learning. But a couple of years ago, R’ Chaim told him to give a shmooze against the internet. So although he never gives shmoozim about anything other than learning, he complied. They say that he didn’t want to, and he asked R’ Chaim to let him “off the hook”; but R’ Chaim did not relent, so he gave the shmooze. Because when R’ Chaim directly instructs you to do something, you listen.
I would imagine that this was the basis for R’ Dovid Feinstein’s psak as well.