Reply To: When & why did we start giving children more than one name?

I spent the last few hours b’iyun on this topic.

A few rare exceptions: Rav Oshia Beribi, Rabi Eliezer Hakefar Beribi found in Eruvin 53a, Avoda Zara 43a, Chullin 28a, 84b.

Abba Shaul, Abba Yosi.

Ayeh Mari – Gittin 35a

One and only one of the Ba’ali Tosfos that has a double first name: R’ Yaakov Yisroel, mentioned in Tosafot Ketubot 98b and Chullin 112a.

Even in this case, note that Yaakov and Yisroel were the same person: Yaakov Ovinu.

The Chasam Sofer (which I recalled, boruch Hashem for blessing my zicoron) – Chasam Sofer Even Haezer II #18, see for discussion.

Both the Noda B’yehuda and Chasam Sofer seem to use negative tones against giving more than one name.

Rav Moshe Feinstein Iggerot Moshe Orach Chaim V, 10:3 suggests that the custom originated out of necessity. When Jews were locked in ghettos, and they had to obtain something from outside the ghetto walls, they would have to bribe the guard to allow one of them out. The guard would not let them out unless he was relatively certain that they would not be caught. As such, the guards were unwilling to accept bribes to allow people who only had Jewish names out of the ghetto as this would surely get them caught. Giving a non-Jewish name only for the trip out of the ghetto also would not suffice because one who is not used to their non-Jewish name is also likely to get caught. To counter this problem they began to give people two names, a Jewish and non-Jewish one. They would be called by both names so that they would

be used to their non-Jewish names as well in case the need ever arose to use it.

Reb Moshe writes (Iggerot Moshe, Orach Chaim V, 10:3) that although it was certainly inappropriate to start such a practice of giving multiple names, since it is not forbidden, any rabbinic objection would certainly go unheeded.

From all this, HALOCHA L’MA’ASEH – one should REFRAIN from giving two names unless it is necessary!!!

Related to another thread discussion about giving names,

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/can-batsheva-name-her-child-elisheva:

Boruch Hashem that He was mezacka me to be marbitz Torah b’rabim!!