Naming after relatives when Jewish

Hey Everyone,
In the JEwish religion you aren't supposed to name after anyone living. DH's grandmother passed away last year and her name was Irene. We are only 8 weeks so we don't know the sexes of the twins yet but we are preparing. We don't have to use the name we cna jsut use the first letter so I am thinking Ian as a midlde name for a boy. If we have two girls DH likes Ilyssa Nicole for one fo the girls. What goes with Ian as a first name?? Also my grandmother just turned 103 (yes I said 103) last week and her name is Violet which I love. I love Ilyssa Violet for a girl but don't know if I can use VIolet sicne my grnadmother is still living.
What do you all think??

 

QUOTE(sfried93 @ Nov 25 2008, 03:42 PM) [snapback]1086467[/snapback]
Hey Everyone,
In the JEwish religion you aren't supposed to name after anyone living. DH's grandmother passed away last year and her name was Irene. We are only 8 weeks so we don't know the sexes of the twins yet but we are preparing. We don't have to use the name we cna jsut use the first letter so I am thinking Ian as a midlde name for a boy. If we have two girls DH likes Ilyssa Nicole for one fo the girls. What goes with Ian as a first name?? Also my grandmother just turned 103 (yes I said 103) last week and her name is Violet which I love. I love Ilyssa Violet for a girl but don't know if I can use VIolet sicne my grnadmother is still living.
What do you all think???

I can't speak to Jewish traditions, but I think the name Ian Nicholas would be cute. I also love Ilyssa Violet, but I realize it may not be an option for you. Good luck and keep us posted on your choices.

 

i wouldnt do it - it all depends on how traditional you family is. mine would have freaked out. the reason for the tradition is that when the angel of death comes looking for grandma violet, he shouldnt get confused and take baby violet. obviously not true and just a story but i kinda like it. do what is right for you but wont give your grandmother a heart attack.

 

I like the name Ilyssa Violet, it's cute. If you can't use the exact names can you come up with a combination of the two names, or mix the letters up? Like for Irene, use Rene or switch the letters up for Renie (pronounce Reenie). Put Irene and Violet together and come up with Renet (silent t), or Lerene.

For a boy, I think these names sound good with Ian....

Chistopher Ian
Matthew Ian
Michael Ian


Picking names is hard enough, but when you have to come up with two it's even harder.

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy! :banana:

 

What about naming Ilyssa Ianthe, Iolanthe, Yolanda or even Violante are all "violet" colored flowers.
Or after another flower like
Lily
Iris
Rose
Heather
Jasmine
Leilani
Verbena
Daisy
Poppy
Bryony
Clover
Cameilla
Oleander


And for Ian,
I personally like
Ian Thomas
Ian Joseph
Ian Nathaniel

Good luck with the process. Congrats on your newly found pregnancy and your grandmother's long life. Sounds like she might be around long enough to meet them!

 

My husband and I face the same decision. The naming after relatives actually depends on the tradition you come from. If you Ashkenazi, it's unusual to name after a living relative, but in Sephardi families, you always name after living ones - so maybe you could talk to your grandmother and ask her what she would like you to do? We talked to one grandmother and she decided for herself she'd rather wait for the next kid to be named after her ...
Good luck with the decision!

 

I also thought of the name Lavender or Lilac for middle names when reading through your post. Of course it depends on whether or not you like either of those, but both purple flowers also used as color names just like Violet.

 

My mother's grandmother died when I was around 4, and they added her name to my Hebrew name at that time (but not to my English name). Might be a little odd, but certainly doable and might be thought of as a great honor. Of course then you would either end up with 2 middle names, or else start of with no middle name so when the time comes to add a name she would only have 1 middle name.

Good luck deciding!

Rachel