Is There a Problem with Naming a Child After Someone Who Died Young?

Hello,

It is advisable to avoid naming a child after a person who died before the age of sixty or after someone who suffered greatly even if they died after that age. However, if an additional name is included and used, it is permissible to name after him.

Sources: The Maharshah wrote in his book Yam Shel Shlomo on Tractate Gitin (Chapter 4, Section 31, Letter Y) that in all the books of Kings and Isaiah, the name "Isaiah" is written. However, it is uncommon for anyone to be called Isaiah except as "Yeshayahu" alone, and thus we find in the book of Chronicles the name "Yeshayahu," which does not refer to the Prophet Isaiah. Presumably, the reason they did not name after the Prophet Isaiah is because his fortune was bad, as his grandson Menasheh killed him in a cruel and unusual death. Therefore, it became customary to name sons after Yeshayahu of the book of Chronicles. Perhaps they also intended to acknowledge the prophet's merit while slightly altering the name.

Additionally, see the Responsa of the Chatam Sofer, part Even HaEzer, part 2 (Section 25), which states that some are careful to write "Akiva" with a "he" at the end and not with an "aleph," because Rabbi Akiva's flesh was combed with iron combs.

However, the Rema in Even HaEzer (Section 189, Paragraph 26) wrote that one should write in the get (divorce document) "Gedaliah," unless one is certain that his name is "Gedaliah," proving from this the Beit Shemuel (there, concerning people’s names, Letter Y) that according to the opinion of the Rema, it is acceptable to name after someone whose fortune was diminished, as we see that the Rema's opinion is that it is commonly stated that a person was called Gedaliahu after Gedaliah ben Ahikam, and not Gedalyah, despite the fact that Gedaliah ben Ahikam was killed.

However, consult the aforementioned Responsa of the Chatam Sofer, which clarified that even the Rema agrees with the Maharshah that there is a caution against naming after someone whose fortune was diminished, and it differs in the case of Gedaliah, since we find in the book of Chronicles that there was another Gedaliah among the Levite divisions.

What is considered dying young? See at the end of the Siddur Shaar Yishkar that the Admor of Monkasht (the Mahnath Elazar) was meticulous not to name another name after someone who departed from this world before the age of fifty unless with an additional name, and the additional name should be called first. Also, in the book *Shemot BaAretz* (page 143), it was brought from Rav Chaim Kanievski that he heard from his father, the Baal Kehilot Yaakov, in the name of later authorities, that after fifty, one is not considered young.

However, in Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanhagot, part 3 (Section 227, beginning with "and in regard to my response"), it is noted that a testimony was recorded regarding Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar that when they wished to name after someone who died before the age of sixty, he commanded that an additional name be added. This was also noted in the name of Rav Yisroel vissen's Zatzal in the book Ashrei Ha'ish, part Yoreh Deah, part 2 (Chapter 90, Section 44).

However, in Responsa Iggrot Moshe, part Yoreh Deah, part 2 (Section 162), it is held that it is permissible to name even after someone who died young at the age of twenty-eight, if she died in bed and was not killed, and if she left behind living descendants. However, if she was killed or did not leave behind living descendants, one should not name after her, unless there is some modification of the name or an additional name is added. See also in the book Shaarei Halacha U'Minhag (part additions and supplements, Section 138) and in Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanhagot, part 4 (Section 228).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs