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It was common for 18th or 19th-century Jews to have a gentile equivalent of their name, typically used as an official name or as the name they go about in their everyday life. here are some examples.

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This phenomenon started in the Middle Ages because many Jewish names didn't have gentile equivalents as certain names were unheard of in the Christian world, and therefore were given an alternative name by scholars. Generally speaking, this phenomenon wasn't as popular in the Middle Ages due to isolation

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typically, the gentile equivalents were chosen for their phonetic similarity, meaning, or association.

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Mordechai Marcus "Marx" (Marx was a diminutive of both names)
Israel Isidor
Joel Julius
Aaron Arnold
Hirsch Heinrich
Aryeh Leon
Leib Leon
Ignatz Itzhak
Baruch Bernard
Ber Bernard

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WDYT about these names?
If you have other examples please share, they don't have to be German
(I am asking for historical examples from your linage or ones that you know about, they don't have to be from the 18th century)

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rate my PLN:
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/229415/142623
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/229415/165832

This message was edited 10/26/2024, 11:29 AM