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HelpRe: Jewish Names
in reply to a message by LMS
Hebrew is a language, not a background. It's correct to say you have a Jewish background.
I like . . .
GIRLS
=====
Leah
Meira
Naomi
Rivka
Tovah
Ziva
BOYS
====
Benjamin
Caleb
Daniel
Elijah
Gabriel
Gideon
Joshua
Jonah
Jonathan
Micah
Nathaniel
Reuben
Seth
Simon
Samuel
RE: Liam - I seem to recall the facts board folks conclusively proving that this is *not* a legit female Hebrew name (despite the random passing poster who incorrectly claimed that it was). It's disappointing to still see it on your list after the effort they went to in discussing it.
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
I like . . .
GIRLS
=====
Leah
Meira
Naomi
Rivka
Tovah
Ziva
BOYS
====
Benjamin
Caleb
Daniel
Elijah
Gabriel
Gideon
Joshua
Jonah
Jonathan
Micah
Nathaniel
Reuben
Seth
Simon
Samuel
RE: Liam - I seem to recall the facts board folks conclusively proving that this is *not* a legit female Hebrew name (despite the random passing poster who incorrectly claimed that it was). It's disappointing to still see it on your list after the effort they went to in discussing it.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Well, what I mean is that I have some Hebrew language background in my family, but I am not Jewish.
I didn't think Liam was a true girls name, but I didn't know if it would have been correct to move it to the boys list either.
I edited to say that the site I was perusing that had Liam on it stated the meaning as "I have a people."
I didn't think Liam was a true girls name, but I didn't know if it would have been correct to move it to the boys list either.
I edited to say that the site I was perusing that had Liam on it stated the meaning as "I have a people."
This message was edited 9/6/2006, 11:06 PM
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If you have Hebrew-speaking people in your background, then they were also Jewish. You don't have to *be* Jewish to have a Jewish background. My grandfather was raised as a Jew, and I'm proud of my Jewish heritage, but that doesn't mean I'm Jewish myself. Either way, saying "I have a Hebrew background" is fundamentally incorrect - you can't have a language as a background unless the language is also the name of the culture, which Hebrew is not.
Regarding Liam, what it boils down to is that it just isn't a Hebrew name at all, male or female. It's a shortening of William, and that's all.
Adding: The 'I have a people' meaning is what's known as a "reverse etymology" - it's a possible etymology thought up at a later date, for some reason. While the Hebrew etymology works in theory, it's still definitely not the correct etymology for the name Liam.
:-)
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
Regarding Liam, what it boils down to is that it just isn't a Hebrew name at all, male or female. It's a shortening of William, and that's all.
Adding: The 'I have a people' meaning is what's known as a "reverse etymology" - it's a possible etymology thought up at a later date, for some reason. While the Hebrew etymology works in theory, it's still definitely not the correct etymology for the name Liam.
:-)
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
This message was edited 9/6/2006, 11:10 PM
1
No, we are not jewish, religion wise or culturally. The people in my family that speak Hebrew are actually Christian Germans and Irishmen. They just spoke as part of the Christian religion. I know, it is all very complicated.
I know Liam isn't a name in the Jewish/Hebrew sense, I was just stating what the people who did think it was a name used as their reason. I agree that someone can't just make up a meaning to make a name sound legit.
I know Liam isn't a name in the Jewish/Hebrew sense, I was just stating what the people who did think it was a name used as their reason. I agree that someone can't just make up a meaning to make a name sound legit.
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