View Message

This seems to fit with what I understand of English-speaking Jews with Hebrew liturgical names. The system seems to be that a child is likely but not certain to be named after a recently deceased relative. Plenty of South African Jews have very modern, trendy names. Then, for liturgical purposes, they use a Hebrew (biblical) name with the same initial as their English name. My friend Desiree used Devorah, for instance, Ann used Channah, and when Denis and Jackie got married, they were David and Yael!