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HelpRe: Jewish Character Name in TV series
in reply to a message by toysthatbreak
Sarah has given you most of the information. I'd just add that at least until very recently it was the custom in most Ashkenazic Jewish families for the Hebrew name to be the name of a deceased relative, and for the "American" first name to start with the same letter as the Hebrew name would. So Benjamin, Baruch, Barak, Barzillai, Benaiah, Boaz, or some other Hebrew name starting with "B" would be most likely for a Jewish man named Bridge.
Also, as Sarah pointed out, Carson would be unusual as a surname for a Jewish man. But there are many Jewish families that have "Americanized" their surname to something that was originally very non-Jewish. I even had a friend whose last name was Evans who was Jewish; his grandfather had changed it from something like Eivienski to get away from anti-Semitism.
Also, as Sarah pointed out, Carson would be unusual as a surname for a Jewish man. But there are many Jewish families that have "Americanized" their surname to something that was originally very non-Jewish. I even had a friend whose last name was Evans who was Jewish; his grandfather had changed it from something like Eivienski to get away from anti-Semitism.
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Well, that depends on whether one is speaking Hebrew in the synagogue or is explaining to other Americans what one's "Hebrew" name is. I think that most American Jews whose "Hebrew" name is Biniamin would tell their non-Jewish friends that their Hebrew name was Benjamin when explaining the custom.
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A lot of the surnames in SPD don't make sense. A character with the last name of Landors, for example, is the head of the team, and one of the aliens in the series, who is catlike, has the surname of Manx. You know she picked up that one right off the spaceship! Bridge's surname is surprisingly normal.
In fact, the show has weird names in general. A Jack, Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd, and Sam. The names are all very androgynous with the exception of Jack. Of course, it's set in 2025, so they may be looking at the current naming trend (which seems to be to give girls the ugliest names possible, like my own) and expanding on it.
Anyway, thanks for the input!
In fact, the show has weird names in general. A Jack, Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd, and Sam. The names are all very androgynous with the exception of Jack. Of course, it's set in 2025, so they may be looking at the current naming trend (which seems to be to give girls the ugliest names possible, like my own) and expanding on it.
Anyway, thanks for the input!
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