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There are many different views among
Jews regarding the conversion
process and particular conversion processes will vary.
A change of name for the convert,
signals the embracing of a new
philosophy, a new identification, a
purposeful, mindful statement of
intent for the long future. That is
why the rabbis instituted that
converts should choose Hebrew names
for their new Jewish lives. Many
rabbis hold that converts should not
only add a Hebrew name but also
modify the given name used in
pre-conversion years. Other rabbis
differ, pointing to Ruth, the most
famous female convert to Judaism,
who did not change her Moabite name
at all. Still other rabbis hold that
all converts should be named Abraham
or Sarah, the very names they were
given when they "converted" to the
service to God.
The choice is ultimately the
convert's, and should be made with
full knowledge of the scope of names
available, not only in terms of
pleasant-sounding words, but of
their meanings. What is not the
choice of converts is the identity
of the parents. In Jewish life, a
person is formally called by his or
her given name, and as the son or
daughter of the parent. (Reference
is generally made to the
father--except in illness or in
danger, when compassion needs to be
elicited and the person is referred
to as being the child of the
mother.)
While the convert's [given] name is
the convert's own choice, Judaism
requires, in all formal documents,
legal proceedings, and religious
functions such as being called to
the Torah, an identification of
parentage.
As the convert is technically
considered to be a newborn child,
reference to the parent must be of
the spiritual parentage adopted by
entering into the Covenant of
Abraham. There must be a
formal designation of the conversion
that is plainly evident. That
is why the convert is called 'ben
Avraham Avinu' (son of our father,
Abraham), or 'bat Sarah Imenu'
(daughter of our mother, Sarah).
In a Jewish marriage contract or
divorce, it is not sufficient to
write 'child of Abraham'. What
must be written is 'Abraham, our
father' in order to avoid any
possible duplicity that might lead
some to believe that the father was
actually Jewish and the person's
name simply Abraham. Sometimes the
word 'ha'ger' (the convert) is
appended to the name.
This naming pattern was required
only of the first generation of
converts. All subsequent generations
refer to their own father's Jewish
name, without the convert
appellation. The convert title
appended to the name should be borne
as a badge of spiritual courage and
accomplished idealism. It need not
obtain in personal, familial, and
social life, but this title is
required on formal occasions and
documents.
The time of the naming ceremony was
held by some to be the same as for a
Jewish-born male, at the
circumcision rite. However, as the
convert is at this point still not
fully converted, not having
completed the immersion, and
therefore not yet a Jew, the naming
ceremony should preferably be
delayed until immediately after the
immersion. It is generally recited
at that time for both male and
female converts.
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Those in the Sikh faith adopt a new
last name upon baptism into the
Khalsa.
On April 13, 1699,
Vaisakhi day, when Guru
Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, he
wanted to promote equality and unity
between all Sikhs.
Therefore, a Sikh man almost always
bears the surname of Singh, which
means 'lion', and a Sikh woman can
be identified with a second name of
Kaur, which means 'princess' ('Kaur'
being an exclusively Sikh name).
Of course,
not all people named Singh or Kaur
are necessarily Sikhs, the Sikhs
adopted the name Singh in 1699
during the Birth of the Khalsa. The
name Singh is closely linked to the
martial antiquities of North India
dating back to at least the Eighth
Century CE.
Additionally, except only a very
few cases, the same first names as
used for men are used for women. In
other words, though one may not be
able to tell the sex of a Sikh
person from his/her first name, the
second name of Singh or Kaur makes
the distinction completely clear.
Unisex first names are a salient
example of the complete equality
between men and women.
Some converts may also wish to
change their forenames. Nearly
all sounds that make up first names
are associated with God.
Compound names are common, and many
names begin or end in 'preet'
(love), 'deep' (light), and 'jit'
(victory). For example, 'aman'
(peace) joined with 'deep' (light),
makes Amandeep, which means 'light
of peace'. Some common names for
both girls and boys are 'Jaspreet'
(glory of love), 'Harjit' (victory
of God), 'Mandeep' (light of the
heart), and 'Simran' (remembrance of
God).
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