[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! Seeking some insight on this dilemma:
I absolutely adore [name_f]Viv[/name_f]- names (Vivian, [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], [name_f]Vivia[/name_f], even Aviva) but [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] (Hebrew name Aviva) is my living grandmother’s name. I’m Jewish, and in Ashkenazi tradition you don’t name kids after living relatives (Sephardi is the opposite) because it’s disrespectful or something. I’m not fully clear on the reason. I’m wondering if I can still get away with a name that has the nn [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] even despite this. Is [name_f]Vivia[/name_f] too similar? Any opinions are greatly appreciated!
Hey! Also Jewish
Generally in Ashkanazi tradition it’s considered bad luck to name children after living relatives. It’s not “forbidden” to name after living relatives, it’s just generally frowned upon because of superstitions — this isn’t a Jewish law/rule and is mostly just a cultural practice/tradition.
Some things to consider:
are you making your child after your grandmother, or just choosing a similar name because you like it?
how would your grandmother feel about this? Does she think that it’s bad luck/disrespectful to name after living relatives?
how do you feel about this? Do you think it’s bad luck/disrespectful to name after living relatives?
I personally would be fine giving a child a similar name to a living relative because I don’t believe that it’s bad luck. Really it comes down to what you think and how you interpret this cultural practice.
[name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother is orthodox but she’s also a convert so she wasn’t raised with these traditions. I don’t think she would see it as disrespectful (she’s in her late 60s so she’s pretty modern) but it might be confusing if I chose the name [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] (or any of its spelling variations). Although I do love her and would love to honor her I really just like the name and it doesn’t have anything to do with her.
I’m very attached to the nn [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] so any name suggestions that aren’t so similar to [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] but still have [name_f]Vi[/name_f] or [name_f]Viv[/name_f] in them would be appreciated! Thank you so much for your help
[name_f]Vivia[/name_f] is similar, but I agree with the first poster, if the intention is not to name her after you grandmother, and you don’t believe in the superstitions anyway, it’s probably fine to proceed with the name you love.
Other names that could take “Vivi” as the nickname:
In that case I think it’s fine!
Vivia is lovely but quite similar. I also love Aviva; it’s just so sweet and spunky!
Suggestions (some are a stretch but I think any name with a prominent v sound could give you Vivi as a nickname):
Eveline/Aveline
Vita
Viola
Vera
Vienna
Aviana
Avery
Lavinia
Lavender
Octavia
Livia
Flavia
Lovisa
