How many names do you have?
How does your Jewish name connect you to your family history?
(ה) וַיְהִי אֹמֵן אֶת הֲדַסָּה (אסתר ב, ז), מָה הֲדַסָּה רֵיחָהּ מָתוֹק וְטַעֲמָהּ מַר, כָּךְ הָיְתָה אֶסְתֵּר מְתוּקָה לְמָרְדֳּכַי וּמָרָה לְהָמָן.
(5) "He was foster father to Hadassah (Esther 2:7)": why is she named Hadassah? Her smell was sweet and her taste was bitter. Thus Esther was sweet to Mordechai and bitter to Haman.
From American Jewish University's Miller Intro to Judaism Program
(https://www.aju.edu/miller-intro-judaism-program?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4puLvEA9itpBLuai8aSHmt3sF6YGB3M-POUn4FkUi6zSvnupohGWycaAkO8EALw_wcB)
A Hebrew name is one that has its roots in Jewish Tradition and the Hebrew language. What this means is that over time the list of names considered “Hebrew” or “Jewish” names has evolved-- much as the list of common American names has as well.
Some Hebrew names are extremely old-- names like Sarah, Rebecca, Abraham, and Moshe, date back to the time of the Bible. Others have become part of the canon of Jewish names much more recently with the rebirth of the State of Israel-- names like Noam, Ari, Shira, and Maayan. There is no clearly defined list of all Hebrew names and the collection is ever growing-- so you have a lot of flexibility to pick a name that resonates with you.
With that in mind, ideally your Hebrew name will be a reflection of who you are, your decision to embrace Judaism, and will contribute to your feeling of being wholly a member of the Jewish People.
לֹא־הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ כִּ֧י מׇרְדֳּכַ֛י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תַגִּֽיד׃ {ס}
Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had told her not to reveal it.
But Esther still did not reveal her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai’s bidding, as she had done when she was under his tutelage.
How would you feel if you had to mask your Jewish identity as Esther did?
How much of your identity is connected to your name?
In 2014, the Jerusalem Post reported on a claim by the Rabbinical Center of Europe and the European Jewish Association that about 40% of European Jews hide their identity. (https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/study-40-percent-of-european-jews-hide-their-jewishness-375412)
In 2021, the Guardian newspaper reported on a survey that claimed almost half of all British Jews would not wear symbols of their Judaism in public. (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jan/17/half-of-british-jews-will-not-display-public-sign-of-judaism)
In 2021, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that more American Jews are refraining from wearing visible symbols of their Judaism, an article that was tweeted out by the former head of outreach to American Jews on theBiden-Harris campaign. (https://www.jta.org/2021/05/21/united-states/the-israel-gaza-conflict-triggered-a-wave-of-antisemitic-incidents-some-american-jews-are-taking-off-their-kippahs-and-stars-of-david)