Can Jews name after relatives who died unnatural deaths or led troubled lives?
Can Jews name after relatives who died unnatural deaths or led troubled lives? Can Jews name their children after a deceased relative whose death may be considered unnatural in any way (drug overdose, murder, suicide)? Can Jews name their babies after someone, alive or not, who has led a troubled and perhaps troublesome life? Answer: Your question is telling that you understand the ramifications of naming someone after a relative. Just as one of the methods of repentance is changing your name (which is a method of redefining yourself), you must also be sensitive to initially how you are defining your child. It is customary to share with the attendees at the naming or bris the qualities that you hope your child will carry forth from the people they are named after. Regarding your point, the Talmud specifically says that you should not name someone after anyone who dies a Misa Meshuneh , a strange death. This would include any abnormal death. When it comes to diseases or other borderline
