girls name-wanting opinions...

mrsashby

So during the Olympics Torah Brite won the gold in snowbording.  As soon as I heard her name I loved it.  Now, I now the Torah is or is part of the Jewish scriptures....pardon my ignorance if I am off on this...

What do you think of the name Torah?  Especially if you are of the Jewish faith?  This is silly-but I also like how it ends in "ah"...my son's name is Jonah.

jiffy-pop

I like the name. I'm not Jewish and I'm not 100% sure what a torah is.

plunderb

I wouldn't do it. To me, it is like naming a child "Bible" or "encyclopedia." I have heard of someone named Koran, though, so some people do use similar names. I just think it's a bad idea.

If you like Torah, how about Tova/Tovah or Thora?

sunnyday016

I think the word itself sounds really pretty, but I do think it's kind of weird to name a person Torah. The Torah is the main scripture of the Jewish religion (it's the first 5 books of the Old Testament). It'd be on par with naming a child Bible or Koran or Bhagavad Gita.

tct1219

The Torah is made up of (what is known to Christians as) the first 5 books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It's ams but if you like it, go for it. I'm not sure if it would be offensive to some Jewish people (like using Cohen as a first name) so you might look into that first.

mrsashby

plunderb:

I wouldn't do it. To me, it is like naming a child "Bible" or "encyclopedia." I have heard of someone named Koran, though, so some people do use similar names. I just think it's a bad idea.

If you like Torah, how about Tova/Tovah or Thora?

I had thought of that...while Bible does mean book...Torah actually means "good news from God"  so it's not quite the same.

plunderb

mrsashby:

plunderb:

I wouldn't do it. To me, it is like naming a child "Bible" or "encyclopedia." I have heard of someone named Koran, though, so some people do use similar names. I just think it's a bad idea.

If you like Torah, how about Tova/Tovah or Thora?

I had thought of that...while Bible does mean book...Torah actually means "good news from God"  so it's not quite the same.

Ok, then it's analogous to "Gospel."

sunnyday016

mrsashby:

plunderb:

I wouldn't do it. To me, it is like naming a child "Bible" or "encyclopedia." I have heard of someone named Koran, though, so some people do use similar names. I just think it's a bad idea.

If you like Torah, how about Tova/Tovah or Thora?

I had thought of that...while Bible does mean book...Torah actually means "good news from God"  so it's not quite the same.

I see your point, but most people would think of the word Torah as noun.

JillAly

I am Jewish.  I wouldn't be offended by the name.  However, I would think the person named Torah was very religious or came from a religious family and I would automatically think she was Jewish. 

It's almost the same (not exactly but close) to naming a child Christian if you're not Christian.  The Torah is very sacred and screams Jewish so that is why someone would assume she was Jewish (assuming they knew what the Torah was).

You said you like the ah at the end.  What about Norah?

mr&mrswelch

tct1219:

The Torah is made up of (what is known to Christians as) the first 5 books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It's ams but if you like it, go for it. I'm not sure if it would be offensive to some Jewish people (like using Cohen as a first name) so you might look into that first.

Some Jewish people are offended by using Cohen as a first name? For what reason? 

mrsashby

JillAly:

IYou said you like the ah at the end.  What about Norah?

Love it-will definatly ponder that one!  Great suggestion!  If we are having a boy we will name him Noah-yeah I know totally religious as well... we like the old testement names for boys.

mr&mrswelch

OP-it does seem a little odd to name a kid Torah without knowing exactly what it is. And I agree with pp that people would probably assume she was Jewish. But then they would meet her and eventually find out she wasn't Jewish, and they would have another lesson in how assumptions aren't always accurate.

I also think that part of the appeal of the snowboarder is the last name Bright--what a cool last name! 

CourtneyRDH

Huge thumbs down.

GideonsMom

sunnyday016:

I think the word itself sounds really pretty, but I do think it's kind of weird to name a person Torah. The Torah is the main scripture of the Jewish religion (it's the first 5 books of the Old Testament). It'd be on par with naming a child Bible or Koran or Bhagavad Gita.

I agree.

I love the name but once thought about the meaning I am not sure you should use it. What about Tarah?  

MichelleL1118

mr&mrswelch:

tct1219:

The Torah is made up of (what is known to Christians as) the first 5 books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It's ams but if you like it, go for it. I'm not sure if it would be offensive to some Jewish people (like using Cohen as a first name) so you might look into that first.

Some Jewish people are offended by using Cohen as a first name? For what reason? 

In the Jewish religion, the name Cohen is associated with (or reserved for?) rabbi's (clergy).  The name has very important social/cultural ties to the Jewish faith. 

That.Just.Happened

I like it a lot. She may have people assume she is jewish, but that's ok. I also like how it goes with Jonah.  

 

I also think Thora could be a good option.....you can pronounce it the same without having the same symbolism as spelling it Torah. 

Goode517

I'm not Jewish but I really like it.

juniper19

No Jew would assume you were Jewish because no Jew would ever never her child Torah.  I think it is a very odd name.

And to the person asking about why Cohen would be offensive - it is because a REALLY long time ago there were different castes of Jews and the priestly caste were the Cohens.  This pre-dates rabbis. They were very holy.  But that pre-dates English and Cohen is just a transliteration of the Hebrew word which is pronounced Co-hain, so I think it is a silly reason to be offended.  But I also think it is a strange name.

MelodyKate

The Torah is part of the Jewish sacred texts- kind of like the Bible or the Koran. I think it is a cute name for a girl, esp. with Jonah- they are both Hebrew.