Two Names

It's been common since the Middle Ages for Jews to give their children both a secular and a Hebrew name. The secular name is used in day-to-day life, while the Hebrew name is reserved for religious purposes, such as calls to the Torah and memorial prayers, and for legal documents, such as the ketubah (or marriage contract). Generally, American Jews give their children both an English and a Hebrew name—although some names, such as Aaron, can be used for both.