2144 —קריאת שם לנכד אחרי קרוב חי

Naming a Grandchild After a Living Relative

כ"ד סיון תשי"ג
The Rebbe expresses surprise at naming a grandchild after his living grandfather, suggesting it may be an error or that the grandfather's name is no longer in use. If not, he advises that the child primarily use the name Yosef, including in English.

[כ"ד סיון תשי"ג]

...לפלא קצת שכותב שנכדו של שלום משה הכהן שי' נקרא בשם יוסף משה. ואולי יש בזה פליטת הקולמוס, או שהשם משה אצל זקנו הוא שם שנשתקע. ובאם לאו, הרי כדאי - מבלי לעשות רעש מזה - ישתדלו ששם הנכד יהי' בעיקר - יוסף. וכן בהנוגע לשמו באנגלית... 

It is somewhat surprising that you write that the grandson of Shalom Moshe HaKohen is named Yosef Moshe. Perhaps this is a slip of the pen, or perhaps the name Moshe for his grandfather is a name that has fallen out of use. If not, then it would be appropriate—without making a fuss about it—to try to ensure that the grandson's main name is Yosef. The same applies regarding his English name.


Summary

The Rebbe teaches sensitivity in naming children after living relatives and suggests prioritizing one name to avoid confusion or issues, even in secular contexts.

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