Back to Interesting Facts

"A name is a claim about who a child belongs to, which is why so many traditions will not let one be given casually." Naming Ceremony is formally linked to three religions in this atlas, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism, and this page's own description gives each a distinct rite.

Three Distinct Rites

"Hindu namakarana falls on the eleventh or twelfth day, the name often chosen from the birth star." "Sikh naam karan takes the first letter from a verse opened at random in the presence of the congregation, and the surname Singh or Kaur is added." "Jewish boys are named at circumcision on the eighth day and girls at a Torah reading, or at the newer ceremonies of zeved habat and simchat bat," and Reform Judaism's own entry records its own innovation, "naming ceremonies are held for girls as for boys," on a page where "the older asymmetry was felt as one" worth correcting.

Two More Customs, Named With No Formal Link to Match

"Roman households named a child on the ninth day for a boy and the eighth for a girl. Yoruba naming comes on the seventh, ninth or eighth day depending on the child, with tastes of honey, salt, kola and pepper given to the infant as a summary of what life contains." Neither Roman religion nor Yoruba religion is formally linked to this page. Named here rather than folded silently into the three the atlas does formally link.

Where To Read More

• Naming CeremonyLifecycle RitualsThree counted religions each given a distinct rite, two further customs described with no edge
• HinduismDharmic (Polytheistic)Namakarana on the eleventh or twelfth day, the name drawn from the birth star
• JudaismAbrahamic (Monotheistic)Circumcision on the eighth day for boys, a Torah reading for girls, with Reform Judaism's own innovation for girls
• SikhismDharmic (Monotheistic)Naam karan, the scripture opened at random to give the first letter, Singh or Kaur added