My wife’s grandfather passed away yesterday, and his Hebrew name is the same as my brother’s. Would that be an issue if we named a boy after him?
In general, what is the status of the “not naming after living people”? Is it a proper Minhag?
Answer:
The Ashkenaz custom is not to name a child after somebody who is living, whereas the Sephardi custom is to do so. Of course, both are “proper” and each community should follow its customs.
In the case of the question the child is being named after somebody who has already passed away, and the fact that the father’s brother has the same name does not (in a halachic sense) affect the choice of name.
Best wishes.
