Welcoming Your Baby: Jewish and Interfaith Baby Naming and Brit Milah

By Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg

Welcoming a baby is a moment of wonder. There is a new person to get to know, a family finding its rhythm, and so much love alongside the exhaustion and change.

A Jewish baby naming gives us a moment to pause, gather the people who care about you, and welcome your child with a name and a blessing. My approach is personal, warm, and welcoming to Jewish and interfaith families. Together, we create a ceremony that honors your family’s story and your hopes for your child.

A Welcome for Your Family

You do not need to be a member of Kol Ami to celebrate your baby with me.

We can welcome your child during a service at Kol Ami, where our community can share in your joy, or I can come to your home or another agreed-upon location for a more intimate gathering.

Some families want grandparents, siblings, and friends gathered close. Others love the idea of introducing their baby to a Jewish community. We can talk about what feels comfortable and meaningful, especially in these early weeks and months of parenting.

Interfaith families are welcome. Each parent brings a history, a heritage, and hopes for their child. Our conversations make room for both parents and for the people and traditions that matter to you.

Baby Naming With or Without Brit Milah

I offer baby naming ceremonies for children of every gender, including a naming without circumcision or brit milah. You can choose a naming ceremony on its own, at home or at Kol Ami.

For families planning a brit milah, the Jewish covenantal circumcision ceremony, we can discuss the blessings, naming, and family participation, and coordinate with a qualified mohel or medical provider responsible for the circumcision.

There is room to ask questions and talk honestly about your wishes. Together, we will shape a meaningful Jewish welcome for your child.

Choosing a Jewish Name

Choosing a name can be one of the most moving parts of preparing for the ceremony.

A Jewish name might honor someone you love, connect your child to a family story, or express a quality you hope will accompany them through life. You might be drawn to a biblical figure, a Hebrew word, an image from nature, or a name rooted in your family’s Jewish language and culture.

Jewish naming customs vary. Many Ashkenazi families name children in memory of someone who has died. Many Sephardic and Mizrahi families also name children in honor of living relatives. We can explore your own family’s customs and what you would like to carry forward.

The Jewish name can share a sound or meaning with your child’s everyday name, or have its own story. I can help you explore meanings, pronunciation, and possibilities, including how to honor loved ones from either side of an interfaith family.

You do not need to arrive with a name already chosen. We can discover it together.

Including Grandparents, Siblings, and Loved Ones

A baby’s welcome can also celebrate the circle of people who will help them grow.

Grandparents might share a short blessing or tell the story of the person whose name the baby will carry. An older sibling might offer a wish, help with a ritual, or stand beside the parents. Other loved ones can read a poem, offer a few words, or join in a shared blessing.

Family members do not need to be Jewish or know Hebrew to participate meaningfully. I can provide English readings and transliteration, explain the blessings, and help each person feel comfortable with their role.

We can also remember loved ones who have died or find a way to include someone who cannot be there in person. Their place in your family’s story can be part of this welcome.

Blessings for Your Baby and for You

At the heart of the ceremony are blessings: gratitude for this child, the announcement of their Jewish name, and prayers for a life of health, love, learning, and peace.

We can include traditional Jewish blessings alongside words you write yourselves. I often encourage parents to think about what they want their child to know someday about this moment. What did you feel when you first met them? What do you hope to teach them? What kind of home do you hope to create?

There is also room to bless the parents. Welcoming a child asks so much of you. You deserve care, encouragement, and a community that helps you carry the work and joy of parenting.

Let’s Begin With a Conversation

Whether you imagine a small gathering in your living room, a naming during a Kol Ami service, or a brit milah with family participation, I would love to help you welcome your child.

You can come with a chosen name, a list of possibilities, or simply a new baby and a lot of questions. We will begin where you are and create a celebration filled with meaning, belonging, and love.