So whats the point of confirmation names and Hebrew names?

[RevolutionaryActs]

I'm not religious at all, and I find them sorta silly, you have this other name for what purpose? You never use it right?

[ikojo]

1. I don't know about confirmation names but in the Jewish community

anytime one is called up to read Torah (called an aliyah) one is introduced using one's Hebrew name....for instance if I was called I'd be introduced as Miriam Soshannah bat xx an xx (Miriam Soshannah daughter of xx and xx).

Also, during the Torah service there is a section where the healing prayer is said. People can walk up to the rabbi and tell him/her the name of the person they are praying for, most often if the person is Jewish his/her Hebrew name is used.

So, it's a big deal in the Jewish community and if one is a regular attendee at services then it's often used.

[RevolutionaryActs]

3. Very interesting. Thanks for replying!

:D

[Streetdoc270]

2. one you pick

so if you don't like the ones your parents gave you you can pick your own and go by it without legally changing your name...

[Left Is Write]

4. I don't know. I was confirmed in the Lutheran church.

We didn't choose new names.

[Kat45]

5. Re: confirmation names

When you are confirmed in the Catholic church, you choose your confirmation name, which I believe must be a saint's name. It becomes a middle name, but I'm not sure if folks use it or not because most already have a middle name. I use mine because when I was born, my parents didn't give me a middle name so I could choose my own at confirmation. When I was a kid, I was bummed to not have a middle name like everyone else did, but I really like the name I chose so I'm happy with it now.

[tjwmason]

6. All sorts of ideas here

Names are generally regarded as relatively insignificant now but formerly were most important. Even a few years ago to know (nevermind use) somebody's first name was reserved for the closest acquaintances and friends.

Actually pronouncing somebody's name is considered almost like a form of ownership in some societies.

As for the specifics of confirmation names, I see two aspects, the first is about Saints. As well as picking a name, one is effectively choosing a patron Saint, one would traditionally assumed a mutual relationship where he/she prays for one, and one honours him/her.

The second point is more general, among close circles of friends one tends to get pet names used. The provision of a name specifically for use in Church is like the establishment of the Church as a society (which is what a circle of friends can be).

[mcscajun]

7. from a "collapsed" Catholic...

...your baptism name is generally already known to your parents when you're born and is already on your birth certificate (practices vary, though) so it's both your baptism name and your legal middle name.

Your confirmation name is something you select for yourself, is supposed to be a saint of special inspiration to you, and is never part of your legal names at all. One of the things you were supposed to do in preparation for your confirmation was to read, reflect and pray to have some special saint manifest itself in some way in your life; that saint would become your model, and you would honor him or her by taking that name for confirmation.

I don't recall anyone using their confirmation names for much of anything more than a few days past the Confirmation Day.

[RevolutionaryActs]

8. OK I see, thanks for posting. Thanks to everyone for posting.

:D