Question
At my son’s Bris, the one reciting the Mi Shebeirach accidentally announced the wrong name. We intended to name him “Avi Shalom”, after my and my wife’s grandfather, one who was named Avi and the second Shalom. When the Mohel recited the Mi Shebeirach, he mistakenly announced only “Avshalom.” Some people later told us that once a name was publicly proclaimed during the Mi Shebeirach, that automatically becomes the child’s name and cannot be changed. Others told us that since it was a mistake, it has no effect. What is the halacha?
Answer
If the wrong name was accidentally stated during the Mi Shebeirach, it has no significance whatsoever. The child is not considered to have received that mistaken name, and the error does not establish any status for the child. Rather, the child should simply be called by the intended name, and a new Mi Shebeirach should be recited using the correct name.
Explanation
A Name Requires Intention: The entire concept of naming a child is based on the decision and intent of those giving the name. If the person reciting the Mi Shebeirach accidentally said the wrong name, then the declaration simply did not reflect the actual intent of the parents. For example, suppose the parents wished to name the child Shalom, and by mistake AvShalom was announced. Or suppose a completely different name was mistakenly said due to a misunderstanding or communication error. Common sense dictates that the child should receive the name that the parents intended, not the name that was accidentally uttered. Numerous Poskim indeed conclude that a mistaken naming is meaningless and that the correct name should simply be used.
What If a Completely Inappropriate Name Was Announced? The weakness of the contrary position becomes obvious when considering extreme examples. Suppose the parents intended to name the child Yaakov, and the person reciting the Mi Shebeirach accidentally announced a secular name, a gentile name, or some other unintended name. Would anyone seriously argue that the parents must now keep that name forever merely because a mistake occurred during the Mi Shebeirach? The very suggestion appears unreasonable. The purpose of the ceremony is to announce the child’s name, not to allow a slip of the tongue to override the parents’ decision. Hence many Poskim conclude that a mistaken announcement does not determine the child’s identity.
The Thirty-Day Argument: An additional argument is brought from the laws of changing names. The Poskim discuss that a name does not become fully established immediately, and that within the first thirty days there remains room to alter or establish the name differently. If this is true regarding a name that was intentionally given, then certainly it should apply where the name was never intended in the first place. Accordingly, even according to opinions that attribute significance to a declared name, there is strong basis to say that before thirty days pass, and especially where the naming was an obvious mistake, the correct intended name should simply be adopted.
Why Some Sources Say Otherwise: While some Sefarim are quoted as assigning significance to the name publicly announced at the Bris, many Acharonim distinguish between:
- a deliberate naming that the parents accepted, and
- an obvious mistake.
A mistaken declaration is fundamentally different because there was never any intention to give that name. Therefore many Poskim reject the notion that parents should be forced to keep an accidentally announced name.
Practical Ruling
If the wrong name was accidentally announced during the Mi Shebeirach:
- The child should be called by the name that the parents intended.
- A new Mi Shebeirach may be recited using the correct name.
- The mistaken name does not become binding merely because it was publicly announced.
- There is additional support for this ruling from the concept that a name does not become fully established before thirty days.
Sources
Mistaken name announced during the Mi Shebeirach does not establish the child’s name: Maharam Brisk 2:7; Adnei Paz 112; Sefer Habris p. 320; Shevach Habris 20:17; Keruei Shemo p. 223; Ashrei Ish 56:2
Discussion regarding a name becoming established only after thirty days: Michaber E.H. 120:3; C.M. 49:3; Hanesuim Kehilchasam 11:75; Igros Kodesh 13:250;
Contemporary discussions regarding correcting mistaken names and naming errors: Bris Avos; Bris Olam p. 229; Shut Mivaser Tov 79; Igros Kodesh 8:191; 13:250; Shulchan Menachem 5 Y.D. 119; Ziv Hasheimos 14:1-2