Topics in Parsha II Parshat Shemot: Path to Redemption

[Edith1]

I agree with Shira that your name helps give us our life's purpose.  But what if you don't know what your name is.  I was named for my grandmother.  People called her Ytkah.  No one seams to know what that means.  On her tombstone, her name is written as Eeta.  I don't know what that means either.  In Hebrew school they called me Yskah because they never heard of Ytkah.  Yskah is supposed to really be Sarah.  Others say my grandmother's name was probably Etkah which I was told is a form of Esther.  Is my name Ytkah, Etkah(Esther), Yskah(Sarah) or EEta?

[Hadassa1]

That's a difficult question! Indeed, parents are given a degree of Ruach HaKodesh when naming a child to ensure that the name will match the essence. There are some people whose baby-naming was not as formulaic like you, and others who never received hebrew names at all. I heard that when such people are old enough, they should select a name of their own- a name they love or somehow feel a connection to- this name will be a match for their essence as well. I've been to a few hebrew namings of adult women who selected beautiful Hebrew names for themselves!