Halacha2goThe one minute halacha

Sharing a Name with an In-Law

Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid writes in his tzavaah (will) that a father-in-law and a son-in-law, as well as a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law, should not have the same names. Potentially good shidduchim with people who are yerei’ei Shomayim (G-d fearing) that have been suggested are often bypassed due to this issue. One suggestion is to add a name to either of them. According to numerous poskim, there is no problem as long as one of them has an additional name that is not shared. The Tzemach Tzedek writes that there is no chashash klal uklal (absolutely no problem) in such a case because if one of them has a name that is not shared, then their names are completely different names. Adding a name has to be done in a certain way, and one should get the guidance of a rav to ensure that the new name will be a name that is muchzak (established). From the time that a person receives a new name, they should use it regularly, either together with their old name or by itself, so that the new name does not become a shem shenishtaka (name that has fallen into disuse). #370^?