Naming premature boy - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Naming premature boy

March 10, 2008

Question

Hello.
I wanted to ask a question about naming a premature baby. I just gave birth to a boy, but he is three months premature, and so he won't be able to come home from the neonatal intensive care unit for at least two and a half months. I wanted to know what the halacha is for naming an infant in this case. I know you are normally supposed to wait until the Brit, but he won't be ready for a brit for a very long time…
Thanks very much for your help.

Answer

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

It would be permissible to give your child a name early, when your husband or another family member is called up to the Torah. This is recommended especially when the name would enable praying for the baby's health and recovery with a proper name.

Couples in this situation often choose a name that expresses their hopes for the baby's healing, such as "Refael" or "Hayyim". At the brit, they might choose to change the name, adding a name before or after it.

May you and your baby have a refuah sheleimah and may he follow in the footsteps of Moshe Rabbeinu, who, according to the midrash, was born after only six months of pregnancy.