There is no halachic problem with finding out the gender of your child or revealing it to others.

The communal naming of a male occurs during the brit milah ceremony, whereas for a female, the naming takes place when the father or another family member is called up to the Torah. Revealing the name before the actual naming is not a halachic issue, but is not accepted as far as custom goes. Various spiritual and mystical ideas may underlie this custom, including the idea that the name is deeply connected to the person's soul and therefore the public declaration of the name should be saved for the sacred occasion of the brit milah or the aliya to the Torah in the synagogue.

It is in keeping with the custom to share the name or consult with one's rabbi, spiritual mentor, friends or family members if there is reason to do so, such as checking the origins of the name or wishing to respect the feelings of family members. It is fully permissible to fill in the birth certificate before the naming.

This response was updated on 03 December, 2025.