Q. Rov, we are Be’H doing the Brith Milah of our son this Thursday. Is it advisable and recommended to name him with the name of the Parsha, “Noach”? (We have a friend that died during the recent attacks with that name.)

A. On question 2512 regarding if one can give the name of a dear deceased grandfather named Adam to their newborn, we wrote: “Mabit (Teshuvos 1: 276) maintains that on the onset, one should not use names of individuals that were alive before Avrohom Avinu, for naming a child. The above would include Adam and Noach. (See Pischei Teshuvos 265: 6).

However, Birkei Yosef (Y.D. 265: 10) quoting Knessess Hagedola, questions that ruling, since we find Sages that were named with those ancient names, such as Binyamin bar Yefes (Brochos 33a) or Akavia ben Mahalalel (Avos 3: 1).

Nevertheless, Teshuvos Vehanhogos (1: 605), writes that he never heard of one being called Adam, although the name of his wife Chava is common. He deduces that there must be a valid reason why.
He adds, that if the name is given to honor a deceased relative and not in the name of a Biblical personage, it is permitted. He writes that some choose a name that is mentioned in the current weekly parsha, such as Noach. (This name is more common than Adam).

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is permitted. The Rov quoted the example of Adam Baal Shem of Rofshitz, the teacher of the Baal Shem Tov and originator of the Chassidik movement. (See Meditation and Kabbala by Rav A. Kaplan).”

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the same applies to the name of Noach. After all we have a significant number of Tadikim named Noach even in our days such as Horav Noach Weinberg zt’l, the founder of Aish HaTorah, Horav Noach Oelbaum Shlit’a and others.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a