Source for Names Comes From the Past

This is in response to Dianne Klein’s column “That Name Is Pretty Personal--but Not Exclusive” (Feb. 28) regarding naming children.

Ashkenazic Jewish parents never lack a source for names for their children. We choose the names or derivatives of names of deceased relatives as a way to honor them and to keep their memories alive.

I was named after my great-grandmother, Sara, which means princess. I continued this tradition by naming my youngest daughter Audrey, a derivative of my grandmother’s Russian name Anitra. If we had a boy, he would have been named Benjamin for my grandfather.

Names chosen this way are always personal no matter how many other children have them because they stem from a cherished tradition and a cherished person.

SARA CANNON

Santa Monica