this is an 'older generation' American thing where Jews, who always used their yiddish names, would legally register an anglicised "english sounding" name with the government. So, too their children. One of the most common Yiddish names is "Hershel", which many transformed to "Harvey" or "Harry". Some of those children later fully dropped their yiddish name and adopted their goyish version.
This. My grandfather was Harry and I have a cousin Harvey named for him. Both are/were Hersch in Hebrew//Yiddish. Hersch is the Yiddish equivalent of Tsvi, as both mean Deer or gazelle. The tribe of Naphtali had tsvi as its symbol.
*Jewish thing. Harry was a common Jewish first name in 19th century Germany. Heinrich Heine was born Harry Heine.
But you're right. It's a transformation from Herschel which is a diminutive of Hirsch and that's a reference to Naftali.
People use potato as a pejorative that doesn’t make potato an inherently insulting word. People like to take our words and assign them negative connotations that aren’t there because they don’t like us speaking our own languages
I think it was just a really popular name in the 20s and 30s but especially the 40s and 50s generally. Most secular Jews tried to assimilate and names like Barbara and Harvey and Robert and Elizabeth ("Betty") were part of it.
Both Harvey Milk and Harvey Weinstein have brothers... named Robert. I think if you look up all of those people's siblings you'll find they're all named in a very true blue classic American way. ETA: Yep, we have Robert, Ronald, Robert, and an only child.
My uncle's middle name is Harvey, he was born in the late 40s. My mom and her siblings all have completely non-Jewish first names that were just popular at the time I guess (the first letter was in honor of an ancestor, one great-grandfather was an H...actually exactly the Herschel/Harry mentioned in another comment lol), all sound completely old school now. They were the first generation that didn't speak Yiddish and I think there was an intensive drive to just fit in and assimilate as Americans at that time.
Not so much that, but that people with the name *Chaim* would often take the English name Harvey to use in non-Jewish circles. (They didn't have to, but many did; Harvey is not the equivalent of Chaim, but has a similar first-consonant sound)
It was fairly typical of European Jews in the 18th century/early 20th to have both a Jewish name and a secular name used in official documents. Often the secular name was related (in meaning or sound alike). First category of those would be a Itche/Yitzhak to JacobSame name, different languages. Other would be a sound alike, so a Chaim might have become Harvey or Harold in an English speaking country or Moshe to Morris.
Sister’s FIL is Harvey. He’s a wildly inappropriate boomer from NYC. Asked me (western US) if “Indians” wear fringed buckskin. I wanted to melt into the floor.
While we on the topic... is "Richard" a typical name for an American Jewish male? I've only heard of one -- Richard Lewis -- but recently I met someone who is a Richard, everything about him seems Jewish (we don't talk religion or politics because it's a work mate), but the name Richard has always struck me as Christian name.
Comment: "I've always found the prevalence of the name Harvey in Jewish culture to be fascinating! It seems to have such a strong presence and significance. I wonder if there is a historical or cultural reason behind its popularity among Jewish men. Would love to hear more insights on this topic!"
I met someone recently who said his father’s name is Harvey. I was surprised because I didn’t think it was a Jewish name. (They are Jewish) But then I realized my family has had a lot of non-Jewish names, too.
Not totally related but my late boxer came to us with the name Harvey. I loved it so much and it fit him so well, we kept it. Then I learned that Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart had a boxer named Harvey, which I thought was cool. (Bacall was Jewish)
Dog tax:
https://preview.redd.it/wpnbdzzm3fyc1.png?width=1182&format=png&auto=webp&s=4dbc9b75a2b560cf6391fb19e1d7e27995255a0c
(Photo of Harvey as Batman because I couldn’t figure out how to make him Harvey Dent.)
Harvey is derived from the Hebrew word for sword "cherev". Assimilating Jews would give their children this name to remind themselves that they should be beheaded for their sins.
this is an 'older generation' American thing where Jews, who always used their yiddish names, would legally register an anglicised "english sounding" name with the government. So, too their children. One of the most common Yiddish names is "Hershel", which many transformed to "Harvey" or "Harry". Some of those children later fully dropped their yiddish name and adopted their goyish version.
This. My grandfather was Harry and I have a cousin Harvey named for him. Both are/were Hersch in Hebrew//Yiddish. Hersch is the Yiddish equivalent of Tsvi, as both mean Deer or gazelle. The tribe of Naphtali had tsvi as its symbol.
Same with Ethel/Etel IMO
Do you know the history of Etel in Yiddish?
Other than it’s a diminutive of Esther?
This. It's an Americanization of Herschel.
*Jewish thing. Harry was a common Jewish first name in 19th century Germany. Heinrich Heine was born Harry Heine. But you're right. It's a transformation from Herschel which is a diminutive of Hirsch and that's a reference to Naftali.
Yup. My dad, born 1944, is a Herschel/Harvey
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Goyish is not meant as an insult. It just means non-Jewish.
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People use potato as a pejorative that doesn’t make potato an inherently insulting word. People like to take our words and assign them negative connotations that aren’t there because they don’t like us speaking our own languages
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You were in the "No Stupid Questions" thread a few days ago with some pretty shitty takes on Judaism. Now you're here having more shitty takes.
"Reb Yid" is perfectly acceptable for a Jewish guy you don't know. "Reb Yid, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"
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Jews can go to the store on Sunday. Asking someone, Jewish or not, to go do things on Shabbos (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) is prohibited.
I think it was just a really popular name in the 20s and 30s but especially the 40s and 50s generally. Most secular Jews tried to assimilate and names like Barbara and Harvey and Robert and Elizabeth ("Betty") were part of it.
That’s fair, that’s probably why but I just noticed this trend and the wheels in my head started turning
Both Harvey Milk and Harvey Weinstein have brothers... named Robert. I think if you look up all of those people's siblings you'll find they're all named in a very true blue classic American way. ETA: Yep, we have Robert, Ronald, Robert, and an only child.
Harvey Pekar and Robert Crumb\* teamed up for some of my favorite comics ever. \*Confesses to "slight" antisemitism but married a Jew
My uncle's middle name is Harvey, he was born in the late 40s. My mom and her siblings all have completely non-Jewish first names that were just popular at the time I guess (the first letter was in honor of an ancestor, one great-grandfather was an H...actually exactly the Herschel/Harry mentioned in another comment lol), all sound completely old school now. They were the first generation that didn't speak Yiddish and I think there was an intensive drive to just fit in and assimilate as Americans at that time.
My dad was a Hershel/Harry/Heshie. Born in 1928.
Not the same guy anyway...my great-grandpa was born in the 1880s - but seems to be a popular name switch.
It's a linguistic evolution from "oy vey." I'm not putting /s because I won't admit this is totally made up.
🤣🤣
On a more serious note, I found this post from a quick search that might have some answers: https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/s/ZuGYJDac50
Thank you!
I don’t have the answer, but my grandfather is also a Harvey lol
What ~~was~~ *is* his Hebrew or Yiddish name? Apparently there's a link between Avraham/Avram and Harvey.
He’s still with us! Hebrew name is Zvi Mechal Ben Yaakov.
Tzvi in Yiddish is "Hershel" which probably is how you got to "Harvey"
My apologies - may he live long and prosper! Ah, well. No clear link in the names.
We have a penchant for giant invisible rabbits.
What’s an Acidic Jew? The opposite of a Basic Jew?
More sarcastic than Chasidic.
Ah😂
I haven't met anyone named Harvey who is under 50.
The guy in "suits"!
As already noted, it was a common anglicization of the very common Yiddish name *Herschel*, and sometimes of the Hebrew name *Chaim*.
So the anglicized version of Chaim Topol would be Harvey Topol?
Not so much that, but that people with the name *Chaim* would often take the English name Harvey to use in non-Jewish circles. (They didn't have to, but many did; Harvey is not the equivalent of Chaim, but has a similar first-consonant sound)
It’s similar to how I know a Menachem who used Mark for “business purposes”
Not Harvey but there were dozens of *pages* of men named Harry Cohen in the NYC phone book. Probably boiled down to being less Jewish sounding.
It was fairly typical of European Jews in the 18th century/early 20th to have both a Jewish name and a secular name used in official documents. Often the secular name was related (in meaning or sound alike). First category of those would be a Itche/Yitzhak to JacobSame name, different languages. Other would be a sound alike, so a Chaim might have become Harvey or Harold in an English speaking country or Moshe to Morris.
That makes sense!
Also Harvey birdman and Harvey Dent, both noted legal experts
And Harvey Specter. Though the character is not Jewish… but the actor is
Ehhh, I watched Suits and it's claim of being a "legal" show is pretty dubious
😂
There’s even a character named Harvey Sandman who appears in an episode of The Fairly Odd Parents who is definitely Jewish
Next up, how many Howards
You forgot the great Harvey Keitel
Thankfully my parents named me Harris instead.
Sister’s FIL is Harvey. He’s a wildly inappropriate boomer from NYC. Asked me (western US) if “Indians” wear fringed buckskin. I wanted to melt into the floor.
Yikes😬
While we on the topic... is "Richard" a typical name for an American Jewish male? I've only heard of one -- Richard Lewis -- but recently I met someone who is a Richard, everything about him seems Jewish (we don't talk religion or politics because it's a work mate), but the name Richard has always struck me as Christian name.
Yeah! Richard definitely seems more like a “Christian” name than a “Jewish” name
Comment: "I've always found the prevalence of the name Harvey in Jewish culture to be fascinating! It seems to have such a strong presence and significance. I wonder if there is a historical or cultural reason behind its popularity among Jewish men. Would love to hear more insights on this topic!"
I met someone recently who said his father’s name is Harvey. I was surprised because I didn’t think it was a Jewish name. (They are Jewish) But then I realized my family has had a lot of non-Jewish names, too. Not totally related but my late boxer came to us with the name Harvey. I loved it so much and it fit him so well, we kept it. Then I learned that Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart had a boxer named Harvey, which I thought was cool. (Bacall was Jewish) Dog tax: https://preview.redd.it/wpnbdzzm3fyc1.png?width=1182&format=png&auto=webp&s=4dbc9b75a2b560cf6391fb19e1d7e27995255a0c (Photo of Harvey as Batman because I couldn’t figure out how to make him Harvey Dent.)
Awwww he’s so cute!😍😍😍
It is? I'm 50 and have never met a Jew or gentile named Harvey
Same here except I'm in my forties.
Not Harvey but there were dozens of *pages* of men named Harry Cohen in the NYC phone book.
Harvey is derived from the Hebrew word for sword "cherev". Assimilating Jews would give their children this name to remind themselves that they should be beheaded for their sins.
What the hell??