Natalie Portman gave birth to a baby boy earlier this year but details have been scarce. No one even knows his name. Until now maybe. A report from Israel’s top daily newspaper claims Natalie named the kid Alef. Do we need an explanation or can we go straight to making fun of him?
The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Alef (or Aleph) apparently also means leader. Though neither Natalie or Benjamin have commented on the report, the name was reportedly confirmed by the Oscar-winner’s cousin.
Natalie, whose real last name is Hershlag, was born in Jerusalem and lived in Israel until her family moved to the US when she was 3. She maintains dual citizenship and has said that though she “really love[s] the States… my heart’s in Jerusalem. That’s where I feel at home.” She also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [Baby Center]
Are we naming kids after letters of a foreign alphabet now? Aleph? When I say it out loud, it sounds like a retarded kid trying to pronounce ALF.
I thing is a good name, but you’ll never get it if you don’t have any connection with Israel.
I live 6 years in Israel, most of the time in Jerusalem and doesn’t matter where I’m now or where I’ll be my heart always will be in Jerusalem.
It’s not a dumb name in Israel. Try learning about cultures other than your own.
If you don’t like the name, that’s fine. Your reasons seem to show your
xenophobia. Also, even though political
correctness these days tries to dictate what words we use to refer to people
with certain disabilities, it is simply callous and insensitive to make light
of those people because of their disabilities- using any label. Nevertheless, it seems like the description of
yourself when you try to say the name is probably more accurate than you
imagined it would be when you wrote it.