Page "Jewish name" Paragraph 11

Among the names in the Talmud there is a considerable proportion of Greek ones.

A large number also are Aramaic, ending in-a or-ai: Abba, Huna, and Papa are instances of the former.

Even Bible names were transformed in this direction —— Ḥanina instead of Hananiah, Abuya instead of Abijah ; while others were shortened, as Lazar ( for Eleazar ).

Many Biblical names received renewed popularity owing to the distinction of their bearers, as those of Gamaliel, Hillel, and Ulla.

The tendency toward double names existed here, as Sarah Miriam, Johanan Joseph, and Mahaliel Judah.

Converts to Judaism, like Aquila, Monabaz, and Helena, retained their pagan names ( as was the custom also in the early Christian Church ).

There was some objection to foreign names among the Jews of this period, yet legend declares that the high priest Simon promised Alexander the Great that all the children of priestly families born in the year following his visit to Jerusalem would be named Alexander, after him.