Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: read and write names using Hebrew and Yiddish spelling systems (for birth and bar/bat mitzvah documents, ketubot, gravestones, etc.); recognize the similarities and differences in names and naming practices in various Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrachi communities; discuss the meanings and origins of common Ashkenazi family names and have the tools to look up less common names;  discuss the history of Jewish names, including evolving trends in popularity and American Jews’ name changing; advise people on Jewish naming practices, including various traditions of naming in honor of deceased or living relatives; discuss various ways of calling Jews in ritual contexts, including aliyot and names for converts.