Israeli parents inspired by Operation Protective Edge for baby names

A year after Operation Protective Edge, the Population Authority has reported a 25% increase in baby boys named "Eitan" after the Hebrew name of last summer's campaign, "Tzuk Eitan," according to IDF magazine Bamahane.

Tzuk Eitan literally translates to a strong or steadfast cliff. The name Eitan, which signifies strength, is a common Hebrew boys' name.

According to the report, in the year since Operation Protective Edge, 1,593 babies were named Eitan.

Population Authority officials believe the jump is not only due to the campaign's name, but also in honor of Lt. Eitan Fund, who led the rescue attempt of fallen soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin in Gaza, following him and his captors into a terror tunnel.

Another name that has become more popular since the campaign, this one by about 100%, is Benaya, after Maj. Benaya Sarel, the commander of the Givati Reconnaissance Company, who was killed in Rafah last summer.

According to the report in Bamahane, from 2010 to 2013, the Population Authority registered just over 100 children named Benaya each year, whereas in 2014, there were 213 babies given the name.

Sarel's family says the numbers seem to match up with the dozens of new parents who have called them up to let them know of their choice to use the name Benaya or even to invite them to the baby's circumcision ceremony, where a boy's name is traditionally announced for the first time.

"Some of the people who have done this are people we know, and others have been strangers," said Sarel's sister Yael. "It has become a sort of phenomenon. It is really heartwarming to see how many people feel connected to him."

There has also been a 35% spike in babies named after then-IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz; and the name Tzuk, after the campaign name, has been given to six babies in 2014 as compared with only two the year prior.

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