1) When a adopting a child who was born to gentiles, he is circumcised; but he is not given a Jewish name until he is a bit older and can undergo the immersion, i.e., at about two years of age. Then, he is immersed in the presence of a beis din, and given a Jewish name.

2) If the foster parents are embarrassed by the fact that no name is given at the bris, then they may give him a name then. But the words “in Israel” should be omitted; i.e., the blessing should be, “…and let his name be called … ben …,” not “…and let his name be called in Israel…

3) If the adopted child is a girl, she should not be given a name until she is a bit older and can undergo the immersion. She should be named immediately after the immersion, without waiting for a day when the Torah is read - it is better to do it at the time of immersion.

4) The rules concerning a child adopted from Jewish parents: whose name does he use when signing a document, or when called up to the Torah - the name of his biological father, or that of his foster father? There are different opinions regarding such cases.

Some say that when adopting a child [from gentiles], he should not be named at the bris, but rather after the immersion; Others disagree, saying that such a child should be named at the bris; they should not say “...ben Avraham Avinu” as is done with other converts, but instead the child is named as the son of the foster father.

If one who was adopted signs his name as the son of his foster father, the document remains valid. Similarly, if the foster father describes the adopted son as his own son, it is valid.

Some say that when he is called up to the Torah, he should be called by the name of his foster father. Others say that he should be called by the name of his biological father. A third opinion is that he is called by the name of the foster father together with the biological father.

Others disagree with all the above; they hold that an adopted child is called by the name of the foster father only if this foster father has no children of his own. But if the foster father has children, then there are two opinions: some say that even so, it is preferable to call the child by the name of the foster father; others say that in such a case he should not be called by the name of the foster father.

5) Even if the foster father has children of his own, if the adopted child is a girl, he may call her his daughter.

6) If the foster father has a son of his own with the same name as the adopted child, then all authorities agree that he must not call the adopted child his son.

7) Some say that if the adopted child has living parents, it is preferable that he refrain from calling the foster parent “father.”