Why are some names very popular while others are not.
Take the Shevatim for example. Some of the most common names around today are shimon, levi, yehuda, naftali, asher, yosef and binyamin.
But how many people that you know are called zevulun, dan or gad? Far less if any, isnt it. Whats the reason for this?
Would anyone consider calling their son yishmael??
Why do I ask? Cos there was an amora called reb yishmael ben elisha (as brought in the gemara of avraham fried’s song Tanya omar reb yishmael ben elisha).
Why did elisha choose the name yishmael for his son? And why does nobody call their son yishmael after the heiliger amora reb yishmael?