164 Jewish names you'll love, from the enduring to the unexpected
By Maggie Getz,
2 days ago46 Hebrew girl names
Abigail
Abigail means "father of exaltation." It's technically a combined name in Hebrew – avi means "father," and gil means "joy" or "exaltation."
Adah
There are two women in the Bible named Adah : One was the wife of Lamech, and another was one of Esau's wives. The name means "adornment" in Hebrew.
Adara
The feminine form of Adar , Adara means "noble" or "majestic" in Hebrew.
Alona
This pretty Hebrew girls' name translates to "oak tree." Alona comes from the root word elon and dates back centuries in Hebrew culture and tradition.
Aliza
Aliza is a modern Hebrew name that means "joyful."
Atarah
Atarah comes from a Hebrew word meaning "crown." It's the name of a minor figure in the Bible who appears in a genealogy in 1 Chronicles.
Bethany
Bethany is a biblical place name, thought to come from a Hebrew phrase meaning "house of figs." It's significant in the New Testament as the home of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus – who was resurrected by Jesus.
Beulah
Beulah means "married" in Hebrew, and is sometimes used to describe both the land of Israel and heaven.
Chana
Chana is the original Hebrew version of the name Hannah. It means "God has favored me," though is often also translated as "grace" or "graceful."
Chaya
Chaya is a Hebrew word that means "life," and is often given as a prayer for the baby to have a long life.
Deborah
Deborah is the only female judge and prophetess mentioned in the book of Judges. Her name is rooted in a Hebrew word that means "bee."
Dinah
In the Old Testament, Jacob had 12 sons and one daughter – Dinah . This Hebrew girls' name means "judged."
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a classic baby name used the world over. It means "God is my oath." In the New Testament, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist, a Jewish prophet who foretold Jesus' coming.
Galia
Galia is a modern Hebrew name that means "wave."
Hadassah
Hadassah was Esther's Hebrew name before she married the Persian king Ahaseurus and became queen. Hadassah means "myrtle" in Hebrew. (She changed her name to Esther , a Persian name meaning "myrtle" or "star," to hide her identity as an Israelite.)
Hephzibah
Hephzibah is a rather obscure biblical name – she was one of the daughters of Hezekiah, a king of Judah. The name means "my delight is in her."
Hulda
Hulda is the name of a prophet in the Bible who foretold the destruction of Jerusalem to Josiah. Her name means "weasel" in Hebrew.
Jemimah
Jemimah , also spelled Jemima , is one of Job's three daughters in the Old Testament. Her name means "dove," evoking the qualities of peace and grace, though it could also poetically mean "bright as day."
Jubilee
In the book of Leviticus, the Israelites celebrated a jubilee every seven years. This was a time when all debts were forgiven and the slaves were freed. The word jubilee is rooted in the Hebrew word yobhel , which means "trumpet" or "ram's horn," because a trumpet or horn was sounded as part of the celebration. As a name, Jubilee represents freedom and forgiveness.
Judith
Judith literally means "woman from Judea," the land where Jesus was born.
Keren
Keren is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Keren-happuch. It's the name of one of Job's three daughters and means "horn of eye-paint."
Keturah
This name means "incense" in Hebrew. Abraham married a woman named Keturah after his first wife, Sarah, died in the book of Genesis.
Keziah
Keziah is another of Job's daughters born after his suffering accounted throughout the book of Job. Her name comes from the Hebrew word for the cassia tree
Leah
As the slighted first wife of Jacob, who bore him six sons (who went on to co-found the 12 tribes of Israel), Leah is considered one of the four essential matriarchs of the Jewish people. Her name comes from a Hebrew word meaning "languid."
Malkah
Another modern Hebrew name, Malkah means "queen."
Mayim
Mayim is a Hebrew word meaning "water." But in some cases, the name is also a variant of Maryam , an ancient biblical name of uncertain origins.
Mehetabel
Mehetabel is a Hebrew name that means "God makes happy."
Michal
Michal was a daughter of King Saul and a wife of King David in the Bible. Her name comes from a Hebrew word meaning "brook."
Moriah
Moriah is a mountainous region mentioned in the Bible, mainly as the location of the binding of Isaac – when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Its meaning is uncertain, but could mean "seen by God" or "chosen by God" in Hebrew.
Naomi
The Hebrew name Naomi means "pleasant." Naomi was Ruth's mother-in-law in the book of Ruth, and the women stayed together after Ruth's husband died.
Orpah
Orpah is mentioned in the book of Ruth as Ruth's sister-in-law. Her name is thought to stem from a Hebrew word meaning "female deer."
Peninnah
Peninnah comes from a Hebrew word that means "coral," though in modern Hebrew it's often taken to mean "pearl."
Puah
Puah is a heroine of the Old Testament – she's listed as one of two midwives who defied Pharaoh's orders to kill all the Hebrew baby boys she delivered. The name's meaning is disputed; some sources say it comes from a Hebrew word meaning "splendid" or "glittering," while others say it means "to cry out."
Rachel
Rachel is a popular feminine name that means "ewe" in Hebrew. In the Bible, she's Jacob's favorite wife and one of the matriarchs of the Israelites.
Ramah
Ramah is the name of several cities throughout the Bible – perhaps most notably where the descendants of Benjamin, a founder of one of the 12 tribes of Israel, lived. The city's name could come from a Hebrew word meaning "hill."
Rivkah
Rivkah is the original Hebrew version of Rebecca, a matriarch of the Israelites. Her name's meaning isn't certain, but it may mean "to ensnare."
Ruth
Ruth is one of five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Her name comes from a Hebrew word meaning "friend."
Sarah
Sarah was the wife of Abraham, and is said to have remained childless until the age of 90, when she gave birth to a son named Isaac. As the Old Testament story goes, Sarah was originally Sarai – which means "contentious" – until God himself changed it to Sarah, which means "princess."
Selah
Selah is a Hebrew word used throughout the book of Psalms to indicate a pause in the text. It's also a derivative of salal – "to raise voices in praise."
Shiphrah
Shiphrah is one of two midwives mentioned by name in the book of Exodus who refused to kill newborn Israelite boys when ordered to by the Pharaoh. The name is rooted in a Hebrew word that means "beauty" or "grace."
Shira
If you're a musician or looking for a music-inclined name for your little girl, consider Shira . This name comes from a Hebrew word meaning "singing" or "music."
Shula
Shula is short for Shulamit , a Hebrew name that originally meant "from Shuleim." It's now tied to the Hebrew word shalom , meaning "peace."
Talya
In Hebrew, Talya means "morning dew." As a girls' name used in many Jewish families, Talia evokes a sense of renewal and a connection to nature.
Tikvah
The Hebrew name Tikvah means "hope" and appears a few times throughout the Old Testament. Her name serves as a beautiful reminder of optimism and hoping for a better future.
Tovah
Stemming from the root word tov , this ancient Hebrew name means "good" and "goodness." And in the Old Testament, Tovah is associated with divine goodness.
Yocheved
Yocheved is the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam in the Old Testament. Her name means "honor of God" in Hebrew.
20 Yiddish girl names
Beile
Beile is a Yiddish name that might come from the Slavic word bile , meaning "white," or from the Romance word bella , meaning "beautiful."
Bina
Bina has two potential meanings as a Jewish name. It could be rooted in the Yiddish word for "bee," or it could be rooted in a Hebrew word meaning "understanding."
Bluma
Bluma is a Yiddish name that means "flower" and comes from the Middle High German word bloume .
Eydl
Eydl is a Yiddish name that means "noble," and is tied to edel , a German word of the same meaning.
Freida
Freida , also spelled Frieda or Freda , is rooted in the German word frid , which means "peace."
Freyde
While it's similar-sounding to Freida, Freyde is a separate name that means "joy" in Yiddish.
Gelleh
Gelleh is a Yiddish name that means "yellow" and refers to a blonde or redhead. It's rooted in the German word gelb .
Golda
Golda means "gold" or "golden," bringing to mind the idea of being rare or precious. Famously, Golda Meir was the first female prime minister of Israel.
Henna
As an alternative to the more common name Hannah, this Yiddish name means "grace." The name could be spelled Henna , Henne , or Hene.
Lieba
This Yiddish girls' name translates to "lovable" or "loved one." It has a few spellings, including Lieba , Libe , and Liebe .
Madrona
Madrona comes from the Romance name Matrona , meaning "mother" or "motherly."
Matilda
Matilda is a traditionally German name often used in Jewish communities. It means "strong in battle," though it's often poetically translated to mean "strong woman" or "heroine."
Perl
This pretty Yiddish name means – you guessed it – "pearl." Perl is an old-fashioned sounding name that bestows rarity and preciousness on your baby girl.
Reina
Reina comes from a Yiddish word that means "pure" or "clean," though it also has separate origins deriving from the Spanish word for "queen."
Raisa
Raisa is a variant of Reise , the Yiddish version of Rose .
Shayna
Shayna is a Yiddish name taken from the German name Schone, which means "beautiful."
Shterna
Shterna is a Yiddish name that means "star." It's thought to share the same root as the name Esther .
Tzirre
Tzirre means "jewel" or "decoration." It's related to the Hebrew word that means to decorate, paint, or draw, making it a perfect choice for an artistic family.
Yetta
Yetta is thought to be a Yiddish version of the name Etta , which is a nickname for names like Rosetta or Henrietta . But it may also be a nickname for Yehudit , the original Hebrew version of the name Judith.
Zissa
Zissa is a Yiddish term of endearment that means "sweetie" or "sweet one."
48 Hebrew boy names
Abel
Abel is Adam and Eve's second-born son in the Bible. His name means "breath" in Hebrew.
Abraham
Abraham is the first patriarch of the Jewish people. His name is rooted in Hebrew and means either "exalted father" or "father of multitudes."
Absalom
Absalom means "father of peace" in Hebrew. One of David's sons in the Bible, Absalom was known for his handsomeness and long hair. He revolted and tried to take the throne from his father but was killed in battle. A more modern version of the name is Axel .
Amiaz
Amiaz is a modern Hebrew name that means "my people are strong."
Aram
Aram means "height" in Hebrew, and is the name of a grandson of Noah mentioned in a genealogy.
Azriel
The Hebrew name Azriel stems from the phrase Azri-El, which means "God is my help." This boy's name has been used in many Jewish communities to represent a deep trust in God.
Baruch
Baruch , meaning "blessed" in Hebrew, appears in the Old Testament – he was a priest and assistant to the prophet Jeremiah.
Benzion
Benzion means "son of Zion" in Hebrew, a word that refers to the Jewish homeland.
Boaz
Boaz means "strength" or "swiftness" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Boaz marries Ruth and offers her generosity, compassion, and redemption.
Chaim
Chaim , or Chayim , means "life" or "living" in Hebrew. This name is the masculine version of the feminine name Eve .
David
David was the fearless shepherd boy who slew the giant Goliath and later became the second king of Israel. It's no wonder this handsome name, which is thought to come from a Hebrew term of endearment meaning "beloved," has been a top-50 name in the U.S. for more than a century.
Eben
Eben means "stone" in Hebrew.
Edom
Edom means "red" in Hebrew and was a nickname of Esau , Isaac's eldest son and the older twin brother of Jacob.
Ehud
Ehud , or "I shall praise" in Hebrew, is a Jewish boys' name that implies gratitude and devotion to God. Ehud was the second judge of Israel in the Old Testament.
Eleazar
Eleazar means "God helps" in Hebrew. In the Bible, he was a priest and son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel.
Elimelech
Naomi's husband in the book of Ruth, Elimelech left Israel with his family and settled in Moab, where he died. His name means "my God is king."
Elkanah
Elkanah was the husband of Hannah and the father of the prophet Samuel in the Bible. His name in Hebrew means "God has created" or "God has taken possession."
Enoch
If you're looking for a unique Hebrew name that carries great significance, consider Enoch . Genesis 5 says that Enoch walked faithfully with God. His name is thought to mean "dedicated" or "experienced."
Enos
In the Bible, Enos was a grandson of Adam and was said to have lived more than 900 years. His name means "man" or "mankind."
Ephraim
This Hebrew name comes from the words ephra , or "fruit," and im, a plural suffix. When put together, Ephraim means "very fruitful." In the Bible, Ephraim is one of the 12 sons of Jacob who founded the tribes of Israel.
Ethan
Ethan means "firmness" or "long-lived." In the Old Testament, Ethan was known as one whose wisdom was comparable to that of Solomon's. He was also a poet and psalm writer.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is a prophet in the Old Testament and author of the book of the same name. His message announces the evil of humanity and the hope found ultimately in God. Ezekiel means "God's strength" in Hebrew.
Gabriel
Gabriel means "man of God." Gabriel first appeared in the Bible in the form of an archangel, who was considered a guardian angel of Israel.
Guni
Guni is thought to come from a Hebrew word meaning "painted with many colors."
Hallel
Hallel , also sometimes anglicized as Hillel , comes from a Hebrew word that means "praising." It's also the Jewish term used for Psalms 113 to 118, which are read during celebrations and express gratitude and praise for God's providence.
Issachar
Isaachar was the ninth son of Jacob and one of the 12 tribes of Israel. His name's interpretation is disputed, but it's thought to come from a Hebrew phrase that means "there has been recompense" or "bought with wages," and is often taken to mean "hireling."
Israel
In the Bible, God renamed Jacob to Israel after he wrestled with an angel all night long. Israel means "struggles with God" in Hebrew.
Japheth
Japheth was the second son of Noah in the Bible. His name is rooted in Hebrew and means "expansion" or "affluence."
Javan
Javan was a son of Japheth in the Bible. According to some experts, his name derives from the Hebrew word for the area that is modern-day Greece, though it's also tied to a Hebrew word meaning "wine."
Jericho
Jericho is an ancient city located on the West Bank of modern-day Palestine. Its name has a couple potential translations from Hebrew – it could mean "city of the moon" or "fragrant place."
Joachim
Joachim comes from a Hebrew name that means "established by God" or "God raises up."
Judah
Judah means "praised" and was the name of one of Jacob's sons, who lent his name to one of the 12 tribes of Israel – which eventually became one of the two kingdoms of Israel. Variations of this name include Jude and Judas .
Lemuel
Lemuel was one of the names of King Solomon. It means "for God" or "belonging to God" in Hebrew.
Levi
Levi is another name that sounds modern but has deep roots. In the Bible, Levi was one of the sons of Jacob who founded the 12 tribes of Israel – his tribe being the one that eventually became the priestly class. The name means "attached" or "joined to" in Hebrew.
Moshe
Moshe is the original Hebrew form of Moses. It's thought to be rooted in a Hebrew phrase meaning "drawn out" or "withdrawn," as the Pharaoh's daughter who discovered Moses drew him out of the Nile, though some scholars suggest the name has an unknown Egyptian origin.
Nathanael
More commonly spelled Nathaniel , Nathanael was one of Jesus' 12 disciples in the Gospel of John – he's called Bartholomew in the other gospels. The name is rooted in Hebrew and means "God has given."
Noam
Noam is a masculine form of the Hebrew name Naomi, which means "pleasant."
Oded
Oded means "upholder" or "restorer" in Hebrew.
Oren
Oren is the name of a tree in Hebrew – though which tree is disputed. Some sources say it means "fir tree," some say it means "cedar," and others say it means "pine tree."
Talmai
Talmai It means "furrowed" or "abounding in furrows" in Hebrew. Sharp-eyed readers might recognize it from the Aramaic biblical name Bartholomew , which means "son of Talmai."
Tobias
Tobias is of Hebrew and Greek origin, meaning "God is good."
Uri
Uri is short for the Hebrew names Uriah and Uriel , which both mean "God is light." On its own, Uri means "light."
Uzi
Uzi is short for Uziah and Uziel , which have a similar formation to Uriah and Uriel – but instead, they mean "God is power." On its own, Uzi means "power" or "might."
Yehiel
Yehiel , also sometimes anglicized as Jehiel , means "God lives" in Hebrew.
Zadok
Zadok is an auspicious Hebrew name that means "just" or "righteous."
Zebulun
Zebulun was the sixth son of Leah and Jacob. His name has a couple potential translations: It could come from a Hebrew word meaning "to dwell," or it could mean "exaltation."
Zedekiah
Zedekiah means "the Lord is just" or "the righteousness of Jehovah." Zedekiah was the last king of Judah in the Old Testament, but he was evil and eventually became a prisoner.
Zeev
Zeev means "wolf" in Hebrew.
17 Yiddish boy names
Ber
While it sounds trendy, Ber is a very old name. It means exactly what it sounds like: Rooted in German, this Yiddish name means "bear."
Benesh
Benesh is the Yiddish form of the name Benedict , which comes from a Latin name meaning "blessed." It's the Yiddish equivalent of the Hebrew name Baruch .
Falk
Falk is a Yiddish word that means "falcon," and is thought to derive from the German word falke , which has the same meaning.
Feivel
Feivel was originally a nickname for Feivish, a Yiddish name that means "light." It would make a great choice for babies born around Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
Getzel
Getzel is a Yiddish name with unclear origins – it could come from the German name Gottfried , meaning "at peace with God," or from the German name Gottschalk , meaning "unfaithful to God."
Hersch
Also spelled Hirsch , Hersch means "deer" in Yiddish. Another variation is Herschel , meaning "little deer."
Isser
Isser is a Yiddish variation of Israel, the name God gave to Jacob after he wrestled with an angel of the Lord all night in the Old Testament. In fact, Isser literally means "wrestles with God."
Kopel
Kopel is the Yiddish version of Jacob. Rooted in Hebrew, this name means "supplanter," "heel," or "to follow behind."
Kreine
Kreine means "crown" in Yiddish.
Mendel
Mendel is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew name Menahem , which means "comforter."
Sender
Sender is the Yiddish form of Alexander , a Greek name that means "defender of men."
Tevye
Tevye , a Yiddish form of Tobias , is rooted in Hebrew and means "God is good." It's also the name of one of the most famous Jewish characters of all time – Tevye of Fiddler on the Roof .
Velvel
Velvel is a Yiddish name that means "little wolf" and is thought to be rooted in the German word for wolf.
Yentl
Yentl is a Yiddish name thought to come from Gentille, a French term of endearment that means "kind" or "nice."
Zalman
Zalman is a Yiddish version of Solomon, which is rooted in the Hebrew word shalom , meaning "peace."
Zelik
Zelik , also spelled Zelig , comes from the Yiddish word selig , which means "happy" or "fortunate."
Zundel
Zundel comes from a Yiddish term of endearment meaning "little boy," and has been compared to the English "sonny."
33 gender-neutral Jewish names
Adaliah
Adaliah is a Hebrew name that means "justice of God" or "God is just."
Adina
Adina , also spelled Adinah , comes from a Hebrew word meaning "slender" or "pliant," though the name is sometimes translated as "delicate one" or "gentle one."
Ahava
Ahava comes from a Hebrew word meaning "love," though it's also the name of a river in Babylonia in the Bible.
Ari
Ari , also spelled Arye , meaning "lion" in Hebrew, is a name that denotes courage and bravery.
Ariel
Ariel means "lion of God" in Hebrew.
Asher
One of Jacob's 12 sons, Asher means "happy" or "fortunate" in Hebrew. It's also the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Avi
Avi means "father" or "God is my father" in Hebrew. As a variation of Abraham, this Jewish name can be used for a boy, or it can be given to a girl as a shortened version of Abigail.
Aviv
Aviv means "spring" in Hebrew. In Jewish tradition, this season is associated with Nisan, the month that starts the new year and symbolizes rebirth. It's also connected to Passover, a time when Jewish people celebrate their ancestors' freedom from slavery in Egypt.
Bethel
Meaning "house of God" in Hebrew, Bethel is the name of a village in Israel. Abraham built his altar to God at Bethel.
Carmel
Carmel comes from a Hebrew word meaning "garden," though it's sometimes poetically translated as "vineyard of God."
Chesed
Chesed means "kindness" or "benevolence" in Hebrew and refers to the loving-kindness of God.
Dov
Dov is a gentle and striking Hebrew baby name, as intriguing in its brevity as it is in its etymology. It means "bear" in Hebrew.
Eden
Eden means "pleasure" or "delight" in Hebrew, and according to the Bible, was the name of the garden God created for Adam and Eve, the first people.
Elan
Looking for a name with a connection to nature? Consider Elan , which means "tree" in Hebrew.
Ezra
Ezra was a scribe, prophet, and priest who wrote the book of Ezra and called God's people to return to worship him. The name means "help" or "helper" in Hebrew.
Gefen
Gefen means "grape vine" in Hebrew.
Gomer
In Hebrew, Gomer means "complete." The prophet Hosea's wife in the book of Hosea is named Gomer.
Ira
Ira was one of King David's warriors in the Old Testament. This gender-neutral Hebrew name means "watchful" and can symbolize strength.
Jada
As a Hebrew name, Jada comes from a phrase that literally means "he knows," though it's often translated to mean "wise."
Jesse
In the Bible, Jesse is King David's father. The meaning of his name isn't certain, but it may be rooted in Hebrew words meaning "gift," "to possess," or "wealthy."
Jordan
The Jordan River has deep significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions. It's rooted in a Hebrew word that means "descending" or "flowing down."
Leor
Meaning "my light" in Hebrew, Leor lends itself well to both baby boys and girls. It can also be spelled Lior or Leeor, and a feminine version of the name is Leora .
Micah
The prophet Micah in the Bible prophesied about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. A variant of Michael , this name means "who is like God?" in Hebrew. It's historically been given to boys, though in modern times it's becoming more common for girls.
Meyer
Meyer is traditionally a last name and has a few spelling variations, including Meier , Meir , and Myer . It means "giving light" in Hebrew.
Neriah
Neriah means "lamp of God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Neriah was the son of Baruch, a scribe to the prophet Jeremiah.
Noah
The well-known Noah of the Bible built an ark to save God's creation from the flood. His name is thought to derive from a Hebrew word meaning "comfort." It's another traditionally male name that's become more popular for girls in recent years.
Omri
Omri was a king of Israel in the Bible. His name's origins aren't certain, but have been tied to a Hebrew word meaning "sheaf of grain" or, more appealingly, "pupil of God."
Perez
Perez and Zerah are twin boys born to Tamar and Judah in the Old Testament. During childbirth, Zerah's hand emerges first with a scarlet thread tied around it. But Perez is actually born first, and his line of descendants eventually leads to Jesus. His name may be rooted in a Hebrew word meaning "breach" or "rupture."
Raviv
Raviv means "rain" in Hebrew and acknowledges the growth and provision that comes from rain. In ancient times, rain was associated with fertility and divine blessings.
Shalom
Hoping for a name that bestows peace, calm, and health onto your new little one? Look no further than Shalom – the word means "peace" and "well-being" in Hebrew.
Simcha
Simcha is a gender-neutral name meaning "joy" or "to rejoice at heart."
Zion
Zion refers to the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in the Bible. The word's meaning isn't certain, but it could mean "parched place" or "sunny place" in Hebrew.
Zerah
In Hebrew, Zerah means "dawning" or "shining." Esau's grandson is named Zerah in the book of Genesis.
Betsy Shaw contributed to this article.
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