Names That Mean Hebrew

Looking to honor Grandma Mary (or Maria) with something original? This Russian short form bears an unfortunate resemblance to the English word "mash", but if you can look past that, Masha has possibilities.

One of several more venerable names that get to the nickname Zack if you're tired of Zachary. In the New Testament, Zacharias was the husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist.

Alize feels like a blend of Alice and Eliza but it's not related to either of those names, rather to the more unusual (in the US, at least) Aleeza, a Hebrew name meaning joy, or Alizee, a French name meaning wind, or the related Alizeh, a Persian name that also means wind. The final e can take an accent, which might elucidate pronunciation, but English speakers are sure to be confused.

Leviathan was a name given to 76 boys in the USA in 2021. It makes a rather unusual Biblical choice, being the name not of a man or angel, but of a sea monster. In literature and popular culture, the term Leviathan has since come to be used as a synonym for any gargantuan, monstrous creature or object (think of the bag in VEEP).

An interesting and attractive bicultural choice--the Hebrew version is used for babies born in spring, when turtledoves arrive--especially as a middle.

This is a Hebrew word name, created from the word zahav, meaning gold.

This spelling of Delilah is disproportionately common among the Amish.

The Arabic and Urdu form of the cheerful Isaac, itself derived from the Hebrew Ytizchak, Ishaq is familiar in the UK and in France and was a fast rising choice in 2023. In Islamic tradition, Ishaq is the name of a prophet and the son of Ibrahim and Sarah.

This internationally appealing choice is related to far more popular cousin Kayla, which currently ranks at Number 115.

Aleph came into the spotlight when chosen by Israel-born Natalie Portman for her son. Alef is a more common spelling of these related Hebrew baby names.

Near Eastern name with lots of opportunities for variation and improvisation.

This strong and commanding Russian name is pronounced ah-KEEM.

Rarely heard outside the Jewish community; another form is Minda.

Moll is one of those names that is used all the time as a nickname for a nickname, but rarely put on the birth certificate. Moll Flanders is an eponymous 18th century novel by Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe,

The perfect Easter baby name, Pasqual (along with its variants) derive from the Latin Pascha and the Hebrew pesaḥ, relating to Easter and Passover respectively. This form is the Catalan variation, used an equivalent to the Spanish Pascual and also a Ladin and Venetian form, equivalent to Italian Pasquale.

Names with the del element, such as Adeline, Adelaide, Adele, and Della, are currently en vogue, but old-fashioned Odella didn't get the memo.

The plural, ivrim, is the Hebrew word for the Hebrew people.

The plural, ivrim, is the Hebrew word for the Hebrew people.