Jewish Names
- Ilana
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"oak tree"Description:
Ilana is a name with seemingly endless variations, well used in Israel, sometimes chosen for little girls born on the holiday of TuB'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
- Aleen
Description:
Aleen is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It can be considered a variant of Aileen or Eileen, which derive from the Gaelic name Eibhlín, a form of Helen meaning 'torch' or 'light.' Alternatively, it may be related to Alene or Alene, coming from Greek roots meaning 'sunlight' or 'shining one.' The name has a delicate, melodic quality with its soft sounds and flowing pronunciation. Aleen saw modest popularity in the United States during the early to mid-20th century but has become less common in recent decades. This relative rarity now gives it a vintage charm that might appeal to parents seeking a distinctive yet accessible name with historical roots and pleasant sonics.
- Zvi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"deer"Description:
An alternative transcription of Tzvi, the latter of which is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding micro name which would make for a great distinctive alternative to Levi.
- Nava
Origin:
Hebrew, SpanishMeaning:
"beautiful; from Navarre or Nava"Description:
Short, sweet, and sparky, Nava has been slowly climbing up the US popularity charts in recent years, owing perhaps to its similarity to Nova, Ava, Navy, and Nevaeh. Used quietly but consistently from the 80s onwards, Nava was given to nearly 80 girls in 2023.
- Navi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to name"Description:
Nickname for the star Gamma Cassiopeiae given by the late astronaut Gus Grissom after his own middle name (Ivan) spelled backwards. Navi also relates to the prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
- Oria
Origin:
Hebrew, Italian variation of Aurea, LatinMeaning:
"my God is light; golden"Description:
From Hebrew, Oria is a variation of Oriya, created by combining Ori meaning "light" with yah indicating God. From Italian, it is a variation of the Latin Aurea, a golden Saint name, once popular in Spain.
- Yida
Description:
Yida is a concise masculine name found across multiple cultures with varying origins and meanings. In Chinese, it can be formed from different character combinations, potentially meaning 'appropriate' and 'to reach' or other virtuous qualities depending on the specific characters used. The name also appears in African traditions, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, where names often carry significant meaning related to birth circumstances or aspirations. Yida is relatively uncommon in Western countries, giving it a distinctive quality for parents seeking something unique yet pronounceable. The name's multicultural presence makes it versatile across different backgrounds, while its brevity and clear pronunciation (typically EE-dah) give it a modern, international appeal. Its rarity means a child named Yida is unlikely to share his name with classmates.
- Zelma
Origin:
German, diminutive of AnselmaMeaning:
"God helmet"Description:
Familiar in the US, Brazil, and Latvia in the early 20th century, Zelma has been off the radar for some time. While the Selma-Thelma-Velma connection might date it, with Zelda and Alma sparking recent interest and clunky names holding new appeal, Zelma may be one to reconsider.
- Bessie
Origin:
Diminutive of Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
After a century of association with horses and cows, this name just could be ready for revival by a fearless baby namer -- after all, it did happen to Jessie and Becky.
- Shari
Origin:
Anglicized variation of Hungarian Sari, variation of SarahMeaning:
"princess"Description:
This once-cool nickname-y name now belongs to the grandma generation.
- Micaela
Origin:
Italian, Spanish, and Israeli variation of MichaelaMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.
- Doron
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"gift"Description:
Benevolent name found in Israel in several forms, including Doran and Doroni.
- Shaina
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"beautiful"Description:
Despite its Irish sound, this commonly used word name has usually been confined to Jewish families.
- Becky
Origin:
English diminutive of Rebecca, HebrewMeaning:
"servant of God"Description:
Down to earth and versatile, Becky is a popular diminutive of the classic Biblical name, Rebecca. In the US, it was most popular as a stand alone name back in the 60s, while in the UK, it remained in the Top 300 right up until the early 2000s.
- Tovi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"good"Description:
A variation of Tobit in Hebrew and a form of Tobias in Belarusian, Tovi ultimately comes from the Hebrew meaning "good".
- Omer
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"sheaf of corn"Description:
A symbolic name for boys born during a period between Passover and Shavuot.
- Yahel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to shine"Description:
Unisex Hebrew name more common among baby girls in Israel and boys in the US.
- Hershey
Origin:
Diminutive of Hershel, German and YiddishMeaning:
"deer"Description:
Hershey is best-known in the US as a brand of chocolate, named after the company's founder, Milton Hershey. Hershey and its many variations, including Hersh and Hershkovitz, is most commonly a surname that may be either German or Jewish.
- Violina
Origin:
Judeo-Italian variation of Viola, LatinMeaning:
"violet"Description:
More distinct than Violet, Viola, or Violeta — Violina has an indisputably beautiful and romantic sound.
- Gad
Origin:
Hebrew or NavajoMeaning:
"fortune; juniper tree"Description:
Simple Biblical name with an auspicious meaning. There are two men named Gad in the Old Testament — one the first son of Jacob and Zilpah, and the other a prophet of King David.