hebrew names

Sariah is the perfect compromise name for when you say Sarah, and your spouse says Mariah. Spelled Saria, it's a character in the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Sela is a Biblical place name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is finding new life through actress Sela Ward, star of several TV series. The young daughter of singer Lauryn Hill is named Selah, pronounced the same but with a different derivation and meaning. Found among early African-American enslaved people, it was sometimes spelled Cela or Cella.

Eliyahu is the Hebrew form of the increasingly popular Biblical prophet name Elijah, also found in forms Elias and Eli. There were 100 boys given the name Eliyahu in the U.S. in 2012. Its upside is that it's one of the most distinctive forms of the name, but that final yahoo may prove difficult.

A male Biblical name meaning healer, Asa is also an international gem. In Japanese, it means "(born in the) morning". And in Scandinavia, where it's generally spelled Åsa or Ása and pronounced O-sa, it's a popular diminutive form of Old Norse names beginning with the element áss "god".

Akiva has a distinguished scholarly pedigree and a lovely meaning. Its softer sound is very on trend for masculine names at the moment and is in line with more familiar monikers like Ezra, Elijah and Theo.

Strongly associated with the city of Tel Aviv. For girls, may be lengthened to Aviva; for boys, might be better abbreviated to Avi.

Calah, also called Nimrud, is one of four ancient cities of Assyria, Noah's great-grandson. This unusual name suggests a woman open to opportunity.

Rarely used biblical choice -- he's a son of Jacob -- with a bit of a white-bearded image.

Belshazzar was a Babylonian prince, a real historical figure who stars in a fictionalized tale Belshazzar's Feast, in the Book of Daniel

Sounds a bit like a nickname in a Dickens novel, but this short form was used in New England a few centuries ago, back when names like Micajah were popular. Both short and long forms are now ripe for revival.

Well used in Israel, likely to be confused with Ramona here.

This name of an Old Testament king is reminiscent of the woodsy nature name Hazel. Given to just 35 boys in 2024, it could make a similar but less popular option than Top 1000 Azael.

A celebratory choice with a bright sound, Simcha is also used as a word to describe Jewish festivities and joyful occasions such as a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah.

Has a pleasantly fizzy, effervescent feeling.

The more dignified and attractive Hebrew equivalent of Golda or Goldie.

We all know that Chaka really means disco.

Gentler and much less frequently heard than Tamar.

Talila is a pretty and novel name, somewhere between Talia and Tallulah.

Appreciated by religious Jews for its connection to "Hatikva," the Israeli national anthem.