Hebrew Names

A very unusual biblical name, Rei was one of David's most loyal supporters.

Benyamin

Also written as Atarah, this regal name appears in the Old Testament, borne by the wife of Jerahmeel. With its confident air and concise appearance, it was given to just under 50 girls in the US in a recent year, while Atarah was chosen for 60. 

Atara

This name of a son of Noah, whose descendants were said to have populated Europe, was well used by the seventeenth century Pilgrims. With "Ja" names and obscure Old Testament names both trendy these days, Japheth might just seen a resurgence: 37 boys were given the name in a recent year. 

 Japheth is a major character in the Madeleine L'Engle novel Many Waters.

Japheth

A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound. 

Bethel

This spelling of Delilah is disproportionately common among the Amish.

Delila

This name, once considered overly powerful due to the superhuman strength of the biblical figure, is now an option for parents in search of an unusual route to Sam. But you really don't need that p: Samson will do.

Sampson

Tehila may at first appeal as a distinctive choice.  Danger: might tend to sound like a mispronunciation of tequila. 

Tehila

A multicultural choice with a zippy yet elegant sound, Zemira may be interpreted as a variation of the Hebrew Zimri or the Arabic Zamir and Samir. From its Hebrew roots, Zemira may have the wonderful, melodic meaning of "song, music, praise", while from its Albanian origins, it is equally as tuneful, with the meaning "good voice". Alternatively, from its Arabic roots, it could mean "heart, mind, conscience" via Zamir and "companion for the evening talk" from Samir. 
 
Most familiar in Bosnia and Brazil, a recent year also saw it given to 45 girls in the US

Zemira

While some may think of ruby slippers and a yellow brick road, Oz is a legitimate Hebrew name denoting power. An element in a number of names including Ozni, Oziel, and Ozias, it may also be used as a stand-alone choice which may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Ty, Ed, Bo, and Cy. 

As an English name, it derives from the Old English os meaning "god" and can be found in names such as Osmond, Osgood, and Osborn. 
 
From its Irish roots, it is a diminutive of Oscar, which is the given name of the Wizard of Oz. In this case, it would come from the Old Irish oss meaning "deer". 
 
As Ozias, Osgood, and Osmond start to sound more cool and less grandpa, and with Ozzy already on the rise, this (even) shorter may begin to feel like a very modern possibility. In fact, 40 boys were given the name Oz in the US in 2023, nearly double the number who received a decade earlier.

Jemima, the name of a strong and beautiful Biblical daughter of Job, has long been among the chicest choices of aristocratic Brits, and has since shifted to be used more generally too, replacing Gemma/Jemma as a way to nickname "Jem". In a recent year, it featured in the England and Wales Top 500.
 
Brought into common English usage by the Puritans, alongside her Biblical sister, Keziah, Jemima is often interpreted as meaning "dove", likely from yona. However, it may be more accurate to say it relates to yomam meaning "daytime" or "day-by-day", which are equally bright and lovely. 
 
Some famous (and notably British) namesakes are Beatrix Potter's Jemima Puddle-Duck and characters in Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang, Cats, Thackeray's Vanity Fair, and Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth.
 Jemima was well used by the Puritans, as was that of her sister, Keziah. Some other famous namesakes A real-life bearer is Jemima Kirke, who plays Jessa on Girls(and who happens to have a sister named Domino and a son named Memphis). Jemimah is a variant spelling, as seen in the Antonia Fraser crime series Jemimah Shore Investigates.
 
In the US, however, Jemima is not so well used. Despite its appealing sound and Biblical nature, it is often dismissed due to the problematic association with racial stereotyping, exemplified by the Aunt Jemima brand of pancakes. In a recent year, 54 girls were named Jemima, while Dove was given to nearly 130, and Jemma to 370.

Jemima

Most modern parents would drop the Jo, leaving the superpopular Ella. 

Joella

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.

Hazael

A soft, strong name, commonly heard in the Middle East, Sahar is an Arabic and Persian name, associated with dawn and beginnings, and a Hebrew name, meaning "crescent", in turn linking it to the moon. Predominantly used as a feminine name, in Israel it leans slightly masculine. 
 
The name would be pronounced as SAH-hahr in Arabic and Hebrew and as sa-HAR in Persian.

Sahar

Old Testament name of a king of Israel, related to the harvest.

Omri

Biblical name -- he was an ancestor of Abraham's -- rarely used today but registered on the U.S. popularity list at the end of the 19th century.  With the rise of other obscure Old Testament names, just might have a shot at revival.

Heber

A rare Old Testament name that, although short, is resoundingly biblical. It belonged to name the tenth king of Israel, who seized power violently and reigned from about 841 to 814 BCE.
 
Jehu Mountain is a peak in the Catskills in New York State.

Jehu

A bright, stylish name with a modern feel, Ziah may well be an alternative spelling of Hebrew Ziya meaning "splendor" or "light", though it may equally be a short form of Keziah, Azariah or Aziah. 

Ziah

Biblical names are expanding (literally) as some parents move on from Isaiah and Elijah to more elaborate choices with simple short forms like Jed and Zeb.
 If you like this style of name, there are a number of others to choose from--Zedekiah (the last king of Judah), Zecheriah (there are 31 in the Bible), Zachariah, the prophet Zephaniah, and Jedidiah, the name given to Solomon at his birth.

Zebadiah

Place-name of a settlement in Galilee in Israel. 

Abir

Hebrew names used widely in the modern world include Noah, Isabella, Elizabeth, Sarah, Asher, Elijah, Jacob, Leah, James, John, Michael, Mary, and Eva. 

 include Ariel, Delilah, Eliana, Eva, Maya, and Naomi. For boys, 

 include Asher, Elijah, Jacob, Levi, and Noah. In Israel, popular names include Tamar, Shira, Uri, and Noam.

 are some of the best-known as well as the most interesting Hebrew baby names today.

 often have Hebrew origins. Recommended choices include Delilah, Dinah, Keziah, Esther, and Susannah.

 include such appealing Hebrew boy names as Amos, Asher, Eli, Ezra, and Moses.

Hebrew is spoken in modern Israel, so it's both an ancient and a living language. Names popular in modern Israel include many Hebrew names but some modern Israeli names as well. 

If you’re searching for Hebrew names for your baby or simply want to survey all the options with roots in ancient languages and cultures, here is the full range of Hebrew name choices in our database, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Hebrew names including Hebrew boy names and Hebrew girl names for jewish babies with meaning and popularity (Page 23)