Hebrew Names

Shlomo

Hebrew

"his peace"

Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.

Simcha

Hebrew

"gladness, joy"

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.

Simeon

Hebrew

"he [God] has heard"

Could Simeon be the next Gideon? Parents seeking a less simple form of Simon might consider this biblical appellation that was chosen by Wynton Marsalis for his son. Simon is actually the Greek…

Tal

Hebrew

"rain, dew"

A unisex Hebrew name often found in combination with others, as in Tal-El and Tal-Or.

Tamir

Hebrew

"owner of many palm trees"

A Near Eastern favorite, with an agreeable, evocative sound.

Temani

Hebrew

"from the south"

This biblical name is also a Hebrew term for someone from Yemen, since that country is south of Israel.

Terach

Hebrew

"wild goat, silly old fool"

A biblical name -- he was the father of Abraham -- but the father's name is much less appealing than the son's, in both sound and meaning.

Tobiah

Hebrew

"God is good"

Tobiah is the original Hebrew form of the better-known Greek Tobias, to which it could make a distinctive alternative. With its ah ending, Tobiah fits in with other stylish Biblical names today, from…

Tovi

Hebrew

"good"

A variation of Tobit in Hebrew and a form of Tobias in Belarusian, Tovi ultimately comes from the Hebrew meaning "good".

Uri

Hebrew

"my flame, my light"

This short but strong name, commonly heard in Israel, has a lot of crossover potential, and is among the most usable on the minuscule menu of U names. The are two Uris in the Old Testament--the…

Uzi

Hebrew

"Jehovah is my strength"

Despite its biblical pedigree and popularity in Israel, it has far too many ties to the lethal submachine gun to find many fans here.

Uziah

Hebrew, variant spelling of Uzziah, “Jehovah is my strength”

One of the most unusual of the biblical iah-options, this was the name of a long-reigning king of Judea, and just might appeal to the parent looking for a quasi-unique Old Testament choice. And it…

Uzziah

Hebrew

"my power is Yahweh"

Uzziah was an Old Testament king of Judah, among other personages. The initial U is a bit funky for modern tastes; we don't see this one enjoying a revival ala Isaiah and Noah anytime soon.

Yaakov

Hebrew

"supplanting"

The original Hebrew form of Jacob is resurfacing in the US charts after a several-decade-long hiatus. The Old Testament figure is considered the founding father of the Jewish nation, whose twelve…

Yada

Hebrew

"he knew"

Anyone who ever saw "Seinfeld" wouldn't be able to resist adding a couple more "yada" 's. Also a bit too close to Yoda.

Yakim

Hebrew

"he will establish"

One of many Hebrew Y names kept alive in Israel and in American religious communities.

Yarden

Hebrew

"to flow down, descend"

The name from which Jordan arose, Yarden has a nice combination of river imagery and a sound connoting a garden. Like Jordan, used for both sexes.

Yaron

Hebrew

"he will sing"

Most modern parents outside Israel would prefer Aaron.

Yehudah

Hebrew

"to praise"

Anglicized as Judah, this name of a biblical patriarch is given symbolically to boys born on Chanukah; a form of it was spotlighted by violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.