Hebrew Names

Yitzhak

Hebrew variation of Isaac

Has taken on a musical tone via the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman.

Yonah

Hebrew variation of Jonah

"dove"

This form of the stylish Old Testament name is too close to the feminine Yona.

Zac

Diminutive of Zachariah/Zachary

"the Lord has remembered"

A popular nickname that, over the past few decades, has acquired enough standing to work on its own, a la earlier equivalents such as Jack and Max; an alternative to Zach/Zack. Actor/singer Zac…

Zak

Diminutive of Zachary, Hebrew

"the Lord has remembered"

This zippy short form of Zachary is more and more often standing on its own -- sometimes as Zac, Zach, Zack, or even Zakk -- but this simple-yet-straightforward version may be the very best.

Zadock

Hebrew

"fair, righteous"

A biblical name that was used in colonial times, but which has an unpleasant sound to the modern ear.

Zahavi

Hebrew

"gold"

A Middle Eastern name rarely heard here, but with a certain swashbuckling charm.

Zared

Hebrew

"trap"

If there are too many Jareds in your neighborhood, you might want to consider this Hebrew alternative.

Zebediah

Hebrew

"gift of Jehovah"

Biblical names are expanding (literally) as some parents move from Isaiah and Elijah to more elaborate choices with simple short forms, like Jedidiah and Zebediah. Zebediah, or Zebadiah, is the New…

Zebulon

Hebrew

"exaltation or little dwelling"

An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb. Pike's Peak was named for Zebulon Pike, the best known bearer of the name. In…

Zubin

Persian

"short spear"

This is most familiar here as a musical name, via Indian Parsi conductor Zubin Mehta, but it certainly could be used by others.

Zedekiah

Hebrew

"the Lord is just"

The name of an Old Testament king, and yet another ' Z ' choice from the Bible that still retains some zip, especially with the appealing nickname Zed. Zedekiah was the name of the last king of Judea…

Zeév

Hebrew

"wolf"

Sharp and sleek, it refers to Benjamin being compared to a wolf in Genesis.

Zevi

Hebrew

"gazelle, roebuck"

Zevi is an alternative transcription of the Hebrew name Zvi or Tzvi, the latter of which is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding name which would make for a great distinctive…

Zvi

Hebrew

"deer"

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.

Zia

Arabic, Hebrew

"splendour, light, glow; shaking, trembling"

A succinct variation of Ziya, Zia is an Arabic boy name, with a glowing meaning, also used as the Urdu and Bengali transcription. Notable bearers of the name include Bangaledeshi politician Ziaur…

Zimran

Hebrew

"song"

In the Bible, a son of Abraham and Keturah; this ancient and musical name nonetheless sounds like a character in a 1950s science fiction movie.

Ziv

Hebrew

"brilliance"

Also a synonym for the Hebrew month of Iyar, which usuually falls in May, would work and play well with others like Zev and Lev.