Hebrew Names

The name of five men and one woman in the Bible, this name has so far escaped much notice but its similarity to popular choices such as Michael and Michaela/Mikayla, along with the long-running penchant for Old Testament names, may propel it to prominence. Also spelled Micaiah.

Leeza may feel like the flagging Lisa or Liza, but its pronunciation is a hybrid of the two and it's a name that's distinct on its own.

A variation of the Biblical Paltiel, this name was also appears in the name of an Israeli-American folk-pop duo, Ilana & Palti, made up of singer-songwriters Paltiel-hay Jacoby and Ilana Zadok.

Aleeza is one of the most energetic of the legion of Alyssa/Alicia/Eliza names. Another spelling of Aleeza: Aliza.

Though pleasant enough, Samala is sure to require lots of explanation.

A pleasant and adaptable place name for a part of Tel Aviv.

Delicate embellishment of Rani.

This floral name, related to bloom and Blossom, is common in the Jewish community, but not often heard outside it. Other Yiddish nature names are Ita (star), Masha (rising water), and Mayim (water).

A bit blunt.

An important biblical name, being the wife of Moses in Exodus. Has a number of spelling variations, including Tziporah, Zipora(h), Zippora(h), Tzipor and Tzipori. The Yiddish forms are Tzeitl and Tzertel.

The cake company pretty much knocked this otherwise-pretty compilation name out of consideration for most parents.

A modern version of the dated Betty. You might want to consider varying Elizabeth, too, to the Italian Elisabetta.

Unlikely to catch on the way the male original has, though it may appeal to some parents as a more formal version of Nina.

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.

Raphia is a feminine name with botanical origins, referring to a genus of palm trees native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing sounds. While uncommon as a given name, Raphia carries natural associations with strength and resilience, as raphia palms are known for their sturdy fibers used in traditional crafts and construction. The name may also relate to 'Rapha,' a Hebrew word meaning 'healing,' giving it potential spiritual significance. Raphia has cross-cultural appeal with its natural imagery and pleasant phonetics. The name remains rare, making it an distinctive choice for parents seeking a unique botanical name with an exotic feel and natural symbolism.

The "Tz" beginning of Tzofia represents the Hebrew letter tzadi, which is pronounced more like ts. So Tzofia sounds like Sofia with a light t at the beginning — intriguing, but a difficult sound for a native English speaker to reproduce. While Tzofia is a distinct name from the megapopular Sophia and Sofia, many people will hear it as a cognate and pronounce it the same...or like Zofia.

Straightforward yet intriguing, a winning combination.

Perhaps to honor an ancestral Abraham, but presents a confusing image.

Affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it.