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Yiddish Names

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
Yiddish baby names came close to being extinct at one point, but now are undergoing a revival along with the Yiddish language and a fashion for vintage names with personal meanings. Jewish parents may want to honor an ancestor with a Yiddish name or simply find names for a son or daughter that honor the Yiddish language as a component of their Jewish heritage.

Browse all of Nameberry's Yiddish names, originally brought to the US a century or more ago by Ashkenazic Jews immigrating from Germany and Eastern Europe, on the complete roster here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Goldie

    • Origin:

      Anglicized form of Yiddish Golde or Golda

    • Meaning:

      "gold"

    • Description:

      Goldie is a shimmering new addition to the nickname name lineup, and became one of the fastest rising girl names in 2023. After peaking at Number 114 in 1904-1905, Goldie slid off the list completely in 1958. She re-entered the US Top 1000 again in 2021.
  2. Liev

    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Lev

    • Meaning:

      "heart"

    • Description:

      Liev Schreiber's birth name is Isaac Liev, Liev after his mother's favorite Russia author, Leo Tolstoy. Though Liev is increasing in popularity in the secular world thanks to the actor, it originated as a Yiddish diminutive.
  3. Moshe

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son or deliver"

    • Description:

      Moshe is the original Hebrew form of Moses, also spelled Mosheh. In the past it was changed to names like Morris, Moe and Maurice.
  4. Ita

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "thirst"

    • Description:

      The name of one of the most famous medieval Irish saints, who was known as "the foster-mother of the saints," and founded a nunnery in the county of Limerick. Might be of interest to someone looking for an unusual 3-letter name.
  5. Raizel

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "rose"

    • Description:

      The most popular flower name in Israel, though that popularity does not extend to the US.
  6. Yeshua

    • Origin:

      Variation of Joshua, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is my salvation"

    • Description:

      Yeshua is often considered the "real" name of Jesus, via the Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English evolution of Yeshua to Iesous to Iesus to Jesus. It is also used as a common alternative of Yehoshua in the later parts of the Hebrew Bible, making it a variation of Joshuah.
  7. Shem

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "name"

    • Description:

      This down-to-earth Bible name is surprisingly little-used, considering the popularity of other Old Testament names. Shem was Noah's eldest son, and is the origin of the term Semitic (as in the language family).
  8. Brick

    • Origin:

      Word name, various origins

    • Description:

      This is an Anglicized form of various names; the Irish Gaelic O Bruic; German, Bruck or Breck, meaning "swamp" or "wood"; Yiddish, Brik, "bridge"; and Slovenian, Bric, "dweller from a hilly place." Gosh, and we thought it was just a macho word name invented by Tennessee Williams for the hero of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
  9. Adi

    • Description:

      Adi is a multicultural masculine name with diverse origins and meanings across several traditions. In Hebrew, it means 'jewel' or 'ornament,' while in Sanskrit it can mean 'first' or 'beginning.' The name also has Germanic roots where it serves as a short form of names containing the element 'adal' meaning 'noble.' This concise, two-syllable name has gained popularity in Israel, India, and increasingly in Western countries drawn to its simplicity and international appeal. Adi travels well across cultures and is appreciated for its modern feel despite ancient origins. Its brevity makes it both memorable and easy to pronounce in multiple languages, contributing to its growing global usage.
  10. Charna

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "dark, black"

    • Description:

      Popular name in Israel, worth considering for a dark-haired daughter with a bit of a bohemian cast.
  11. Chaya

    • Origin:

      Feminization of Chayyim or Chaim, Hebrew, Hindi, "life; shadow, shade"

    • Meaning:

      "life; shadow, shade"

    • Description:

      A life-affirming name of Hebrew origin, currently popular in Israel, Chaya has also risen up the charts in both the US and the UK in recent years. Used as a common name for leafy shrub in Mexico, it shares the same root as Chava, Eve, and Eva.
  12. Feivel

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "brilliant one"

    • Description:

      This comes from Faivish, the Yiddish form of Phoebus, the Greek sun god...and it's also the little mouse in "An American Tail."
  13. Roza

    • Origin:

      Russian and Polish variation of Rosa

    • Description:

      Adds some zest to Rosa.
  14. Chava

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      The Hebrew, Biblical form of Eve. While English speakers will likely find the forms Ava or Eve easier in everyday life, Chava is a lovely variation for a family that speaks Hebrew or Yiddish - plus, English speakers could always learn.
  15. Rifka

    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Rivka, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to tie, bind"

    • Description:

      The Yiddish form of Rivka hums along at the bottom of the baby name charts. It's been given to anywhere between 5 and 20 baby girls since the late '60s. Rivka is currently more than 30 times as popular, but for Jewish families, the softer (but still saucy) Rifka may be due for a comeback.
  16. Mendel

    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Menachem

    • Description:

      Mendel is an Old World Jewish name that is also the surname of the founder of genetics.
  17. Tevel

    • Description:

      Tevel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'universe' or 'world.' This profound name carries cosmic significance and connects the bearer to the vastness of existence. While relatively uncommon in Western countries, Tevel has maintained a steady presence in Jewish communities, particularly in Israel. The name's meaningful etymology makes it appealing to parents seeking a name with spiritual depth and universal connotations. Tevel offers the appealing nickname options of 'Tev' or 'Tevvy.' Its uniqueness ensures that a child named Tevel will likely stand out while carrying a name rich in cultural heritage and philosophical meaning.
  18. Hava

    • Origin:

      Modern variation of Eve

    • Description:

      Hava is an anglicization of the Hebrew name Chava, which, like its English form Eve, means "life". In some accents, it may sound like "have a", so it's worth considering if this will be an issue combined with a last name. But overall, it's an elegantly simple name with a great meaning.
  19. Yetta

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Too close to yenta.
  20. Dine

    • Description:

      Dine is an uncommon feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may function as a shortened form of names like Geraldine or Bernardine. In French, 'Dine' can be a diminutive suffix added to names (as in Claudine or Amandine). The name also has connections to the Diné people, the indigenous Navajo Nation of the southwestern United States, though it's uncommon as a personal name in this context. In some Scandinavian contexts, it could relate to names like Dina. Dine has a simple, elegant quality with its single-syllable pronunciation (deen or dye-n, depending on language context). The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal while its multiple cultural connections provide depth. Dine remains very rare in usage statistics across most English-speaking countries.