Yiddish Names

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

Rarely used cerebral-sounding name that is actually the Yiddish form of Ezekiel.

Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.

Adds some zest to Rosa.

Still heard in some religious Jewish communities, however diminutive Gitty is more common as a given name.

Yeshua is often considered the "real" name of Jesus, through the Hebrew to Greek to Latin evolution of Yeshua to Iesous to Iesus.

Appealing name because, in German and Yiddish, it also means "dear" or "heart".

Old-fashioned enough to the American ear that literally no baby girls received the name in the US in the most recent year counted. Though might Pessa provide a more unique spin on Tessa? It certainly has a lovely meaning, one shared with Margaret.

Too close to yenta.

More familiar now via its Salman form, thanks to author Rushdie; this is an unusual biblical alternative.