Yiddish Names

Yeshua

Variation of Joshua, Hebrew

"the Lord is my salvation"

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…

Leib

Yiddish

"roaring lion"

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

Mendele

Mendele is a masculine name with Yiddish origins, functioning as a diminutive or affectionate form of Mendel, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Menachem, meaning 'comforter' or 'consoler.'…

Mende

Mende is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. In some West African cultures, particularly among the Mende people of Sierra Leone, it serves as both an ethnic identifier and personal name.…

Mendel

Yiddish variation of Menachem

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

Moishe

Yiddish variation of Moses, Egyptian

"delivered from the water"

A name commonly heard on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the last century.

Motl

Motl is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, typically used as a diminutive form of Mordecai (Hebrew for 'warrior'). The name gained literary recognition through the character Motl in Sholem…

Motke

Motke is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, primarily used in Jewish communities as a diminutive or nickname for Mordechai (Hebrew) or Mordecai. The name Mordechai itself has Persian roots and…

Mosheh

Hebrew

"son or deliver"

The original Hebrew form of Moses, also spelled Mosheh. In the past it was translated to names like Morris, Moe and Maurice.

Moyshe

Moyshe is a masculine name representing the Yiddish form of Moses, a name of ancient Egyptian and Hebrew origins. In Jewish tradition, Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) was the prophet who led the Israelites…

Shem

Hebrew

"name"

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…

Shemuel

Shemuel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, representing the original form of the more commonly known Samuel. It derives from the Hebrew elements 'shem' meaning 'name' and 'el' meaning 'God,' thus…

Schmuel

Schmuel is the Yiddish variant of the Hebrew name Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל/Shmuel). It carries the same meaning as its Hebrew counterpart: 'name of God' or 'God has heard.' This name has deep significance…

Zelig

Yiddish variation of Selig

"blessed, happy"

A super quirky and upbeat choice, if it can ever shake off its ubiquitous-guy Woody Allen identity.

Shlomo

Hebrew

"his peace"

Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.

Shmelke

Shmelke is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, typically used as a diminutive form of Shmuel (Samuel). Within Hasidic Jewish communities, it gained recognition through Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg…

Shmulke

Shmulke is a masculine name with Yiddish origins, functioning as a diminutive form of Shmuel (the Hebrew equivalent of Samuel). The suffix '-ke' adds an affectionate or endearing quality, similar to…

Shmiel

Shmiel is a masculine Yiddish name primarily used in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It originated as a diminutive form of Shmuel (Samuel), which derives from Hebrew and means 'name of God' or 'God has…

Shelomoh

Shelomoh is the original Hebrew form of Solomon, a masculine name with profound historical and biblical significance. Derived from 'shalom' meaning 'peace,' Shelomoh was the name of the celebrated…

Zalman

Variation of Solomon

"peace"

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