Hebrew Girl Names
- Azariah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"helped by God"Description:
Though this is a popular name for men in the Bible, today it's used with this spelling for nearly equal numbers of girls and boys. The Azaria variation is much more often given to girls.
- Moselle
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"drawn from the water"Description:
Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine.
- Ezri
Origin:
Variation of Ezra, HebrewMeaning:
"help"Description:
Ezri is one of the cool new unisex names starting with E, except as a Biblical name, it's not so new. Used for both genders in Israel, in the US it's currently running five to one in favor of girls, surprisingly. Its deviation from the better known and more traditional Ezra makes it feel like one of the more truly gender neutral names.
- Doveva
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"graceful"Description:
Feminine but strong name heard in Israel.
- Thirza
Origin:
Hebrew; diminutive of Theresa, EnglishMeaning:
"delightful; harvest"Description:
This rarely used Old Testament name will inevitably set off a connection to thirst. Thirza was historically used as both an independent name and as a nickname for Theresa.
- Sela
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"rock"Description:
Sela is a Biblical place name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is finding new life through actress Sela Ward, star of several TV series. The young daughter of singer Lauryn Hill is named Selah, pronounced the same but with a different derivation and meaning. Found among early African-American enslaved people, it was sometimes spelled Cela or Cella.
- Arava
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"willow"Description:
Unknown but eminently usable choice, especially for Jewish parents, with lovely meaning.
- Rafaela
Origin:
Spanish and Portuguese version of Hebrew RaphaelaMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
This euphonious and lovely name is an internationally appealing choice, that, like Gabriela and Isabela before it, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream. Also spelled Raffaella (Italian), Raffaela (German), or Raphaela (Hebrew), it was given to around 50 girls in the US in 2023.
- Shulamit
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"peace"Description:
Shulamit--which has a variety of different spellings--is a serious-sounding Old Testament name that appears in the Song of Songs. Its common nickname is Shula, which is sometimes used on its own. Toni Morrison used the sleeker variation Sula in one of her novels.
- Orli
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"light"Description:
Cute, nickname-y, and international, à la Romy or Demi. Spelling it Orly turns it into a busy French airport.
- Libi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my heart"Description:
This Hebrew name deserves consideration by parents looking for a traditional by underused girls name with a gorgeous meaning.
- Ashira
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"I will sing"Description:
Unusual name with stylish, silky feel.
- Tirzah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"delight"Description:
A fairly common Hebrew name without much crossover potential.
- Alijah
Origin:
Variation of Elijah, HebrewMeaning:
"God is Yahweh"Description:
A little bit Aliyah and a little bit Elijah equals an invented name that moves into the girls' column with its choice by Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Bassett for their daughter. While there is good reason for this name to feel feminine, if you're not aware of the spelling variation, you're likely to just hear Elijah, both traditional and popular for boys. Then again, Noa is doing well for girls, so it wouldn't feel entirely out of place.
- Zahava
Origin:
Modern Hebrew nameDescription:
This is a Hebrew word name, created from the word zahav, meaning gold.
- Bina
Origin:
Diminutive of Sabina and other -ina names, Yiddish or HebrewMeaning:
"bee or understanding"Description:
Sources say that Bina, which is close to the word for bee in Yiddish, was once used as a translation for the Hebrew Deborah, which means bee. On its own, it also means "understanding" in Hebrew. Simple and sweet in itself, it could also be short for (or a nod to) many names including Sabina, Robina, Columbina, and Jacobina.
- Bara
Origin:
Hebrew, JapaneseMeaning:
"to select; rose"Description:
Gently appealing, a floral choice in Japanese.
- Tehila
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"praise song"Description:
Tehila may at first appeal as a distinctive choice. Danger: might tend to sound like a mispronunciation of tequila.
- Nima
Origin:
Hebrew, Arabic, and HindiMeaning:
"thread, hair; blessing; margosa tree"Description:
Multicultural name often heard in the Near East. Also spelled Neema and Nimah.
- Nera
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"candle, light"Description:
Because of its meaning, this is a symbolic name given to girls born on Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.