By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 21 pages
of 21
Hebrew, short form of Abigail
"my father rejoices"
Gail was a mid-twentieth century favorite, which has been far surpassed by its original form, Abigail and nickname Abby. Spelling variations include Gale and Gayle, the latter represented by TV…
Hebrew
"gold, golden"
The more dignified and attractive Hebrew equivalent of Golda or Goldie.
"he who defends"
Hebrew name with a bright sheen.
"God is gracious"
More modern options: Shaw, Shay, or even Sean.
Diminutive of Talia, Hebrew
"gentle dew from heaven"
Tallie is a seldom-heard nickname name that, with the ascendance of Hallie and Callie, we might just be hearing more of. In Colonial times, Tallie was also a nickname for Natalie.
"light, splendor"
Lovely name that's been overshadowed by sister ZAHARA, which was chosen by Brad and Angelina for their oldest daughter.
"forecaster"
All too likely to be confused with the ultratrendy Nevaeh.
"joy of the Lord"
Gila and its variants have joyous meanings in Hebrew, but other kids might connect them to the monster.
"my delight is in her"
Hephzibah is an Old Testament name that came into use in the 17th century, but is not often used today. It does have less formal nicknames Eppie and Hepsie, which seem revivable. Hephzibah "Eppie"…
"not exalted"
Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a…
Hebrew variation of Margaret
"pearl"
This unusual variation of Margaret is the real first name of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. It can make a distinctive way to honor an ancestral Margaret or a different long form for such nicknames as…
"gift of God"
This female form of Nathan can be pronounced with three syllables or four, and could make an interesting alternative to Natalia.
Biblical place name, Hebrew
"face of God"
This rare Biblical place name refers to a river bank in Jordan where Jacob wrestled with an angel and changed his name to Israel.
"fourth born"
Tied to country singer/sitcom star Reba McEntire.
Spelling variation of Shoshana, Hebrew
"lily"
Shoshanna is a variation of one of the best-known original Hebrew baby names for girls , the original of Susanna. This is the spelling used by Shoshanna Lonstein, a designer who creates the Shoshanna…
Feminine variation of Abraham, Hebrew
"father of multitudes"
Abra is soft, sensitive feminine form of Abraham that was the name of a soft, sensitive character in the John Steinbeck book and movie, "East of Eden." In the bible, Abra was a favorite of King…
Diminutive of Elizabeth
Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.
"God is my joy"
Intriguing twist on several familiar names, though many people will mistake this for Elsa, Eliza, and so on.
"inheritance"
This biblical name of the mother of King Jotham of Judah has an appealing soft Russian accent.
Hebrew or Greek
"my candle; ocean spirit"
A simple but unusual name with roots in disparate cultures, Neri appears in the Bible as a male name and is still sometimes used for boys as well as girls. The appeal of Neri are its deep roots…
