Hebrew Names for Girls

One of the rarer names to come from the Bible, Cherith has a fresh and modern sound despite its ancient roots. Cherith was the name of the stream that kept Elijah alive during the three years' drought which he announced to King Ahab. 
 
In English, Cherith pleasingly reminds one of the word cherish which is another plus to this underused girls' name, while also having similar sounds to choices like Edith and Delyth.

Cherith

Shalailah is a soft name made most familiar by journalist Shalailah Medhora. Given the popularity of Layla and all her variants, Shalailah has potential for parents looking for something off the beaten track.

Shalailah

Related to the Arabic Warda, Vered is a strong sounding nature name with a sweet floral meaing.

Vered

Abisha is a feminine name with biblical and Hebrew origins, derived from the name Abishai, meaning 'father of a gift' or 'my father is a gift.' The original masculine form appears in the Old Testament as one of King David's mighty warriors and the nephew of David. The feminine adaptation Abisha maintains the meaningful connection to 'gift' while offering a softer sound. This uncommon name has been occasionally used in Christian communities, particularly among those who appreciate its biblical heritage. Abisha has a melodic quality with its three syllables and gentle ending. While never reaching widespread popularity in Western countries, the name has an exotic yet accessible quality that appeals to parents seeking a distinctive name with historical depth and spiritual significance.

Abisha

Also spelled as Arava, this pretty yet rugged name has two possible nature meanings. On one hand, it may come from aravot, the word for willow branch, a significant part of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. On the other, it may come from Arabah a word for "desert", "prairie", or "wilderness", and used as the name for a place in Jordan. Either way, it is a strong and lovely choice and a possible alternative to Sahara, Savannah, Ava, or Aviva.

Aravah

Arliss is most famous as the name of a few high-profile male characters, though it can just as easily work for a baby girl.

Arliss

An interesting cousin of Natalie (the 'h' is silent) found in the Louisiana Cajun community, Athalie is the name of a tragedy by classic French playwright Racine.

Athalie

Either a variation of the colorful word name, Azure, or a (typically masculine) name of Hebrew origin, appearing in the New Testament as an ancestor of Jesus. Some scholars suggest it could short form of the unisex Azariah, since both derived are derived from the element ʿazar meaning "help".

Azor

Full of life and spirit, Chavalah is an elaboration of Chava — a modern Hebrew form of Eve. Sometimes spelled as Chavala and Chavaleh, it has the lovely meaning of "life".

Chavalah

Eighteenth-century nickname that still appears occasionally as an alternative to Suzy. Suki Waterhouse is a lovely English actress.

Sukey

Tamra is both a contracted form of Tamara and an Arab village in Jezreel Valley, Israel. As such, its meaning could be "date palm" or "fruit" more generally, or it could relate to an old Arabic word (tumrah) for making a pit to store corn. The latter is possibly the source of the place name
 
Notably borne by film director Tamra Davies, reality TV star Tamra Judge, and Paiute politician Tamra Borchardt-Slayton, Tamra coincides with a Sanskrit word for copper (via tam meaning "gloom and darkness"), adding another layer to the name.
 
Snappy and cool to some, slightly incomplete to others, Tamra was briefly popular in the US in the late 50s and early 60s, though it remained in the Top 1000 until 1988. The Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 (TAMRA) was then passed and the declined rapidly in popularity. Yet to recover, fewer than five girls have been called Tamra in recent years.

Tamra

Did everybody forget that at the height of Jeremy's popularity in the 1970s and 80s, it started to be used for girls? We certainly did, but in 1976, the year Jeremy peaked, there were 126 baby girls named Jeremy in the US — and over 20,000 baby boys. Maybe not enough to make it a gender-neutral name, but fascinating nonetheless, especially as no baby girls were named Jeremy in the US last year.

Jeremy

Símonía is an Icelandic feminine form of the classic Simon, frillier than Simone but still slightly clunky, being a feminization. From its Hebrew origins, the name would mean "he has heard" while from its Greek roots, it can mean "flat-nosed".

Símonía

A modern Hebrew choice, blending Li and Noy into one endearing name, Linoy means "my beauty". Notably borne by Olympic gymnast Linoy Ashram and by model and influence Linoy Levi, the second syllable is said to rhyme with boy.

Linoy

A simply looking but glowing Hebrew name, Tair means "she will light up", making it a counterpart to the more familiar, Biblical Jair. Pronounced with two syllables, it may appeal to those who like Tamar or Tahel. 
 
The name may also be associated with Altair, an Arabic word meaning "bird, flyer" or the Welsh word for three.

Tair

An earthy name with a crisp, concise sound, Idit means "good soil" in Hebrew. Also spelled as Idith, it could make an especially meaningful choice for someone who has a small holding, works in agriculture, or comes from a farming family. 
 
The name is notably borne by snooker player Idit Bnaya and by Idit R. Harel, an entrepreneur and research into the impact of media and technology in children's education.

Idit

A sweet alternative to Lisa, Elise, and Lizzy, Lisey appears in the title of a Stephen King novel, Lisey's Story, a psychological horror novel about the widow of a famous author. It may appeal to those who enjoy nickname names but want something unexpected.
 
Alternative spellings of the name include the Estonian and Finnish Liisi, the Danish Lissi, and the Swiss Lisy and Lisi.

Lisey

Bera is a rare feminine form of Biǫrn (or Björn), used in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, albeit quietly. Derived from Old Norse, it means "bear", either in relation to the animal or to the idea of bearing or carrying weight. 
 
Alternatively, Bera may also be used as a variation of Russian Vera, notably among speakers Aragonese in northern Spain and in Kazakhstan, while as a Biblical or Hebrew name, it may be associated with Bereket, Beracha, or Bracha, which meaning "blessing".

Bera

Also spelled as Namira, this animal-inspired choice derives from the Hebrew namer or the Arabic namir, both meaning "leopard". As such, it's a multicultural choice, associated with strength, independence, and agility.

Nemera

A warm and pretty international name that ultimately links back to the Biblical Mary, Merima is used predominantly in Ethiopia, Sebia, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It may have evolved via the Turkish Meryem and the Arabic Maryam.
 
Notable bearers include long distance runners Merima Denboba, Merima Hashim, and Merima Mohammed, along with singer Merima Njegomir, and musician Merima Ključo.

Merima

Hebrew girl names include some of the most popular female names of all time in the US, such as Hannah, Elizabeth and Rachel. Hebrew girls’ names, indeed, are so familiar and deeply rooted in English-speaking cultures that they're among the classic girl names that have been most widely used over time.

 in the US top 100 include Abigail, Anna, Eliana, Eva, Leah, Maya, Naomi, and Sarah. 

 include Tamar — especially among Jewish Israelis — Noa, Shira, and Talia.

 that are more unusual yet worthy of consideration include Biblical names Dinah, Kelilah, and Susannah. And then there are 

 such as the unisex place-name Zion and the literary nickname-name Zadie, derived from Sarah.

Browse our full list of Hebrew baby girl names here, ordered according to their current popularity on Nameberry. 

Hebrew names for girls with meanings and popularity, including classic names such as Sarah and Elizabeth, Old Testament girl names, and top names in Israel.. (Page 26)

Hebrew Girl Names