Hebrew Names for Girls

Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you want something simpler than Zahara, consider Zara, a royal name in England--but also the name of a Spanish-based clothing store chain.


Zahara

All the old ae/ay <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/479/middle-names-for-girls">middle names for girls</a> are back — Kay, Fay, Mae/May — and Rae is one of the coolest, used as such by celebrities as Mark Wahlberg and Daniel Baldwin. 
 
Even more popular in the celebrisphere is the jazzy Ray spelling: among those who used it as their daughters' middles are Bruce Willis, Dermot Mulroney, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, Uma Thurman and Lee Lee Sobieski. 
 But Rae is perfectly capable of standing on her own, as in Rae Dawn Chong; it was in the Top 500 in the first two decades of the twentieth century.

Dina is a 20th century version of either Dinah or Adinah, two Old Testament names not related to each other. Dinah was the beautiful daughter of Jacob and Leah, while Adinah or Adina was a male soldier, though the name is also used for girls in modern Israel.

Dina

The first name of Ethiopian supermodel Liya (pronounced like Leah) Kebede is also a Russian variation of Lia and Lily.  Rather than using Liya, English speakers will do better to call a child Leah or Lia.

Liya

The Biblical name of a great prophet and judge who helped organize an army and effect a major victory over the Canaanites. Sounds much fresher than the Anglicized Deborah.

Devorah

Somewhat dated Hebrew name that appears more modern when spelled Liora. 

Leora

This attractive Old Testament option is the name of a place in northern Israel. 

Jael

Adira is one of those names that feels familiar without being overused. Simple but with subtle flair, Adira crosses different languages easily and could provide an alternative option tor the likes of Ava, Ariana, Adeline, and Anna.
 
A feminine form of the Hebrew name Adir, Adira means "strong" and "mighty" and is used as a name for God. Occasionally, Adira might also be used as a spelling variation of the Sanskrit Adhira, meaning "lightning" or "restless".
 
 Until 2016, the name was given to just a handful of girls each year, however, by 2017, the number of baby Adiras had doubled and while it is in no way a popular name as yet, it has been trending upwards. Currently given to around 165 girls each year, it is used 5 times more often than a decade ago.
 
The sudden surge in Adira's popularity might be explained by the movie Adira which was released in the US in 2016. The spin-off series of Disney's Tangled kept the name in the spotlight, when it featured a mysterious warrior called Adira in its second season. Then, in 2020, Blu del Barrio starred as the first non-binary character in the Star Trek franchise, Adira Tal.
 
In August 2023, Serena Williams named her daughter Adira River, which may help boost Adira further up the charts in coming years.

Adira

A cute nickname name that's risen high over the past decade or so, more especially as Kaylee, this name combines the attributes of Hailey and Kayla, Kylie and Callie.

Kaylie

In the New Testament, Hosanna was exclaimed by those around Jesus when he first entered Jerusalem, making this an exuberant and spiritual choice. A possible alternative for Susanna or Hannah, it was given to more than 100 girls in a recent year in the US. Associated with the hymn "Give Me Joy In My Heart", Hosanna would fit in with the likes of Halo, Chosen, Shepherd, Blessing, and Messiah.
 
International variations include the Italian Osanna, the Croatian and Romanian Ozana, and the French Osanne and Ozanne.

Hosanna

This simplified spelling is a bit too polyester, though this is also the authentic Slavic version of an Old Testament name that's being rediscovered.

Ester

A zippy little international name. The Hebrew name relates to the month of Israeli independence, while the Slavic Ziva (also spelled Živa and Siva) is a goddess of love, life and fertility.
 
The name was give to 170 girls in the US in a recent year and is in the Top 100 in Slovenia.

Ziva

In English, the word 'maven' refers to an expert or connoisseur, someone who possesses deep knowledge. Comedian Tracy Morgan brought this name into the spotlight when he chose it for his daughter, Maven Sonae, in 2013. Now, over 100 newborn girls in the US are given this name each year.
 
With its similarity to the classic Irish name Maeve and the trendy, serene Haven, Maven strikes a balance between being unique yet familiar, making it a modern favorite for parents seeking something distinctive yet approachable.

Maven

Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza. 

Aviva

Yael is an Old Testament name often heard in Israel that could work well here: just remember that it's pronounced with two syllables...it is also spelled Ya'el. In the Bible she was a Kenite woman in the time of Deborah who killed the enemy general, Sisera.


Yael

Liza's heyday was the mid-1970s, following on the heels of super-popular sister Lisa. But thanks to the fact that it never became superpopular, Liza remains a name not especially tied to one generation or style. 

At one time, the name was closely associated with Liza Minnelli, who was named by her mother Judy Garland after a George Gershwin song. Today, it's the name of the lead character, played by Sutton Foster, in TV's Younger, based on a novel by Nameberry cofounder Pamela Redmond.

Liza

Alisa is variation of Alice with a touch of international flair. Used in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Estonia and Poland, it is also familiar in English speaking countries too. As a Hebrew name, Alisa has a bright, cheerful meaning, that adds another layer to the name. 

Alisa

This is a rare and lovely form of Susannah commonly heard in Israel. Shoshana Shapiro — nicknamed Shosh — is the character played by Zosia Mamet on the hit HBO series Girls — a fact that could give the name an upward thrust.
 And there are other recent references. She's a noble figure in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglorious Basterds, and Shoshannah Stern was a character on the TV show Weeds.
 Shoshanna Lonstein is a designer, founder of the label Shoshanna.

Shoshana

A traditional Hebrew name with a tender meaning, Nechama comes from the Hebrew word for "consolation", "solace", or "comfort". It's a popular choice in Israel where it has ranked consistently in the Top 100 for at least a decade, while in the US, it has been quietly gaining more attention.
 
Given to 135 babies in a recent year, it has been notably borne by historian Nechama Tec, singer Nechama Cohen, and scholar Nechama Leibowitz. The pronunciation may be loosely described as neh-HAH-mah in English, though neh-KHAH-muh is closer to the traditional Hebrew.

Nechama

Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is masculine. The similar Adlai might be easier to wear for boys in English speaking countries, while Adalia fits in with Adeline, Amelia, and Dahlia. 

Adalia

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 7)

Hebrew Girl Names