Hebrew Names for Boys

The name from which Jordan arose, Yarden has a nice combination of river imagery and a sound connoting a garden. Like Jordan, used for both sexes. 

Yarden

A New Testament tax collector was called Zaccheus, the freshest spin on this biblical favorite. And it still gets you to Zac.

Zaccheus

A Middle Eastern name rarely heard here, but with a certain swashbuckling charm. 

Zahavi

A contracted form of the rare Biblical name, Elioenai, this variation reflects the four syllable pronunciation of the name while Elioenai can also be pronounced with five. Borne by several minor characters in the Old Testament, it means "my eyes look to Yahweh."
 
While Elioenai has been in the charts since the late 90s, Elionai was a new entry for 2024 in the US when it was given to five boys. With cool nicknames Lio, Elio, Eli, and Nai, it might appeal as an alternative to other more popular Biblical choices like Elijah and Malachi.

Elionai

Old Testament name of a son of Moses used by the Puritans, and now by Orthodox Jews. 

Gershom

The name of two Old Testament kings that seems as ripe as you can get for modern use, given the popularity of sound-alike Biblical brethren Jadon and Jacob (and even mythological Jason).  Note that different sources give wide-ranging meanings for Jabin, but we think "perceptive" is the most authoritative, not to mention appealing.

Jabin

Jada is one of those rare names that has a completely different root and meaning in its male and female versions. The male Jada is an obscure Biblical figure, a descendant of Judah. The female Jada is Spanish for jade and is much more common in English-speaking countries.

Jada

The undiscovered Biblical Jemuel -- he was a son of Simeon -- was used for just a handful of boys last year but could be prime for rediscovery now that Old Testament names like Noah and Ethan dominate the Top Ten.  And it comes with user-friendly modern nickname Jem.

Jemuel

Not ready to go all the way to Malachi?  Then take this Biblical shortcut name, with the second syllable rhyming with eye.

Machi

A relative of Matthew, Matteo, and Mathias, Mattaniah is a rarer choice. In the Old Testament, it was the birth name of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, whose name was changed by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. 



Mattaniah

Short, simple international names like this make distinctive middle name possibilities. Nir also makes for a nature-oriented first name that's both straightforward and unusual. But be prepared for a lifetime of "...and far" jokes.

Rowan meets Joey in this nickname-y style choice, and it may well be a modern creation, blending the classic nickname for Joseph with the contemporary favorite Ro- sound. However, Roey may have more history than that, even if it did only begin appearing in the US charts in the late 90s.
 
It could be considered a variation of the Hebrew name, Roi, meaning "my Shepherd", or the identically spelled Galician and Spanish name Roi, a diminutive of Roderigo ("famous ruler"). 
 
Used exclusively for boys so far, with 11 given the name in a recent year (double the number given in previous years), if viewed as a modern invention, it could easily cross into unisex territory.

Roey

If there are too many Jareds in your neighborhood, you might want to consider this Hebrew alternative. 

Zared

Highly unusual; conceivable alternative to Daniel. 

Chaniel

You might want to abbreviate this from one of the Biblical originals or use it as a name all on its own, an update of Sam or Finn.  Sim is a Scottish Gaelic form of Simon.

Simm

Chalil

Zakk is an ekstra-kinetic spelling of a short form that's more and more often standing on its own, also as Zac, Zak, Zach, and Zack. This version is largely associated with musician Zakk Wylde.

Zakk

A bit too elephantine for a modern child.

Eliphalet

More orthodox spelling of a name that also appears as Hazaiah and Hazaia.  An obscure Biblical choice that has some modern zest.

Chazaiah

Biblical family with 323 children. That's a lot of eggs. 

Bezai

Hebrew boy names have been in continual use for thousands of years, and with good reason: such 

 are all Hebrew boys’ names. In fact, many of the most widely-used boys’ names in English-speaking countries are Hebrew in origin, include recent Number one names Noah and Jacob. 

Along with Noah and Jacob, other 

 include Adam, Asher, Caleb, Elijah, Isaac, Levi, Nathan, and Samuel. 

origins include James, Joseph, and John.



 popular in Israel include Uri — especially among Jewish Israelis — Ariel, Noam, and Eitan.


But some Hebrew boy names are still far off the beaten track. 

Hebrew boy names including meaning and popularity, with Old Testament boy names such as Isaac and Moses and top Hebrew boy names such as Noah and Jacob. (Page 18)

Hebrew Boy Names