Hebrew Names for Boys

If the once rare and weighty Hezekiah is now too popular for your tastes, you could consider this alternative form of Biblical name. Appearing in the Old Testament as a powerful king of Judah, the name is ultimately derived from the Hebrew Hizqyahu meaning "Yahweh strengthens" or "God gives me strength". Pronounced as kheetz-kee-yah or hi-zkee-ya, it is notably, though quietly, used in Israel.

Hizkiah

The name of several minor characters in the Old Testament, including a number of Levites and a chief priest in the time of Ezra, Hashabiah is a rare Biblical name, meaning "Yahweh has considered" or "regarded by Yahweh". Pronounced as ha-shuh-BYE-uh or ha-shah-VEE-uh, it is very rarely used today.




Hashabiah

A unisex Biblical name, Maacah appears in the Bible a number of times, borne by a nephew of Abraham, a wife of David, a King of Gath, and the father of Shephatiah. Meaning "crushed, pressed, squeezed", it may also connect to Tel Abel-beth-maachah, a large archaeological tell (or man-made mound) in Israel that also appears in the Bible. Pronounced as mah-HAH or mah-KHAH in Hebrew, MA-kuh or MEHR-kuh may be more likely in English, though it is very rarely used.

Maacah

Also spelled as Maacah, this rare Biblical name is a unisex choice given to a number of figures in the Bible, including a wife of David, a nephew of Abraham, and a granddaughter of Absalom. Meaning "crushed, pressed, squeezed", it would be pronounced as mah-KHAH or mah-HAH in Hebrew. 

Maachah

A rare and ancient feeling Biblical name, Zurishaddai is rarely given as a first name, though its Spanish and Portuguese form, Zurisadai, has been used in Mexico, Venezuela, and the US. Blending the Hebrew element tsur meaning "rock" with Shaddai which is another name for God, it has a firm and spiritual meaning.
 
Zurishaddai appears in the Old Testament, borne by the father of Shelumiel, the prince of the Tribe of Simeon.

Zurishaddai

Also spelled as Malchijah, Malkijah, Melchiah, and Melchias, this rare Biblical choice derives from the Hebrew element melek, blended with the name of the Hebrew God. Similar in sound to Malachi and Micaiah, it appears in the Bible a number of times, borne by a priest in ancient Israel, a goldsmith, and a musician among others. 
 
Traditionally pronounced as mal-KEE-uh, mal-KYE-uh may be heard in English.

Malchiah

An ancient relative of classic Matthew, Mathias, and Matteo, Mattithiah was borne by several minor figures in the Old Testament and by a 2nd-century BC Jewish priest who led a revolt against the Seleucid Empire. Also known as Mattathias and Mattityahu, the priest played an important role in the Maccabean revolt that led to the recovery of Jerusalem. As such, he is named in one of the Hannukah  celebration prayers.


Mattithiah

A lesser known relative of Solomon, Shelomith comes from the Hebrew element shalom, giving it the same peaceful meaning. The name appears in the Old Testament as a unisex name, with male bearers including a descendant of Zerubbabel, a son of Shimei, and a Levite who works as an overseer of the treasuries of King David.

Shelomith

A rare, unisex name, Shelomit is the Biblical Hebrew form of Shelomith. It appears in the Old Testament several times, with male bearers including a descendant of Zerubbabel, a son of Shimei, and a Levite who overseers the treasuries of King David.
 
Derived from the Hebrew shalom, it shares the same peaceful root as the names Solomon, Shlomo, and Salome. Today, it is most likely to appear in the form of Shlomit, used as a feminine name in Israel.

Shelomit

Associated with the Jewish prophet and author of the Book of Amos in the Old Testament, Aamos is the Finnish and Estonian variation, ultimately deriving from the Hebrew amas meaning "load, burden", or more figuratively, "carried by God". 
 
It may be one to watch out for in Finland in coming years, following a 2026 poll <a href="https://kaksplus.fi/vauva/tama-on-kaunein-pojan-nimi-2026-kolmannella-sijalla-komeilee-yllattaja/">from a Finnish magazine</a> which asked parents what they thought the most beautiful baby names were. The poll (which allowed parents to vote 1-3 options from a list of 100 or write in their own choice) saw Aamos ranking in 3rd place for boys, despite being absent from the previous Top 100 in Finland. 
 
The magazine suggested the interest in Aamos may result from a more general interest in international names that are popular outside of Finland (such as Atlas, Isla, and Noel) and because it fits into the trend for soft, smooth names, like Onni, Elias, Aapo, Emil, and Aatos.

Aamos

Zingy and energetic, Zippy is a lively nickname that doubles up as a word name too. For a more classic, grounded origin, you could look to the Biblical Zachary — or for rarer full forms, perhaps to Zebedee, Cyprian, Zephaniah, Zeppelin, Zephyr, or Zebulon might appeal. Alternative, you could see it as a word name, associated with jubilance, energy, speed, and brightness. 
 
While Zippy has never ranked in the US stats, it could fit in with the likes of Ziggy, Ozzy, Tripp, and Teddy.

Zippy

Conventionally used as a light-inspired, feminine Hebrew name — also spelled Orli — Orly may also be interpreted as an nickname for the Italian Orlando, the Latin Aurelius, the Icelandic Örlygur, and the Bulgarian Orlin, associating it in turn with fame, shades of gold, war, and eagles. 
 
Alternative possibilities are that it's a spin on the English surname Orley, meaning "meadow of Odwulf" or "meadow of the wolf sword" or perhaps a blending of the Irish elements or and láech, giving it the meaning "golden warrior".
 
It was used as a masculine name by author Charlotte McConaghy in her 2025 novel Wild Dark Shore, and is borne by Icelandic film maker, Orly Orlyson.

Orly

Sharp yet gentle, Ruach holds the appeal of Reuben, Malachi, and Rufus, but is far rarer than all three. Derived from a Hebrew word meaning "spirit" — as in a person's soul, mind, personality, and energy — and also "wind, air, atmosphere", it doubles up as a nature-related option and a spiritual choice. 
 
In Judaism, the holy spirit — that is the presence and influence of God over the universe — is known as Ruach Ha-Kodesh, giving it the additional meaning of "spirit of God".

Ruach

Derived from the Hebrew word for "rock", "cliff", or "flint", Tzur is a concise and solid name that is sometimes given to boys born around Hanukkah, in reference to the song Maoz Tzur ("strong rock"). The hymn, believed to have been written around the 13th-century, is sung following the lighting of festival lights and recounts Jewish history and the Hanukkah miracles.
 
Zuriel is an etymologically related name.

Tzur

A rare Biblical name, borne by several figures in the Bible, including a son of Hananiah, a descendent of Saul and Jonathon, and a son of Hur, who was an official in Jerusalem. Meaning "God has healed" from rafa and yah, it etymologically related to the more familiar Raphael.

Rephaiah

A new entry to the Hungarian Top 100 in 2025, Beniel possibly combines the Hebrew elements ben and el to mean "son of God". As such, it could be viewed as a compound name, mixing Benjamin and Daniel, though another possibility is that it comes from Benhail, an Old Testament name meaning "son of strength".
 
Given to 82 boys in Hungary in a recent year, it has the potential to become more internationally popular.

Beniel

A name with two possible meanings, Azri is short, zippy, and fresh.
 
As a Malay name, it has its roots in the Arabic ʿadhriyy, giving it the meaning "pure, clean, chaste", while as a Hebrew (or perhaps contemporary) name, it likely borrows from names like Azriel, Azariah, and Ezri, meaning "help".

Azri

Playful with a hint of poetry, Pashkin is a Medieval diminutive of Pash or Paschal, ultimately derived from Hebrew to mean "Easter" or "Passover". Used as a unisex choice, it could make an interesting character name for a something slightly fantastical.

Pashkin

Succinct, simple, and approachable, Pash is a Medieval English name, relating to Paschal and Pascal. Derived from Hebrew via Latin, it means "Easter" or "Passover" and was occasionally used for babies born on Easter Sunday. Occasionally used as slang for passion or passionate, it may also be used as a nickname for Pascal, Pavel, or Pavlo and as a diminutive of the Armenian Pasha (used originally as the title of a high ranking Ottoman military officer). 
 
Occasionally used in India too, it may derive from names such as Tapash ("meditation, austerity") or Vipashyin ("seeing clearly, understanding").

Pash

A rare Biblical name, borne by a number of minor figures, including a descendent of Simeon, the father of one of David's warriors, and one of the Levites who helped cleanse the Temple in Judah following the reign of King Ahaz. Meaning "guarded" or "guarded by Yahweh", depending on interpretation, this form may offer nickname Sam.

Samri

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 27)

Hebrew Boy Names