Yiddish Names for Boys

Moshe

Hebrew

"son or deliver"

Moshe is the original Hebrew form of Moses, also spelled Mosheh. In the past it was changed to names like Morris, Moe and Maurice. The original Moshe has been drifting up the US popularity list for…

Shlomo

Hebrew

"his peace"

Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.

Yeshua

Variation of Joshua, Hebrew

"the Lord is my salvation"

Yeshua is often considered the "real" name of Jesus, via the Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English evolution of Yeshua to Iesous to Iesus to Jesus. It is also used as a common alternative of Yehoshua…

Anshel

Anshel is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, primarily used in Jewish communities. It's believed to be derived from the Hebrew name Asher, meaning 'happy' or 'blessed,' or possibly from the German…

Tevel

Hebrew, Yiddish

"world, universe"

Derived from the Hebrew word for "universe, macrocosm, world", this modern choice may appeal to those who like Evren for its meaning.

Lazer

Yiddish variation of Eliezer or Lazarus

"God helps"

Lazer has some biblical cred as a form of Eliezer, Eleazar, or Lazarus, all relatives, and it's also a modern bad boy name a la Ranger and Breaker. Our recommendation would be to use one of the…

Brick

Word name, various origins

This is an Anglicized form of various names; the Irish Gaelic O Bruic; German, Bruck or Breck, meaning "swamp" or "wood"; Yiddish, Brik, "bridge"; and Slovenian, Bric, "dweller from a hilly place."…

Haskel

Yiddish variation of Ezekiel

Rarely used cerebral-sounding name that is actually the Yiddish form of Ezekiel.

Feivel

Yiddish

"brilliant one"

This comes from Faivish, the Yiddish form of Phoebus, the Greek sun god...and it's also the little mouse in "An American Tail."

Hersz

Hersz is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, primarily used in Jewish communities of Eastern European descent. It functions as a variant of Hirsch, which means 'deer' or 'stag' in Yiddish and German.…

Iser

Iser is a masculine name with diverse origins. In Jewish traditions, it may derive from the Yiddish name 'Isser' or 'Issar,' which is sometimes used as a variation of Israel or Isaac. It can also…

Sroel

Sroel is a rare masculine name that serves as a Yiddish variant of Israel. The name Israel has deep biblical roots, originating from Hebrew meaning 'one who struggles with God' or 'God contends.'…

Issur

Issur is a masculine name with Hebrew and Yiddish origins. It may have developed as a variation of the Hebrew name Isser or Issar, which is believed to be related to the Hebrew word 'asur' meaning…

Mendele

Mendele is a masculine name with Yiddish origins, functioning as a diminutive or affectionate form of Mendel, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Menachem, meaning 'comforter' or 'consoler.'…

Leib

Yiddish

"roaring lion"

Appealing name because, in German and Yiddish, it also means "dear" or "heart".

Heskel

Heskel is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, representing a variant of Ezekiel or Yechezkel, meaning 'God strengthens' or 'God will strengthen.' Common in Jewish communities, particularly among…

Mende

Mende is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. In some West African cultures, particularly among the Mende people of Sierra Leone, it serves as both an ethnic identifier and personal name.…

Mendel

Yiddish variation of Menachem

Mendel is an Old World Jewish name that is also the surname of the founder of genetics.

Moishe

Yiddish variation of Moses, Egyptian

"delivered from the water"

A name commonly heard on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the last century.

Beinish

Beinish is a masculine name with Yiddish origins, derived from 'ben' meaning 'son' in Hebrew. The name may also have connections to Eastern European Jewish communities. Though relatively uncommon in…