Jewish Names

Bright and bold traditionally masculine name used in Israel.

Often stands alone in Israel, but rarely here.

Biblical name from the Old Testament, and a nice full form of the sweet nickname Jory.

Strongly associated with the mega-popular single-named singer, who was actually the fourth Usher Raymond in his family. He could start a fad.

The currently preferred replacement for Becky, sometimes used on its own.

The original form of the Hebrew Meyer.

Israeli-born singer Keren Ann introduced this traditional Hebrew name to this country, where it could well be mistaken for Karen.

A rarely-used name even in its native Cornwall, Jory nevertheless feels very wearable, thanks to its similarity to familiar picks like Rory, Corey and Joey. Jory Cassel is a minor character in the first season of Game of Thrones.

Kelilah, also spelled Kelila, is a lovely and unusual name that would make a perfect substitute for the trendy Delilah.

The modern name Dena can be considered to come from either of two Old Testament names. Adina, which means delicate, was the name of a male soldier in the Bible. Dinah, meaning judged, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah. Dena is a common name in Amish communities.

For jet-setting parents or those with many cultural backgrounds, a name that is workable across various languages is often a priority. Natan is a great option, as it is a familiar name in many European countries. It is currently most popular in Poland but seeing significant use in Israel as well.

Naviʾ is the Hebrew word for "prophet," while neviʾa is "prophetess." Both ultimately derive an Akkadian word meaning "to proclaim" or "to summon."

The Selma-Thelma-Velma connection dates it.

Russian form of Eli mainly used today by families with Russian Jewish heritage.

Could be confused with the much less captivating Leanne.

A classic variation of the name Isidore, both Isadore and Isidore were equally popular at their peak in the 1910s. They were historically used among Jewish families — Isidore and Isadore were often used as Americanizations of Jewish names such as Israel and Isaac.

A small but mighty modern Hebrew name, Rom ranks in Israel's Top 100.

This animal-themed name is among the most popular for girls in contemporary Israel. Parents who want to move beyond the mega-popular Aliyah and sisters might want to consider Ayala. The male form is Ayal.