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Jewish Names

  1. Gad

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Navajo

    • Meaning:

      "fortune; juniper tree"

    • Description:

      Simple Biblical name with an auspicious meaning. There are two men named Gad in the Old Testament — one the first son of Jacob and Zilpah, and the other a prophet of King David.
  2. Yahav

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "wish, God will help me"
  3. Haskell

    • Origin:

      English from Norse, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God's helmet; God strengthens"

    • Description:

      Haskell has two separate forms of origin, the first being from the Ancient Norse given name Ásketill. The Normans converted Ásketill to Aschetil, then the English transformed Aschetil into Haskell, which was originally only used as a surname. Haskell is also considered a variant of Haskel, a Yiddish given name derived from Ezekiel.
  4. Neta

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "plant; God has given"

    • Description:

      This botanical Hebrew name is predominantly used on girls, however it is traditionally a unisex name that is used on boys too.
  5. Zofia

    • Origin:

      Czech, Polish, and Ukrainian variation of Sophia

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      An international variation of Sophia that ranks in the Top 10 in Poland and the Top 1000 in England and Wales. Zosia is a charming diminutive.
  6. Elkan

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God has purchased"

    • Description:

      Elkan is derived from Elkanah, the name of Samuel's father in the Old Testament.
  7. Usher

    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Asher or English surname from French

    • Meaning:

      "blessed; doorkeeper"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "white; bashful"

    • Description:

      Also written as Bayla, Baila is reminiscent of the Spanish word for "dance". Its meaning is debated: it may come from the Slavic root word for "white", or it may be a form of Bilhah, one of the four women who gave birth to the tribes of Israel. An offbeat approach to Bella.
  9. Maayan

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "spring of water"

    • Description:

      Maayan (also stylized as Ma'ayan) may sound like the girls' name Maya, but it is a popular unisex name in Israel.
  10. Micaela

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, and Israeli variation of Michaela

    • Meaning:

      "who is like God"

    • Description:

      The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.
  11. Bluma

    • Origin:

      Yiddish

    • Meaning:

      "flower"

    • Description:

      This floral name, related to bloom and Blossom, is common in the Jewish community, but not often heard outside it. Other Yiddish nature names are Ita (star), Masha (rising water), and Mayim (water).
  12. Yosef

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      A widely used Hebrew form of Joseph, with a sophisticated and continental air.
  13. Ruta

    • Origin:

      Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian

    • Meaning:

      "compassionate friend; rue"

    • Description:

      The Polish form of Ruth has mostly been lost outside of Poland, but though rare, it can still be heard in Polish and Eastern European communities. Ruta has only ever appeared on Illinois' state data, due to Chicago's large Polish population. With Ruth now on the ascent, Ruta may be worth rediscovering.
  14. Hila

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Pashto

    • Meaning:

      "halo; hope"

    • Description:

      Hila is a name that has grown in popularity in recent years, placing it firmly within Israel's Top 20 for girls. It is sometimes written as Hilla or Hilah. In Pashto, it means "hope" and is also spelled Heela.
  15. Maor

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "a light"

    • Description:

      A little-known Hebrew name which ranks in the Top 100 in Israel.
  16. Sinai

    • Origin:

      Biblical place name, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "hatred"

    • Description:

      Mount Sinai is a place sacred to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, the mountain on which Moses received the Ten Commandments. Sinai is also the name of the peninsula where Mount Sinai is located.
  17. Arik

    • Description:

      Arik is a masculine name with rich multicultural roots. Primarily of Hebrew origin, it's a diminutive form of Ariel or Ari, meaning 'lion of God' or simply 'lion,' symbolizing strength and courage. In Nordic languages, it can be a variation of Erik, meaning 'eternal ruler' or 'ever powerful.' Arik gained some recognition in Israel, where it was the nickname of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The name has a strong, concise sound that appeals to parents seeking distinctive yet accessible names. While never extremely common in Western countries, Arik has maintained steady though modest usage. Its cross-cultural appeal, biblical connections, and powerful meaning make it an attractive choice for parents seeking a name with substance and character.

  18. Emanuel

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Emmanuel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is with us"

    • Description:

      Fewer letters does not always mean easier—the traditional spelling is the one most people will recognize.
  19. Yuvi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "stream"

    • Description:

      Gender-neutral nickname typically used for Yuval, the modern Hebrew form of Jubal.
  20. Paz

    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "gold; peace"

    • Description:

      Paz is an appealing Spanish name meaning "peace", derived from the Latin "pax". It's usually feminine in Spanish, but could also make an interesting literary choice for a boy, honoring the writer Octavio Paz.