Hebrew/Jewish Names

Aharon is one of the many variations of the Old Testament Aaron, one of the first Biblical patriarch names to become trendy in the modern world.

A soft and lovely Hebrew name with an equally lovely meaning. Variations include Ahavah, Ahaba, Ahabah, Ahuva and Ahuvah.

A more scriptural way to spell Abraham.

Despite being one of the rare boy names that mean life, Chaim barely survived early Jewish immigration, being watered down to Hyman and Hymie. Today, the original seems like the most promising form of the name, familiar thanks to bestselling author Chaim Potok.

A life-affirming name of Hebrew origin, currently popular in Israel, Chaya has also risen up the charts in both the US and the UK in recent years. Used as a common name for leafy shrub in Mexico, it shares the same root as Chava, Eve, and Eva.

David is an enduring worldwide classic, used from ancient times to the present day.

Fierce meaning, gentle image. This name is very common in Israel, where an endearing pet form is Dubi.

This Hebrew version of Ethan, also a place-name in southern Israel, works well here. Eitan is a Top 20 name in Israel and it has been on the rise in the US too, with 190 boys receiving the name in 2024.

Esther was derived from the Old Persian word stāra, meaning "star." In the Old Testament, Esther, originally named Hadassah, was the captured Jewish wife of the King of Persia who risked her life to save her exiled people from annihilation. This story is celebrated by Jews on the holiday of Purim, so that it has traditionally been given to girls around that time.

Beguiling and lovely, Laila is one of the lilting variations of Leila and Layla. It's the name of the former-boxer daughter of Muhammad Ali and of actor Shawn Wayans. In Finland, the Sami people use this in place of the Scandinavian name Helga.

Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.

The oldest-known form of Mary, serious and solemn Miriam has been a particular favorite of observant Jewish parents. But we can see it extending beyond that sphere into the next wave of Old Testament names post-Rachel, Rebecca, Sarah, Hannah, and Leah. Miriam is currently the Number 1 girls' name in Israel.

Miryam is the original Hebrew form of the name Mary, meaning 'wished-for child,' 'rebellion,' or 'sea of bitterness.' This ancient name carries profound historical and biblical significance as the name of Moses' sister in the Old Testament and later as the name of the mother of Jesus in the New Testament. The spelling Miryam stays true to its Semitic roots and is used in Jewish communities worldwide, as well as in some Arabic-speaking regions. While the variants Mary, Maria, and Miriam are more common globally, Miryam offers an authentic connection to the name's origins. Its rich cultural heritage, melodious pronunciation, and spiritual associations make it a meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with historical depth.

A traditional name still used in Orthodox families. Rivka is the original form of Rebekah or Rebecca, today used far more widely than the original. Rifka is a variation.

Sarah was derived from the Hebrew word sarah, meaning "princess." Sarah is an Old Testament name — she was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. According to the Book of Genesis, Sarah was originally called Sarai, but had her name changed by God to the more auspicious Sarah when she was 90 years old.

Familiar as the most common form of greeting in Hebrew, but also associated with top female model Shalom Harlow.

Supermodel Shalom Harlow glamorized this name, which is heard as a greeting every day in Israel.

A popular Israeli choice that could work across different languages, Shira comes from the Hebrew shir meaning "song." Some parents may be reminded of the animated heroine She-Ra, Princess of Power, from both the 1980s original and the 2018 reboot, however, they are not related.

Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.

The name given to Jacob/Yaacov after wrestling with God's angel, most often used without the initial Y.