Usable and Sweet Hebrew Names

Adara

Arabic, Hebrew

"maidens; noble, exalted"

A charming multicultural choice with a daring yet grounded sound, Adara is a both a Hebrew name with a noble meaning, and an Arabic name with ties to astronomy. Popular in Puerto Rico and Spain, it…

Adalia

Hebrew, German, "God is my refuge; noble one"

"God is my refuge; noble one"

Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is…

Adira

Hebrew

"strong"

Adira is one of those names that feels familiar without being overused. Simple but with subtle flair, Adira crosses different languages easily and could provide an alternative option tor the likes of…

Ariela

Ariela is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'lioness of God' or 'lion of God.' It is a feminine variant of Ariel, combining 'ari' (lion) with 'el' (God). The name appears in various cultures…

Aviva

Hebrew

"springlike, fresh, dewy"

Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning…

Lilach

Hebrew

"lilac"

Hebrew cognate of Lilac

Nechama

Hebrew

"comfort"

A traditional Hebrew name with a tender meaning, Nechama comes from the Hebrew word for "consolation", "solace", or "comfort". It's a popular choice in Israel where it has ranked consistently in the…

Odele

English from Greek

"song"

Sounds a lot like the recently revived Adele.

Odelia

Hebrew, German

"I will praise the Lord or wealth"

Pretty Hebrew name that would create a strong but feminine impression, as well as a variant of the Germanic name Odilia or Ottilie.

Shira

Hebrew, Japanese

"singing, song; poetry, excellent, white"

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 ,…

Shoshana

Hebrew

"lily"

This is a rare and lovely form of Susannah commonly heard in Israel. Shoshana Shapiro — nicknamed Shosh — is the character played by Zosia Mamet on the hit HBO series Girls — a fact that could give…

Tali

Hebrew

"dew"

Friendly and relaxed choice used by singer Annie Lennox for her daughter; Tal is a unisex Hebrew version.

Tehila

Hebrew

"praise song"

Tehila may at first appeal as a distinctive choice. Danger: might tend to sound like a mispronunciation of tequila.

Tirzah

Hebrew

"delight"

A fairly common Hebrew name without much crossover potential.