Yeshiva Boys

A strong, masculine name hardly heard outside the Hebrew-speaking community.

Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and entered the Top 100 for the first time in 2023.

Ari, the short form of Ariel (or any other Ari- beginning name, such as Aristotle) stands up better as a boys’ name than its progenitor does. It is also short for Aristotle, as in Onassis, and is a prominent character on TV's Entourage -- the uberagent Ari Gold.

Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.

Avner is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning 'father of light' or 'my father is a lamp,' composed of 'av' (father) and 'ner' (light or lamp). It appears in the Bible as the name of King Saul's commander, Abner, with Avner being the modern Hebrew pronunciation. The name has been consistently used in Jewish communities, particularly in Israel, but remains relatively uncommon in the broader Western world. Avner carries significant cultural and religious meaning while offering a distinctive sound that works well cross-culturally. Its biblical roots provide historical depth, while its concise two-syllable structure feels contemporary. The name suggests qualities of wisdom and guidance through its literal meaning of bringing or being light. Avner has seen modest increased usage as parents seek names with both cultural significance and uniqueness.

Think of this as the Hebrew equivalent of Benedict or Benito; best for observant Jews.

Bram has an unusual measure of character and charm for a one-syllable name; it started as a hipper-than-Abe diminutive of the biblical Abraham, but is also an independent Irish and Dutch name, made famous by Irish-born Dracula creator Bram (nee Abraham) Stoker. Bram is currently Number 16 in the Netherlands; Bram Howard was a character on The West Wing.

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

When given the French pronunciation (ay-LAN), has a great deal of esprit and élan.

Ezra has a lot going for it: the strength of its heroic Biblical legacy, its quirky sound, and its fresh but familiar feel. Ezra is now at its highest point ever, but its intuitive streamlined spelling and deep roots could make it a worth successor to Elijah in the Top 10 -- or even to Liam or Noah at Number 1.

Judah is the strong, resonant Old Testament name of the son of Jacob who was the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel, and from whom the word Jew is derived. Some of the names' popularity might be attributable to the similarly named Jude Law.

Lior is a unisex name frequently heard in Israel, capturing the popular light theme through its meaning. For English speakers, the one down side is possible pronunciation confusion with "liar," though it's really lee-OR, with a long e sound and emphasis on the second syllable.

Soft and sensitive name often heard in Israel.

Idiosyncratic Hebrew choice.

Sarit is a feminine name with multicultural origins, most prominently found in Hebrew and Indian traditions. In Hebrew, Sarit means 'princess' or can be considered a diminutive form of Sarah, meaning 'lady' or 'princess.' In Indian contexts, particularly in Sanskrit, Sarit can mean 'river' or 'flowing water,' symbolizing life and continuous movement. The name has been consistently used in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide, while also having separate usage in Indian communities. Sarit's brevity and soft consonants give it a gentle, flowing quality that works well across language boundaries. Though never extremely common in Western countries, the name's simplicity and cross-cultural nature have given it modest but steady usage. Its concise, two-syllable structure makes it easily pronounceable in multiple languages.

Shai, pronounced like shy, might morph to rhyme with may among native English speakers. This simple and attractive name is sometimes confused with or anglicized as Shay or even the Irish Shea.

A unisex Hebrew name often found in combination with others, as in Tal-El and Tal-Or.

This short but strong name, commonly heard in Israel, has a lot of crossover potential, and is among the most usable on the minuscule menu of U names.