Jewish names can be a big part of who we are, and they have a direct connection to what we believe. They also protect our children and grandchildren from the effects of sin that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Jews have a duty to stay informed and know what their names mean because their names are the key to keeping their people from sinning. As Jews, we need to know the power of a name and understand how important it is to keep our traditions and religious history alive.
Take a quick look at Church Names. Jewish names are more significant than many realize. They not only carry a deep sense of history and culture, but they also have the power to protect future generations from making the same mistakes of the past.
Jewish Names
Jewish names are names with a Hebrew origin or meaning, often given to babies during a brit milah (circumcision) or naming ceremony. Traditionally, Jewish names are chosen based on the child’s ancestors, biblical characters, or significant events in Jewish history.
Choosing a Jewish name for your child can be hard, but there are many ways to get help. As a way to remember a loved one who has died, it is common to choose a name based on the first letter of their Hebrew name.
- Adam — Hebrew name meaning “man,” the first human created by God.
- Naava — Hebrew origin, meaning “beautiful”.
- Chaim — Hebrew name meaning “life”.
- Shulamit — Hebrew origin, meaning “peaceful”.
- Hodaya — Hebrew origin, meaning “thanksgiving”.
- Rachelle — Hebrew origin, meaning “ewe”.
- Zissel — Yiddish origin, meaning “sweet”.
- Nechama — Hebrew origin, meaning “comfort”.
- Bracha — Hebrew origin, meaning “blessing”.
- Eitan — Hebrew name meaning “firm, strong”.
- Hadassah — Hebrew name meaning “myrtle tree”.
- Ayelet — Hebrew origin, meaning “deer”.
- Daniel — Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge,” a prophet in the Old Testament.
- Ayala — Hebrew origin, meaning “deer”.
- Yiskah — Hebrew origin, meaning “to behold”.
- Ezra — Hebrew name meaning “helper,” a priest and scribe in the Old Testament.
- Noam — Hebrew origin, meaning “pleasantness”.
- Avi — Hebrew name meaning “my father,” a popular nickname or given name for boys.
- Malka — Hebrew name meaning “queen,” often given to girls born during the festival of Purim.
- Gavriel — Hebrew name meaning “God is my strength,” a common Hebrew name for boys.
BOY JEWISH NAMES
Jewish names are often associated with righteous individuals from Jewish history. For example, the name Moshe (Moses) is associated with the greatest prophet in Jewish history, who led the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
By giving your child a name with a positive association, you are setting them on a path toward greatness and inspiring them to live up to the legacy of those who came before them. From classic and timeless, to modern and unique boy Jewish Names aims to provide you with every bit of information that you need to make your decision.
- Hadassah — Hebrew origin, meaning “myrtle tree”.
- Shoshana — Hebrew origin, meaning “lily”.
- Yemima — Hebrew origin, meaning “dove”.
- Avital — Hebrew origin, meaning “father of dew”.
- Chaya — Hebrew origin, meaning “life”.
- Yona — Hebrew origin, meaning “dove”.
- Meira — Hebrew origin, meaning “shining”.
- Esther — Hebrew name meaning “star,” the heroine of the biblical book of Esther.
- Esther — Hebrew origin, meaning “star”.
- Yaeli — Hebrew origin, meaning “God’s strength”.
- Elisheva — Hebrew name meaning “God is my oath,” wife of Aaron in the Old Testament.
- Tova — Hebrew name meaning “good”.
- Eli — Hebrew name meaning “ascend” or “my God,” a prophet and high priest in the Old Testament.
- Orli — Hebrew origin, meaning “my light”.
- Yael — Hebrew name meaning “mountain goat”.
- Gabriel — Hebrew name meaning “God is my strength,” an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition.
- Abigail — Hebrew name meaning “my father’s joy,” a wise and beautiful woman in the Old Testament.
- Eve — Hebrew name meaning “life,” the first woman created by God in the Old Testament.
- Gavriela — Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my strength”.
- Isaiah — Hebrew name meaning “salvation of the Lord,” a prophet in the Old Testament.
GIRL JEWISH NAMES
Finding the perfect name for your daughter is of the utmost importance and can be a complex journey. But when it comes to female Jewish names, many expectant parents find the task intimidating. Do not fear – this blog is here to provide you with insight.
Guidance about the available options so that you can make an informed decision for your daughter’s name. With a diverse cultural history and beautiful language, the Hebrew names here will leave you spoilt for choice.
- Shifra — Hebrew origin, meaning “beautiful”.
- Adina — Hebrew name meaning “gentle,” often given to girls born during the festival of Sukkot.
- Aviva — Hebrew origin, meaning “springtime”.
- Tzirel — Yiddish origin, meaning “bird”.
- Dovid — Hebrew name meaning “beloved”.
- Liora — Hebrew origin, meaning “my light”.
- Levana — Hebrew origin, meaning “moon”.
- Esteri — Hebrew origin, meaning “star”.
- Leah — Hebrew name meaning “weary,” first wife of Jacob in the Old Testament.
- Dina — Hebrew name meaning “judgment,” daughter of Jacob in the Old Testament.
- Neta — Hebrew origin, meaning “plant”.
- Isaac — Hebrew name meaning “laughter,” son of Abraham in the Old Testament.
- Devorah — Hebrew name meaning “bee”.
- Shira — Hebrew origin, meaning “song”.
- Dina — Hebrew origin, meaning “judgment”.
- Shifrah — Hebrew origin, meaning “beautiful”.
- Chana — Hebrew name meaning “grace,” often given to girls born during the festival of Hanukkah.
- Shifra — Hebrew name meaning “beautiful”.
- Tehilla — Hebrew origin, meaning “praise”.
- Menachem — Hebrew name meaning “comforter,” often given to boys as a symbol of hope and peace.
POPULAR JEWISH NAMES
Jewish tradition says that a person’s name is more than just a label; it shows who they are and what they can become. The Talmud says, “A person’s name affects their destiny,” which means that a person’s name can affect how they act and what happens to them.
By giving your child a Jewish name, you can help them feel more connected to their Jewish roots and identity. It can also be a way to remember loved ones who have died or important moments in Jewish history.
- Micah — Hebrew name meaning “who is like God?” a prophet in the Old Testament.
- Binyamin — Hebrew name meaning “son of the right hand”.
- Devorah — Hebrew origin, meaning “bee”.
- Ilan — Hebrew name meaning “tree”.
- Batya — Hebrew origin, meaning “daughter of God”.
- Jacob — Hebrew name meaning “supplanter,” son of Isaac and father of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Old Testament.
- Devorah — Hebrew name meaning “bee,” a prophetess in the Old Testament.
- Lev — Hebrew name meaning “heart”.
- Levi — Hebrew name meaning “joined” or “attached,” third son of Jacob and ancestor of the Levites in the Old Testament.
- Hava — Hebrew origin, meaning “life”.
- Tova — Hebrew origin, meaning “good”.
- Chaviva — Hebrew origin, meaning “beloved”.
- Zipporah — Hebrew origin, meaning “bird”.
- Basya — Hebrew origin, meaning “daughter of God”.
- Benjamin — Hebrew name meaning “son of the right hand,” youngest son of Jacob in the Old Testament.
- Shaindel — Yiddish origin, meaning “pretty”.
- Yonit — Hebrew origin, meaning “dove”.
- Baruch — Hebrew name meaning “blessed,” often given to boys in honor of the Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza.
- Aidel — Yiddish origin, meaning “noble”.
- Tovah — Hebrew origin, meaning “good”.
CREATIVE JEWISH NAMES
People who follow Judaism believe that a person’s name has the power to keep them safe from bad things and sins. “A person’s name is their shield,” says the Talmud. This means that a person’s name can protect them spiritually.
By giving your child a Jewish name, you are giving them a shield to protect them from sin and bad influences. The name can help them remember who they are and what they believe in, and it can lead them down the right path.
- Aviya — Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my father”.
- Elisheva — Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my oath”.
- Joshua — Hebrew name meaning “God is salvation,” Moses’ successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land in the Old Testament.
- Jonah — Hebrew name meaning “dove,” a prophet in the Old Testament.
- Yael — Hebrew origin, meaning “mountain goat”.
- Eliora — Hebrew name meaning “God is my light”.
- Amos — Hebrew name meaning “burden-bearer,” a prophet in the Old Testament.
- Tzippa — Hebrew origin, meaning “bird”.
- Rina — Hebrew origin, meaning “joy”.
- Batya — Hebrew name meaning “daughter of God,” the name of the Pharaoh’s daughter who saved Moses in the Old Testament.
- Eliora — Hebrew origin, meaning “my God is my light”.
- Adina — Hebrew origin, meaning “gentle”.
- Gittel — Yiddish origin, meaning “good”.
- Miriam — Hebrew origin, meaning “bitter”.
- Judah — Hebrew name meaning “praised,” son of Jacob and ancestor of the Jewish people in the Old Testament.
- Hannah — Hebrew name meaning “grace,” mother of Samuel in the Old Testament.
- Aliza — Hebrew origin, meaning “joyful”.
- Hadara — Hebrew origin, meaning “glory”.
- Shlomo — Hebrew name meaning “peaceful”.
Final Words
Choosing a Jewish name for your child is a big decision that has spiritual meaning. By giving your child a Jewish name, you are connecting them to their Jewish heritage and values and giving them a shield against bad things and sins.
If you are expecting a child and want to give him or her a Jewish name, take some time to find out what each name means and how it fits into Jewish culture. You might find that a certain name fits with your values and those of your family and can be a meaningful part of your Jewish identity.