Hebrew names
Hebrew names reach back to the Torah itself, Sarah, David, and Noah have been given for thousands of years and still top charts today. Ashkenazi families traditionally name a baby after a deceased relative to honor their memory, while Sephardic families often name after living grandparents. Nearly every name carries a specific root meaning.
Aaron a biblical name of uncertain origin, possibly Egyptian; Hebrew meanings such as high mountain are later theories
Abigail father's joy
Abraham father of many nations
Adam man, earth, ground
Adi jewel, ornament; a modern Israeli favorite for girls and boys
Adina delicate, gentle
Amos 'load, burden' (Hebrew amas)
Ariel lion of God
Asher happy, blessed
Avital my father is dew; a biblical name reborn as a modern Israeli favorite
Aviv spring, the season of renewal; a modern Israeli favorite (also the aviv of Tel Aviv)
Ayelet gazelle, deer
Barak lightning; the military commander who fought beside the prophetess Deborah
Benjamin son of the right hand
Caleb faithful, whole-hearted
Daniel God is my judge
David beloved
Deborah bee
Dinah judged, vindicated
Doron gift (from the Greek doron); a modern Israeli favorite
Eli ascended, my God
Eliana "my God has answered," as the modern Hebrew reads it; also a Romance-language name traced to the Roman family Aelius, which keeps it at home in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Two honest roots, one melodic result, rising fast in all its homelands
Elijah my God is Yahweh
Elisheva God is my oath
Erez cedar, the great tree of Lebanon; a modern Israeli favorite
Ethan strong, firm, enduring
Eve from Ḥawwa, 'to breathe' or 'to live'
Eyal might, strength; a modern Israeli favorite
Ezekiel God will strengthen
Ezra help
Gabriel God is my strength
Gilad Hebrew form of Gilead, the biblical highland: heap of witness
Hannah grace, favor
Ilana tree
Isaac he will laugh
Isaiah Yahweh is salvation
Itai with me, friendly; one of King David's loyal companions
Jacob supplanter, held by the heel
Joel Yahweh is God
Judah praised
Leah weary, or gazelle
Levi joined, attached
Liat you are mine; a tender modern Israeli favorite
Liora my light
Maayan spring, wellspring
Malachi my messenger
Matan gift; a modern Israeli favorite
Micah who is like God
Michal possibly from Hebrew מִיכַל (mikhal), meaning brook
Miriam wished-for child, or bitter sea
Nadav generous; son of Aaron in the Bible, a modern Israeli standard
Naomi pleasantness, my delight
Nathan he gave
Noa movement
Noah rest, comfort
Noam pleasantness, delight
Noya beauty, ornament (Hebrew noi); a fresh modern Israeli favorite
Ora light
Orly light for me; a bright modern Israeli favorite
Rachel ewe, female sheep
Rebecca to bind, join, captivate
Ronen song, joy (Hebrew ron); a modern Israeli favorite
Ronit feminine form of Ron: song, joy; a modern Israeli standard
Samuel God has heard
Sarah princess, noblewoman
Shifra beautiful; the brave midwife of Exodus who defied Pharaoh
Shira song
Shoshana lily, rose
Simon he has heard
Solomon peace, peaceful
Talia dew from heaven
Tamar date palm tree
Tomer palm tree; a modern Israeli favorite
Tzipora bird (tsippor); the wife of Moses, carried today from Jerusalem to Brooklyn
Uri my light; father of the craftsman Bezalel in the Bible, and a modern Israeli standard
Uriel God is my light
Yael 'ibex, mountain goat' (Hebrew Yael)
Yaffa beautiful (yafe); a modern Israeli classic
Yaron he will sing; a modern Israeli favorite
Yoav Hebrew form of Joab: the Lord is father; King David's army commander
Yonatan Hebrew form of Jonathan: God has given
Which of these fits YOUR family? →