Jewish American names
Many Jewish American families lean on Hebrew Bible names, Sarah, Noah, Miriam, Ezra, chosen in memory of a grandparent per Ashkenazi tradition, sharing just the first letter or the feeling of the name rather than repeating it outright. Others favor Yiddish-inflected classics that carry old-country warmth into a new generation.
Aaron a biblical name of uncertain origin, possibly Egyptian; Hebrew meanings such as high mountain are later theories; a beloved classic honoring Moses's brother
Abraham father of many; a beloved patriarch name carrying deep resonance
Adina delicate, gentle; a graceful modern Hebrew name
Ari lion; a beloved short classic, often standing on its own
Ariel lion of God; a beloved unisex Hebrew name
Asher happy, blessed; a beloved tribal name enjoying a strong modern revival
Batya daughter of God; a graceful modern Hebrew name honoring the Pharaoh's daughter who saved Moses
Benjamin son of the right hand; a beloved classic across generations
Bernard brave as a bear; a distinctly mid-century Jewish American classic
Blima flower (Yiddish blum); sister spelling of Bluma, alive in Brooklyn birth records
Bluma flower (Yiddish blum); carried by pioneering psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik
Chaim life; a beloved traditional name still given in observant Jewish American families
Daniel God is my judge; a beloved biblical classic
David beloved; a timeless classic across generations of Jewish American families
Deborah bee; a beloved judge-prophetess name, a steady mid-century classic
Devorah bee; the traditional Hebrew spelling kept alive in observant families alongside Deborah
Elan tree; a graceful modern Hebrew name
Eli ascended, my God; a beloved short classic that has surged in recent decades
Estelle star; a beloved heirloom name enjoying a modern revival
Esther star, also linked to the goddess Ishtar; the beloved heroine of Purim, a warm classic
Ezra help; a beloved scribe-prophet's name enjoying a strong modern revival
Faiga bird (Yiddish foigl); the vernacular sister of Tzipora
Fraidy little joy, a pet form of Fraida (Yiddish freid, 'joy'); a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Frimet in the Fruma family, from Yiddish frum: pious; a Hasidic heirloom in live Brooklyn use
Gittel good one (Yiddish gut); an old-world endearment still given in Brooklyn
Golda traditionally 'gold'; forever tied to Golda Meir, a beloved Yiddish heirloom name
Hannah grace, favor; a beloved classic honoring the mother of the prophet Samuel
Herschel traditionally 'deer'; a beloved old-world heirloom name
Hindy little doe, a pet form of Hinda (Yiddish for 'deer, hind'); a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Ida hard-working; a distinctly early-20th-century Jewish American classic
Ilana tree; a graceful modern Hebrew name embraced in American Jewish families
Irving from a Scottish surname tied to the River Irvine, traditionally glossed green or fresh water; an Americanized name adopted widely by early-20th-century Jewish immigrant families
Isaac he will laugh; a beloved patriarch name steady across generations
Jacob supplanter; a beloved patriarch name that became one of the most popular names in America
Judah praised; a beloved patriarch and tribal name rising quickly today
Leah weary, or gazelle; a beloved matriarch name that has surged in recent decades
Levi joined, attached; a beloved patriarchal tribal name now hugely popular
Liora my light; a graceful modern Hebrew name
Max greatest; a beloved heirloom name, often short for Mordecai, enjoying a huge modern revival
Melvin chief, or gentle lord; a distinctly mid-century Jewish American classic
Meyer traditionally 'bringer of light'; a beloved early-20th-century Jewish American surname-turned-first-name
Miriam traditionally 'wished-for child' or 'bitter'; a cherished matriarch name honoring Moses's sister
Molly star of the sea, pet form of Miriam/Mary; a beloved Yiddish-inflected classic across generations
Mordecai traditional name of the hero of the Purim story; a name of deep Jewish heritage, often shortened to Max or Mort
Murray surname-style, from a Scottish place name; a distinctly mid-century Jewish American classic
Naomi pleasantness; a beloved matriarch-adjacent name enjoying a strong modern revival
Noa movement; a beloved modern Israeli-Hebrew name embraced by American Jewish families
Noah rest, comfort; a beloved classic that became one of the most popular names in America
Perel pearl; an heirloom Yiddish name still given in Brooklyn
Rachel ewe; a beloved matriarch name, a steady classic since the mid-20th century
Raizy little rose, a pet form of Raizel (Yiddish roiz, 'rose'); a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Rebecca to bind, join; a beloved biblical classic
Rose flower; a beloved heirloom classic honoring grandmothers, especially common as the Americanized form of Rachel or Reizel
Ruth friend, companion; a beloved classic honoring the biblical Book of Ruth
Sadie princess, pet form of Sarah; a beloved heirloom name enjoying a big modern revival
Samuel God has heard; a beloved classic prophet's name
Sarah princess; one of the most enduring names across generations of Jewish American families
Selma divine protection; a distinctly early-20th-century Jewish American classic
Seymour surname-style, 'from Saint-Maur'; a distinctly early-20th-century Jewish American classic
Shaindy little beauty, a pet form of Shaindel (Yiddish shein, 'beautiful'); a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Sheldon surname-style, 'steep valley'; a distinctly mid-century Jewish American classic
Shira song; a graceful modern Hebrew name embraced in American Jewish families
Shoshana lily, rose; a beloved traditional Hebrew name embraced in American Jewish families
Sylvia of the forest; a beloved early-20th-century Jewish American classic
Talia dew from heaven; a beloved modern Hebrew name
Yael 'ibex, mountain goat'; a beloved modern Israeli-Hebrew name
Yides Yiddish pet form of Yehudis (Judith): woman of Judea; in live Hasidic Brooklyn use
Yitty pet form in the Yitta and Yetta family, names traditionally traced back to Judith; a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Zalman Yiddish form of Solomon: peace; borne by Israeli president Zalman Shazar
Zelda possibly a feminine form of the Yiddish Zelig, 'blessed, happy'; famously borne by the socialite Zelda Fitzgerald
Zev wolf; a beloved modern Hebrew name
Zissy little sweet one, a pet form of Zisel (Yiddish zis, 'sweet'); a Brooklyn Hasidic favorite
Which of these fits YOUR family? →