Hebrew Names
Hebrew names are among the oldest still in daily use. Many of the most popular names in the English-speaking world — Noah, Elijah, Hannah, Leah, Michael, Benjamin — come straight from the Hebrew Bible, and their meanings are often short statements of faith: Michael asks “Who is like God?” and Hannah means “grace.” Modern Israel has added a fresh layer of names drawn from nature and everyday Hebrew words, like Noa, Tamar, Lior and Yam.
This page gathers more than 70 Hebrew names with their meanings and, for biblical names, where they appear in scripture. For longer lists, see Hebrew boy names and Hebrew girl names, and for family names, Jewish last names. Christian parents may also like our biblical names collection.
Hebrew Names: browse all lists
Classic Hebrew boy names from the Bible
Names of patriarchs, prophets and kings, several of which rank among today’s most popular names in the US (SSA data). See the full list of Hebrew boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Noah | “Rest, comfort” | Genesis 6–9 |
| Elijah | “My God is Yahweh” | 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2 |
| Benjamin | “Son of the right hand” | Genesis 35 |
| Levi | “Joined, attached” | Genesis 29 |
| Ezra | “Help” | Book of Ezra |
| Asher | “Happy, blessed” | Genesis 30 |
| Micah | “Who is like Yahweh?” | Book of Micah |
| Samuel | “God has heard” or “name of God” | 1 Samuel 1 |
| Nathan | “He gave” | 2 Samuel 7 |
| David | “Beloved” | 1 Samuel 16 |
| Isaac | “He will laugh” | Genesis 21 |
| Jacob | “Supplanter” or “held by the heel” | Genesis 25 |
| Joseph | “He will add” | Genesis 30 |
| Daniel | “God is my judge” | Book of Daniel |
| Gideon | “Hewer, feller” | Judges 6–8 |
| Eli | “Ascended, uplifted” | 1 Samuel 1–4 |
Classic Hebrew girl names from the Bible
Matriarchs, prophetesses and heroines — names that have stayed in use for thousands of years. More in our list of Hebrew girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah | “Grace, favor” | 1 Samuel 1–2 |
| Sarah | “Princess, noblewoman” | Genesis 17 |
| Leah | Possibly “weary” or “delicate” | Genesis 29 |
| Rachel | “Ewe” | Genesis 29 |
| Rebecca | Possibly “to tie, bind” | Genesis 24 |
| Miriam | Uncertain; possibly “beloved” or “bitter sea” | Exodus 15 |
| Abigail | “My father is joy” | 1 Samuel 25 |
| Naomi | “Pleasantness” | Book of Ruth |
| Deborah | “Bee” | Judges 4–5 |
| Esther | Possibly Persian, “star”; Hebrew name Hadassah | Book of Esther |
| Judith | “Woman of Judea, praised” | Book of Judith (deuterocanonical) |
| Tamar | “Date palm” | Genesis 38; 2 Samuel 13 |
| Eve | “Life, living” | Genesis 3 |
| Delilah | Possibly “delicate” | Judges 16 |
| Elisheva | “My God is an oath” | Exodus 6 (English Elizabeth) |
| Michal | “Who is like God?” | 1 Samuel 18 |
Modern Hebrew names popular in Israel
Many Israeli parents choose names that are also ordinary Hebrew words, often short, bright and unisex. Several are catching on in the US.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Noa | “Movement” (daughter of Zelophehad, Numbers 26) | Girl |
| Maya | Possibly “water” (mayim) | Girl |
| Lior | “My light” | Unisex |
| Yonatan | “God has given” | Boy |
| Itai | “God is with me” | Boy |
| Shira | “Song, poetry” | Girl |
| Ariel | “Lion of God” | Unisex |
| Omer | “Sheaf of wheat” | Boy |
| Yael | “Mountain goat, ibex” | Girl |
| Roni | “My joy, my song” | Unisex |
| Ori | “My light” | Boy |
| Talia | “Dew of God” | Girl |
| Noam | “Pleasantness” | Boy |
| Agam | “Lake” | Girl |
| Eitan | “Strong, steadfast” | Boy |
| Hila | “Halo, glory” | Girl |
Hebrew names from nature
Nature names are hugely popular in Israel. They’re a lovely alternative to English nature names for girls and nature boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Tal | “Dew” | Unisex |
| Yam | “Sea” | Boy |
| Alon | “Oak tree” | Boy |
| Ilan | “Tree” | Boy |
| Oren | “Pine tree” | Boy |
| Ayala | “Doe, gazelle” | Girl |
| Shoshana | “Lily, rose” | Girl |
| Vered | “Rose” | Girl |
| Rimon | “Pomegranate” | Unisex |
| Dalia | “Branch” (also the dahlia flower) | Girl |
| Gefen | “Grapevine” | Unisex |
| Shaked | “Almond” | Unisex |
| Tamir | “Tall, upright” (like a palm) | Boy |
| Lilach | “Lilac” | Girl |
Hebrew names that honor God
Many Hebrew names are “theophoric,” meaning they contain a name of God — El or a short form of Yah. Compare with our names of God.
| Name | Meaning | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriel | “God is my strength” | El |
| Raphael | “God heals” | El |
| Emmanuel | “God is with us” | El |
| Nathaniel | “Gift of God” | El |
| Ezekiel | “God strengthens” | El |
| Eliana | “My God has answered” | El |
| Adriel | “My help is God” | El |
| Tobiah | “Yahweh is good” | Yah |
| Zechariah | “Yahweh remembers” | Yah |
| Isaiah | “Yahweh is salvation” | Yah |
| Yehudah | “Praise” (to God) | Yah, by tradition |
| Adiel | “Ornament of God” | El |
Tips for choosing a Hebrew name
- Know the naming customs. Ashkenazi Jews traditionally name a baby after a relative who has died, while Sephardi Jews often honor living grandparents.
- A Hebrew name can sit beside an English one. Many Jewish children outside Israel have an everyday English name and a Hebrew name used for religious occasions, often sharing a first letter (Emily and Elisheva).
- Check the transliteration. Hebrew sounds can be spelled several ways in English — Chana/Hannah, Yonatan/Jonathan, Chaim/Haim. Pick the spelling that’s easiest for your family.
- Mind the “ch.” The throaty ch sound in names like Chaim, Chana or Yochanan is hard for many English speakers; an English form (Hannah, John) may be easier day to day.
- Look up the story. Biblical names come with a story. Most are positive; a few (like Delilah or Jezebel) carry more complicated associations worth knowing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular Hebrew names?
In the US, Hebrew-origin names like Noah, Elijah, Levi, Ezra, Asher, Hannah, Abigail and Leah are among the most popular. In Israel, names like Noa, Tamar, Maya, David, Ariel and Yosef rank highly.
What is the difference between a Hebrew name and a Jewish name?
A Hebrew name comes from the Hebrew language. Jewish names more broadly also include Yiddish (Golda, Hershel), Aramaic and Ladino names used in Jewish communities.
What Hebrew names mean light?
Lior and Ori mean “my light,” Meir means “one who shines,” Uriel means “God is my light” and Liora means “light for me.” See also names that mean light.
Are Hebrew names unisex?
Many modern Hebrew names are. Tal, Lior, Ariel, Roni, Shaked and Rimon are commonly used for both boys and girls in Israel.
Do Jewish families have naming ceremonies?
Yes. Boys are traditionally named at the brit milah on the eighth day, and girls are often named in synagogue at a simchat bat or during a Torah reading.