Hebrew Baby Names
Explore 535 hebrew names, each with its own meaning, history, and pronunciation. Find one that carries the stories you want your child to grow up with.
Hebrew names underpin a surprising proportion of English and European naming. David, John, Mary, Daniel, Sarah, Elizabeth, Samuel, Rachel, and Rebecca are all Hebrew. The newer Hebrew names travelling internationally (Eliana, Ezra, Noam, Asher) return directly to those ancient roots.
A short history
Hebrew naming is one of the oldest continuous traditions on earth. The Hebrew Bible records names used 3,000 years ago that are still in active use today. Hebrew names fall into several types: theophoric (naming God, as in Daniel, 'God is my judge'), nature-based (Jonah, 'dove'), and virtue-based (Asher, 'happy').
Naming traditions
Ashkenazi Jewish families traditionally name children after deceased relatives (a first letter, a name, or the full name). Sephardi Jewish families often name after living relatives. Israeli naming has added a strong modern Hebrew layer: Liora, Amit, Ori, Shai.
Sound and style
Hebrew names tend to stress the final syllable in the original but are often anglicised to stress the first. The guttural 'ch' of names like Chaim or Chanukah is almost always softened in international use.
Ohad
“Unity, strength, power”
Ohad is an ancient Hebrew name meaning 'unity,' 'strength,' or 'power,' derived from a root suggesting togetherness and vigor. It appears in the Book of Genesis as the name of a son of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Omri
“My sheaf, my life”
Omri is a Hebrew name meaning my sheaf or my life, with the word sheaf referring to a bundle of harvested grain, symbolising sustenance and the fruits of one's labour. The name carries a sense of personal vitality and abundance, suggesting a life well-lived and full of meaning. In the Hebrew Bible, Omri was a king of Israel who founded the city of Samaria, lending the name a legacy of leadership and historical weight.
Ophir
“Legendary land of gold”
Ophir is the biblical spelling of the name referring to a legendary land of gold mentioned in the Old Testament, associated with King Solomon's immense wealth. The name symbolizes prosperity, richness, and divine favor.
Or
“Light”
From the Hebrew word 'or', meaning light, the very first thing God spoke into existence in the Torah. In Genesis, before any other creation, God says: 'Yehi or', let there be light. Or is a name of primal, elemental power, the original blessing in its absolute, unadorned form. Given to any child, it is a profound statement about who they are.
Ora
“Light”
Ora is a Hebrew name meaning 'light', one of the most elemental and spiritually significant concepts in Jewish tradition. Light is the very first thing created by God in the Torah, making this simple, luminous name a carrier of immense symbolic weight. Ora distils a vast spiritual idea into just three letters.
Orah
“Light”
Orah is a Hebrew feminine name meaning light or illumination. It derives from the Hebrew root 'or', which appears throughout the Hebrew Bible as a word for light, including the divine light of creation in Genesis. As a given name, Orah carries the luminous qualities of clarity, warmth, and radiance. It is the feminine form of Or and closely related to the name Ora. The spelling Orah adds a soft, melodic quality while remaining clearly rooted in Hebrew tradition, making it a beautiful choice for those seeking a name with spiritual depth and natural elegance.
Orahel
“God is my light”
Orahel is a Hebrew feminine name combining 'or' (light) and 'el' (God), meaning 'God is my light' or 'light of God.' It expresses a deep spiritual connection between divine illumination and the bearer's identity.
Oren
“Pine tree, ash tree”
Oren is a nature-inspired Hebrew name meaning "pine tree" or "ash tree," evoking strength, resilience, and evergreen vitality. The name connects a child to the natural world through the image of a tall, enduring tree, making it a grounded and meaningful choice with a clean, modern sound.
Ori
“My light”
From Hebrew meaning my light, the possessive form of 'or' (light). Light is the first creation in the Torah, the first thing God called into being, and central to every Jewish ritual, from Shabbat candles to the Hanukkah menorah. Ori is an intimate expression of that luminosity, the speaker declaring the child to be their personal light.
Orit
“Light, my light”
Orit is a Hebrew name derived from the root 'or', meaning light. The diminutive or possessive suffix gives it the sense of 'my light' or 'little light', adding tenderness to an already radiant meaning. Light is one of the most central concepts in Jewish theology and ritual, from the creation narrative in Genesis, where God's first act is to bring forth light, to the lighting of Shabbat candles, Chanukah menorahs, and Havdalah flames. Naming a daughter Orit connects her to this luminous tradition in an intimate, personal way.
Oriya
“God is my light”
Oriya is a Hebrew name meaning God is my light, formed from 'or' meaning light and 'ya', a shortened form of the divine name. Light is one of the most profound and pervasive symbols in Jewish theology, representing divine presence, wisdom, and creation itself. The name is a personal declaration of faith and a claim on divine illumination.
Orli
“My light”
Orli is a modern Hebrew name meaning my light, formed from the word 'or' (light) and the possessive suffix 'li' (my). It is a name that speaks to personal illumination, brightness and the joy a child brings into a family. Short, cheerful and distinctively Hebrew, Orli has a sparkling quality that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted.
Ortal
“Light of the dew”
Ortal is a modern Hebrew feminine name meaning 'light of dew' or 'morning dew illuminated by light,' combining 'or' (light) and 'tal' (dew). It evokes freshness, purity, and the beauty of early morning.
Oshra
“Happiness, blessing, good fortune”
Oshra is a Hebrew feminine name derived from the root meaning 'happiness,' 'blessing,' or 'good fortune,' related to the word 'osher' meaning wealth and happiness. It conveys a sense of joy and divine blessing bestowed upon the bearer.
Osnat
“Belonging to God, devoted”
Osnat is the Hebrew form of Asenath, a name from both Hebrew and ancient Egyptian origins. In the Torah and Old Testament, Osnat was the Egyptian wife given to Joseph by Pharaoh, and she became the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name may derive from an Egyptian root meaning belonging to the goddess Neith, though Jewish tradition has interpreted it as meaning belonging to God or one who is devoted. It is a name of remarkable historical depth, bridging the cultures of ancient Egypt and ancient Israel.
Ovadia
“Servant of God”
Ovadia is the Hebrew form of the biblical name Obadiah, meaning 'servant of God' or 'worshipper of God,' from 'oved' (servant) and 'Yah' (God). It is a name expressing devoted faith and humble service to the divine.
Oz
“Strength, power, courage”
Oz is a Hebrew name meaning 'strength,' 'power,' or 'courage,' derived directly from the Hebrew word for might and boldness. It is one of the most concise yet powerful names in the Hebrew language.
Oziel
“God is my strength”
Oziel derives from the Hebrew elements 'oz' (strength, power) and 'El' (God), meaning 'my strength is God' or 'God is my strength.' It conveys a sense of divine empowerment and reliance on God as the ultimate source of fortitude.
Paliel
“God is my miracle”
Paliel comes from the Hebrew 'pali' (wonderful, miraculous) and 'El' (God), meaning 'God is my miracle' or 'miracle of God.' The name expresses awe at divine wonders and the belief that God performs extraordinary acts.
Palti
“My deliverance, God has delivered”
Palti is derived from the Hebrew root 'palat,' meaning 'to escape' or 'to deliver,' giving the name the sense of 'my deliverance' or 'God has delivered me.' It reflects themes of rescue and divine salvation prominent throughout the Hebrew scriptures.
Pazit
“Golden, gold”
Pazit is a Hebrew feminine name derived from the root 'paz', meaning fine gold or pure gold. Gold appears throughout the Hebrew scriptures as a symbol of divine glory, wisdom, and incorruptibility: from the gold of the Tabernacle and the Menorah to the gold that adorned the Temple in Jerusalem. A child named Pazit is associated with all these qualities of preciousness and radiance. The name is distinctly Israeli in character, used almost exclusively within Jewish communities, and carries a brightness and warmth that mirrors the metal for which it is named.
Pedahel
“God has redeemed”
Pedahel is composed of the Hebrew 'padah' (to redeem, to ransom) and 'El' (God), meaning 'God has redeemed' or 'redeemed by God.' The name carries the theological weight of divine redemption, a central theme in Hebrew scripture.
Pele
“Wonder, miracle”
Pele comes from the Hebrew word 'pele,' meaning 'wonder,' 'miracle,' or 'marvel.' In the Hebrew Bible it is used as a divine epithet, suggesting that the bearer is a wonder or that their existence reflects something miraculous.
Peled
“Steel, iron”
Peled is a Hebrew name derived from the root meaning 'steel' or 'iron,' symbolizing strength, hardness, and resilience. The name conveys qualities of toughness and endurance, evoking the unyielding nature of metal.
Peleg
“Division, channel of water”
Peleg comes from the Hebrew word meaning 'division' or 'channel of water,' referring to a watercourse or the dividing of streams. In the biblical narrative, the name is associated with the division of the earth among peoples during his lifetime.
Peniel
“Face of God”
Peniel means 'face of God' in Hebrew, derived from 'panim' (face) and 'El' (God). The name commemorates the sacred site where Jacob wrestled with a divine being and declared that he had seen God face to face and survived.
Penina
“Pearl, coral”
Penina comes from the Hebrew word 'penina,' meaning 'pearl' or 'coral,' and is associated with beauty, rarity, and preciousness. The name evokes something of great value formed through patience and nature.
Peninnah
“Pearl, coral”
Peninnah is a Hebrew name meaning pearl or coral, evoking images of precious natural beauty found beneath the sea. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible in the Book of Samuel, where Peninnah is one of the wives of Elkanah. It carries a sense of rare, lustrous elegance that has endured for millennia.
Perida
“Seed, kernel”
Perida is a Hebrew name meaning seed or kernel, evoking ideas of potential, new beginnings, and the quiet power held within something small but vital. The name appears in the Book of Nehemiah as the ancestor of a group of Solomon's servants who returned from Babylonian captivity, lending it a deep scriptural resonance.
Pesach
“To pass over, to spare”
Pesach derives from the Hebrew root 'pasach,' meaning 'to pass over' or 'to spare,' directly connected to the Passover festival commemorating God passing over the homes of the Israelites during the final plague in Egypt. As a personal name, it signifies divine protection and the act of being spared.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.