Hebrew Baby Names
Explore 553 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.
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.
Petachiah
“God has opened”
Petachiah comes from the Hebrew root 'petach' (פֶּתַח), meaning 'opening' or 'God has opened,' suggesting divine providence and new beginnings. It conveys the idea that God has opened a door or unlocked a blessing.
Pinchas
“Oracle, bronze-coloured”
Pinchas is an ancient Hebrew name with debated etymology, most commonly interpreted as meaning oracle or one who speaks on behalf of God, or alternatively as bronze-coloured, possibly of Egyptian origin. In the Torah, Pinchas was the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, and was granted the Covenant of Peace by God for his act of zealous devotion. His name has been carried through Jewish communities for millennia as a priestly and honoured name.
Pnina
“pearl”
Pnina is the Hebrew word for pearl, a gem formed slowly through patience and pressure into something of luminous beauty, a potent metaphor for a life of quiet strength and radiance. In Jewish tradition, the name carries both biblical resonance and the timeless appeal of a precious, rare thing. For parents, Pnina offers a name that is simultaneously ancient and elegant, intimate and profound, a jewel of the Hebrew naming tradition.
Rachel
“Ewe; a symbol of gentleness and innocence”
Rachel is a beautiful Hebrew name meaning 'ewe', the female sheep, which in the ancient world symbolised gentleness, purity, and innocence. As one of the most important figures in the Hebrew Bible, Rachel was the beloved wife of Jacob, and her name has carried associations of grace, devotion, and maternal love for thousands of years.
Racheli
“Ewe of God”
Racheli is an affectionate Hebrew diminutive of Rachel, the beloved biblical matriarch whose name means ewe, the female sheep that in ancient pastoral culture symbolised gentleness, patience, and devoted care. The diminutive suffix '-i' in Hebrew (as in Racheli, Shiri, Tali) adds a sense of endearment and intimacy, making this the small, cherished form of a great name. It is widely used in modern Israel and carries a warm, informal tenderness.
Rakefet
“The cyclamen flower”
Rakefet (רַקֶּפֶת) is the Hebrew word for the cyclamen flower, a delicate wildflower that blooms in Israel during winter and early spring. The name evokes natural beauty and resilience, as the cyclamen thrives even in rocky terrain.
Ravid
“Ornament or necklace”
Ravid (רָבִיד) comes from the Hebrew root meaning 'ornament' or 'necklace,' and is associated with jewelry and adornment. It appears in the Bible in the book of Ezekiel, where it refers to a decorative chain or pendant.
Raviv
“Rain shower or dew drops”
Raviv (רָבִיב) means 'rain shower' or 'dew drops' in Hebrew, evoking the life-giving rains that were so vital in the ancient Near East. The name is associated with freshness, renewal, and abundance.
Raz
“Secret, mystery”
Raz is a Hebrew word meaning secret or mystery, drawn from the ancient Aramaic and Hebrew root that appears in biblical and kabbalistic texts to describe divine secrets and hidden knowledge. As a given name it carries a sense of depth, hidden potential, and the numinous. Its brevity gives it a modern, minimal feel while its meaning reaches back to ancient mystical traditions.
Raziel
“Secret of God”
Raziel (רָזִיאֵל) means 'secret of God' or 'God is my secret,' from the Hebrew 'raz' (mystery/secret) combined with 'El' (God). It is the name of an archangel in Jewish mystical tradition who holds the secrets of the universe.
Re'em
“Wild ox, untameable strength”
Re'em (רְאֵם) is the Hebrew name for a powerful wild creature mentioned multiple times in the Bible, often translated as 'wild ox' or 'aurochs,' symbolizing untameable strength and majesty. The name evokes raw natural power and independence.
Rebecca
“To bind, to captivate; enchantingly beautiful”
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the word 'rivqah,' which is thought to mean 'to bind' or 'to snare.' It suggests a captivating, magnetic quality. In the biblical tradition, Rebecca is admired for her kindness, beauty, and decisive spirit.
Renana
“Joyful song, jubilation”
Renana (רְנָנָה) comes from the Hebrew root 'ranan' (רָנַן), meaning to sing joyfully, to shout for joy, or to rejoice. The name conveys exuberant happiness, jubilation, and the kind of singing that expresses deep spiritual delight.
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