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.
Shalvah
“Tranquillity, serenity, peace of mind”
Shalvah is a Hebrew feminine name meaning 'tranquility,' 'serenity,' or 'peace of mind,' derived from the root relating to a state of ease and quiet contentment. It expresses a deeply felt wish for inner calm.
Shalviya
“My tranquillity, divine peace”
Shalviya is a Hebrew feminine name meaning 'my tranquility' or 'God is my peace,' combining the root for serenity with a possessive or divine suffix. It is an elegant, somewhat rare elaboration on the concept of peaceful contentment.
Shamgar
“Uncertain: possibly sword, or gift of Shimike”
Shamgar is an ancient Hebrew name of uncertain etymology, possibly meaning 'sword' or derived from a Hurrian or Canaanite name, meaning 'the god Shimike is gracious.' He is a minor judge in the Hebrew Bible known for his single, heroic act of valor.
Sharona
“Of the fertile plain of Sharon”
Sharona is a feminine Hebrew name derived from 'Sharon,' referring to the fertile coastal plain of ancient Israel known as the Plain of Sharon. It means 'a plain' or 'flat land,' but is associated with beauty and abundance through the biblical Rose of Sharon.
Shaul
“Asked for, prayed for”
Shaul is the Hebrew form of Saul, derived from the root 'sha'al' meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for.' It conveys the sense of a long-desired or petitioned gift.
Shaya
“God is salvation”
Shaya is a Yiddish-Hebrew diminutive of Yeshaya (Isaiah), meaning 'God is salvation' or 'salvation of the Lord.' It is an affectionate short form widely used in Ashkenazi Jewish communities.
Shelly
“Mine, belonging to me”
In Hebrew, Shelly (also spelled Sheli) means 'mine' or 'belonging to me,' expressing endearment and a sense of cherished belonging. It is also used as an English diminutive of Shelley.
Shelumiel
“God is my peace”
Shelumiel is a biblical Hebrew name meaning 'God is my peace' or 'friend of God,' derived from 'shalom' (peace) and 'El' (God). It is a name of profound spiritual significance rooted in the concept of divine wholeness.
Shemayah
“God has heard”
Shemayah is a Hebrew name meaning 'God has heard' or 'the Lord hears,' composed of 'shama' (to hear) and 'Yah' (a shortened form of the divine name). It expresses faith that prayers are received and answered.
Shifra
“Beautiful, improved”
Shifra comes from the Hebrew root meaning beautiful or improved, with connotations of brightness and elegance. The name is most celebrated for its bearer in the Book of Exodus: Shifra was one of two Hebrew midwives who, at great personal risk, defied Pharaoh's command to kill newborn Hebrew boys, instead preserving life with quiet, courageous disobedience. Her name is thus inseparable from bravery and moral integrity.
Shifrah
“Beautiful, pleasant”
Shifrah is a Hebrew name meaning 'beautiful,' 'pleasant,' or 'good-looking,' derived from the root 'shafar' meaning to be beautiful or to make beautiful. It conveys grace and loveliness.
Shimon
“God has heard”
Shimon is the Hebrew form of Simon, derived from the root 'shama' meaning 'to hear' or 'to be heard,' often interpreted as 'God has heard.' It is the name of one of the twelve sons of Jacob and a tribe of Israel.
Shira
“Song, poetry”
Shira is a Hebrew name meaning song or poetry, rooted in the deep musical and liturgical traditions of Jewish culture. Song plays a central role in Jewish worship, celebration, and mourning, making Shira a name of profound cultural resonance. It is a lyrical and elegant choice that evokes creativity, beauty, and the power of artistic expression.
Shiri
“My song”
Shiri derives from the Hebrew shir, meaning song, with the possessive suffix i, making it my song. It is an intimate, lyrical name that celebrates personal expression and the unique voice of the individual. As a diminutive of Shira, it shares the broader meaning of poetry, singing, and joyful expression found throughout Hebrew scripture.
Shlomi
“My peace, my well-being”
Shlomi is a Hebrew name meaning 'my peace' or 'my well-being,' derived from 'shalom' (peace, wholeness) with the possessive suffix 'i' meaning 'my.' It expresses a personal sense of inner completeness and tranquility.
Shlomit
“Peaceful, she of peace”
Shlomit is the feminine Hebrew form meaning 'peaceful' or 'she of peace,' derived from 'shalom' (peace, wholeness, completeness). It conveys a serene and harmonious spirit.
Shlomo
“His peace”
The Hebrew form of Solomon, meaning his peace or peaceful. King Shlomo was renowned as the wisest ruler in Jewish history, who built the First Temple in Jerusalem and authored the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. The name carries associations of wisdom, serenity, and divine favour.
Shmuel
“God has heard”
The Hebrew form of Samuel, meaning God has heard or His name is God. The prophet Shmuel was dedicated to God's service from birth by his mother Hannah, whose prayer of petition is the model for all Jewish prayer. He anointed both Saul and David as the first kings of Israel and stands as one of the towering figures of Jewish history.
Shoham
“Onyx stone, precious gemstone”
Shoham is a Hebrew name referring to the onyx stone, a precious gemstone mentioned multiple times in the Hebrew Bible. It symbolizes beauty, strength, and preciousness, evoking the deep luster of a dark gemstone.
Shoshan
“Lily or rose”
Derived from the Hebrew word 'shoshana,' meaning 'lily' or 'rose.' The name evokes the beauty and purity of the flower, which holds deep symbolic significance in Jewish tradition and the Song of Solomon.
Shoshana
“Rose, lily”
Shoshana is a Hebrew name meaning 'rose' or 'lily,' evoking the beauty and elegance of flowering plants. It is the origin of the widely used name Susan and its many variants across languages.
Shoval
“Path, trail”
Shoval is a modern Hebrew name drawn from the word meaning path or trail. It evokes the sense of a journey, a direction chosen, and a route forged through life. Primarily used in Israel, it sits within a contemporary naming tradition that draws on landscape and movement for inspiration. The name works beautifully for any gender and carries a quiet, purposeful energy that resonates with parents who value both distinctiveness and meaning.
Shulamit
“Peaceful, wholeness”
Shulamit derives from the Hebrew root shalom, meaning peace, wholeness, and completeness. It is the feminine form of Shlomo (Solomon) and is most famously the name given to the beloved in the biblical Song of Songs, where she is called the Shulamite. The name evokes a profound inner peace, a sense of being complete and undivided, and has deep roots in both Jewish religious tradition and ancient Hebrew poetry.
Sigalit
“Violet flower”
Sigalit comes from the Hebrew word 'sigal' or 'sigalit', meaning violet, the small purple wildflower that blooms across the Israeli landscape each spring. It is a distinctly Israeli botanical name, popular in Israel during the mid-twentieth century. The violet symbolises modesty and delicate beauty, making Sigalit a name rich in natural imagery.
Simon
“He has heard”
Simon comes from the Hebrew Shimon, derived from the root 'shama', meaning to hear or to listen. The name therefore means he has heard or God has heard, suggesting a child born in answer to prayer or one who is attentive and receptive. It is a name with deep biblical roots, borne by prominent figures in both the Old and New Testaments, and it has carried a dignified, grounded character through the centuries.
Sivan
“Third month, season”
Sivan is a Hebrew name derived from the third month of the Jewish calendar, which typically falls in May or June. It is the month in which the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, making it one of the most spiritually significant periods in the Jewish year. The name carries a sense of renewal, revelation, and the beauty of late spring.
Smadar
“Blossom, bud”
Smadar is a Hebrew name meaning blossom or bud, specifically the early flowering of the grapevine in spring. The word appears in the Song of Songs, one of the most lyrical books of the Hebrew Bible, where it describes the fragrant first blossoms that signal the arrival of spring and renewal. The name carries an intensely poetic and sensory quality, evoking the delicacy of new growth, the sweetness of early flowers, and the promise of abundance to come.
Solomon
“Peace”
Solomon comes from the Hebrew 'Shelomoh', derived from 'shalom' meaning 'peace', carrying a profound sense of wisdom and tranquillity.
Tahel
“Pure, dew of God”
Tahel is a modern Hebrew name combining elements meaning pure or dew of God. Dew in Hebrew culture is a symbol of divine blessing and gentle nourishment, falling silently in the night to revive the land. The combination with purity gives Tahel a name that speaks of both freshness and holiness, like the first morning dew on a landscape. It is a contemporary Israeli creation that sounds both rooted in biblical imagery and forward-looking in its clean, modern sound.
Tal
“Dew, rain”
Tal comes from the Hebrew word for dew, one of nature's most delicate and precious phenomena in the arid climate of the Middle East. In the Torah, dew is a symbol of divine blessing and abundance: Isaac's blessing invokes the dew of heaven, and the manna in the desert is described as appearing with the dew. The prayer for dew, Tefilat Tal, is one of the most poetic liturgical prayers in Judaism, recited on the first day of Passover. Tal is a simple, refreshing name that works for any gender and carries a quiet natural beauty.
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