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.
Yedael
“Known by God”
Yedael means 'known by God' or 'God knows' in Hebrew, suggesting a deep personal relationship between the individual and the divine. The name carries a sense of being recognized and acknowledged by a higher power. It conveys themes of divine awareness and intimate spiritual connection.
Yedid
“Beloved friend”
Yedid means 'beloved' or 'dear friend' in Hebrew, expressing deep affection and cherished closeness. The name suggests someone who is treasured and held in great esteem by those around them. It carries a warmth and intimacy that reflects a loving relationship between people or between a person and God.
Yedidiah
“Beloved of God”
Yedidiah means 'beloved of God' or 'friend of God' in Hebrew, expressing a uniquely intimate divine relationship. It is a name that signifies being specially chosen and cherished by the Almighty. The name carries profound spiritual weight, suggesting divine favor and a sacred bond.
Yedidya
“Friend of God”
From the Hebrew 'yedid' meaning friend or beloved, and 'Yah', a shortened form of God's name. Yedidya therefore means friend of God or beloved of God. In the Bible, the prophet Nathan bestowed this name upon Solomon as an expression of divine favour, making it a name of exceptional spiritual significance. It speaks of a relationship of intimate love and closeness with the divine.
Yehoshua
“God is salvation”
The Hebrew form of Joshua, meaning God is salvation or the Lord saves. Yehoshua was Moses's closest aide, military commander, and chosen successor, who led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land after forty years in the desert. A name of leadership under divine guidance, of faith expressed through action.
Yehuda
“Praise, thanksgiving”
The Hebrew form of Judah, meaning praise or thanksgiving. Yehuda was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, from whose tribe descended King David and the royal line of Israel. The name carries a powerful legacy of leadership, courage, and devotion.
Yehudit
“Woman of Judah”
Yehudit means 'Jewish woman' or 'woman of Judah' in Hebrew, expressing identity, pride, and belonging to the people of Israel. The name celebrates Jewish heritage and the legacy of the tribe of Judah. It carries a sense of dignity, strength, and cultural identity.
Yemima
“Dove, symbol of peace”
Yemima means 'dove' or 'like a dove' in Hebrew, symbolizing peace, purity, and gentleness. The dove is a powerful symbol in Hebrew tradition, representing innocence, beauty, and the divine spirit. The name evokes a sense of calm serenity and natural grace.
Yeruel
“Founded by God”
Yeruel means 'founded by God' or 'city of God' in Hebrew, evoking themes of divine establishment and sacred place. The name carries connotations of stability, divine purpose, and a sacred foundation built under God's guidance. It suggests a person whose life is grounded in faith and divine intention.
Yerusha
“Inheritance, cherished legacy”
Yerusha means 'inheritance,' 'possession,' or 'one who is inherited' in Hebrew, suggesting a precious legacy and a life of meaning passed down through generations. The name carries themes of heritage, continuity, and the blessings that are transmitted from parents to children. It evokes a deep sense of belonging and cherished familial bonds.
Yiftach
“He will open, God opens”
Yiftach means 'he will open' or 'God opens' in Hebrew, suggesting themes of new beginnings, opportunity, and divine provision. The name carries a sense of doors being opened before the one who bears it, whether in terms of potential, blessing, or divine favor. It evokes optimism and the power of new possibilities.
Yigael
“He will be redeemed by God”
Yigael means 'he will be redeemed' or 'God will redeem,' expressing a deeply held hope for divine deliverance. The name carries a sense of faith in ultimate salvation and liberation. It conveys the belief that God acts as a redeemer in the lives of individuals and nations.
Yigal
“God redeems”
Yigal means 'he will redeem' or 'God redeems,' sharing the same redemptive theme found throughout the Hebrew scriptures. It expresses trust in divine intervention and liberation from hardship. The name has strong biblical resonance and is associated with hope and salvation.
Yirmiyahu
“God will uplift and exalt”
Yirmiyahu is the Hebrew original of the name Jeremiah, meaning 'God will uplift' or 'God will exalt' according to the most widely accepted interpretation. It may also carry the sense of 'God appoints' or 'God loosens,' reflecting divine action in a person's life. As the name of one of the major Hebrew prophets, it is deeply associated with prophecy, lamentation, and spiritual courage.
Yishai
“Gift, wealthy”
Yishai is the original Hebrew form of the name Jesse, carrying meanings related to gift, wealthy, or God exists. In the Hebrew Bible, Yishai was the father of King David, the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king. The prophetic image of a shoot sprouting from the stump of Jesse, found in the book of Isaiah, became one of the most powerful symbols of hope and messianic expectation in Jewish and Christian tradition alike.
Yiska
“God beholds, she who sees”
Yiska is believed to mean 'God beholds' or 'she who looks out,' conveying the idea of divine sight and watchfulness. Some interpretations also connect it to the concept of foresight or prophetic vision. It is a rare and ancient name with a quiet spiritual elegance.
Yisrael
“Wrestles with God”
From Hebrew meaning he who wrestles with God, or one who struggles with God and prevails. The name given by God to Jacob after his night-long struggle with an angel at the Jabbok river. It became the name of the Jewish nation itself, making Yisrael both a personal name and the collective identity of the Jewish people.
Yitzhak
“He will laugh”
The Hebrew form of Isaac, meaning he will laugh or laughter. When God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son in their old age, Sarah laughed at the impossibility of it, and that laughter became the child's name. Yitzhak carries within it a story of joy arriving after long waiting, of faith vindicated in the most unexpected way.
Yoav
“God is father”
Yoav is the original Hebrew form of the biblical name Joab, meaning God is father or Yahweh is father. It combines the divine name 'Yo' (a shortened form of Yahweh) with 'av', meaning father. The name therefore expresses a profound theological conviction: that God holds the role of the ultimate father. Yoav was the name of King David's formidable military commander, making it a name associated with fierce loyalty, strategic brilliance, and unwavering purpose.
Yochanan
“God is gracious”
Yochanan means 'God is gracious' or 'YHWH has shown grace,' expressing gratitude for divine blessing and mercy. It is one of the most historically significant Hebrew names, having given rise to John, Juan, Jean, Giovanni, and dozens of other forms across world languages. The name embodies the central theological theme of God's unmerited favor toward humanity.
Yocheved
“Glory of God”
Yocheved means 'God is glorious' or 'glory of God,' combining the divine name with the concept of honor and splendor. In the Hebrew Bible she is the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, making her one of the most pivotal maternal figures in the entire tradition. Her name expresses the idea that divine glory is manifest in the world.
Yoel
“God is willing”
Yoel is the original Hebrew form of the biblical name Joel, combining 'Yo' (a short form of the divine name Yahweh) and 'El' (God), forming the meaning 'Yahweh is God' or 'God is willing'. The prophet Yoel is the author of the Book of Joel, one of the twelve minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible, in which he calls the people to repentance and describes a future outpouring of God's spirit upon all people. The name is bold and spiritually significant, used across Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions in various forms, and retains its authentic Hebrew form in Yoel.
Yohai
“God lives, God is living”
Yohai is interpreted to mean 'God lives' or 'God is living,' affirming the vitality and presence of the divine. It is a name deeply embedded in Jewish mystical and rabbinic tradition, particularly through the figure of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai. The name carries connotations of spiritual vitality and divine immanence.
Yonah
“Dove”
Yonah means 'dove,' the universally recognized symbol of peace, purity, and the gentle spirit. In the Hebrew Bible the dove returned to Noah's ark bearing an olive branch, signaling the end of the flood and God's renewed covenant with creation. The name is also borne by the prophet Jonah, whose story is one of the most dramatically compelling in all of scripture.
Yonatan
“God has given”
Yonatan is the Hebrew form of Jonathan, composed of the elements Yah (a form of the divine name) and natan, meaning to give, yielding the meaning God has given. In the Bible, Yonatan son of King Saul is celebrated for his extraordinary friendship with David, a bond so deep that it is described as surpassing the love of women. This makes Yonatan not only a name of divine generosity but also a symbol of selfless loyalty and devoted friendship in Jewish tradition.
Yoni
“Gift of God”
Yoni is a familiar, affectionate short form of Yonatan (Jonathan), carrying the meaning 'God has given' or 'gift of God.' It is widely used in Israel as a standalone given name and projects a warm, friendly, and approachable character. The name blends the gravitas of its biblical source with a modern, informal energy.
Yosef
“God will increase”
The Hebrew form of Joseph, meaning God will increase. Yosef's journey from slavery to leadership is one of the Torah's most compelling narratives of resilience and faith. The name carries a sense of divine promise and abundance, suggesting that what God gives will only grow.
Yoshiyahu
“God supports and heals”
Yoshiyahu means 'God supports' or 'God heals,' combining the divine name with the concept of sustaining strength and restoration. It is the Hebrew original of the name Josiah, the righteous king of Judah who undertook sweeping religious reforms in the seventh century BCE. The name is associated with piety, courage, and the renewal of covenant faithfulness.
Yotam
“God is perfect”
Yotam means 'God is perfect' or 'the perfection of God' in Hebrew. It conveys a sense of divine completeness and integrity. The name carries a spiritual weight that reflects trust in God's flawless nature.
Zahav
“Gold”
Zahav means 'gold' in Hebrew, symbolizing great value, brilliance, and enduring worth. The name evokes preciousness, warmth, and a radiant quality. It is sometimes used poetically to suggest something of the highest quality or beauty.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.