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.
Levona
“Frankincense”
Levona is derived from the Hebrew word 'levonah' meaning 'frankincense,' the fragrant resin used in ancient Temple worship and sacred rituals. The name evokes purity, holiness, and the sweet fragrance of devotion.
Liat
“You are mine”
Liat is a Hebrew name meaning you are mine, expressing the intimate bond and deep belonging between a parent and child. The name is distinctly Israeli and is rarely found outside Hebrew-speaking communities, which gives it a particular sense of authenticity and cultural rootedness. Its meaning is tender and possessive in the most loving sense, suggesting that a child is precious, claimed, and cherished. The name is short, strong, and melodic, with a clarity that makes it immediately striking.
Libi
“My heart”
Libi is a Hebrew name meaning my heart, derived from 'lev' or 'lib', the Hebrew word for heart, combined with the first-person possessive suffix 'i', meaning my. The heart in Hebrew culture represents not merely the physical organ but the seat of emotion, intention, and the deepest self. When parents name a daughter Libi, they are giving her a name that says, in its entirety: she is my heart, the centre of my love and my being. It is one of the most intimate and tender names in the Hebrew tradition, a direct declaration of the boundless love parents feel for their child. Short, sweet, and euphonious, Libi is gaining recognition beyond Jewish communities for its warmth and simplicity.
Lihi
“She is mine”
Lihi is a modern Hebrew name derived from the root 'li' (to me/mine) and 'hi' (she/her), or alternatively interpreted as meaning 'she is mine' or 'my vitality.' Some trace it to the Hebrew word for jawbone ('lechi'), though in modern usage it is simply embraced as a lyrical, distinctly Israeli name.
Limor
“Myrrh, fragrant resin”
Limor comes from the Hebrew root meaning 'myrrh' or 'fragrant resin,' evoking sweetness and preciousness. It is a modern Hebrew name that emerged in Israel in the 20th century.
Lior
“My light”
Lior is a modern Hebrew name composed of the elements li, meaning mine or belonging to me, and or, meaning light, creating the intimate and poetic meaning of my light. It is one of Israel's most popular unisex names, appreciated for its simplicity, its warmth, and the personal tenderness of claiming light as one's own. The name belongs to a family of Hebrew names using or, light, as a core element, reflecting the profound significance of light in Jewish thought and tradition.
Liora
“My light”
Liora is a modern Hebrew name meaning "my light" or "light unto me." It is composed of the Hebrew elements li ("to me" or "my") and or ("light"), creating a name of intimate luminosity. Unlike more general light-related names, Liora carries a possessive warmth, suggesting a personal, cherished radiance. It is a name that feels both poetic and deeply tender.
Liraz
“I have a secret, my mystery”
Liraz is a modern Hebrew name combining 'li' (meaning 'for me' or 'I have') and 'raz' (meaning 'secret' or 'mystery'), thus conveying the sense of 'I have a secret' or 'my mystery.' It is a poetic, introspective name popular in contemporary Israel.
Liron
“My song, my joy”
Liron is a modern Hebrew name formed from 'li', meaning 'to me' or 'my', and 'ron', meaning song, joy, or exultation. Together the name expresses a deeply personal sense of delight: my song, my joy. It is a distinctly Israeli name that emerged in the 20th century as Hebrew was revived as a living language. The name's musicality and gender-neutral quality make it appealing to parents seeking something both meaningful and contemporary.
Lital
“Dew is mine, I have dew”
Lital is a modern Hebrew name meaning 'dew is mine' or 'I have dew,' combining 'li' (mine/I have) and 'tal' (dew). Dew in Hebrew tradition symbolizes freshness, renewal, and divine blessing.
Livnat
“White, pure”
Livnat derives from the Hebrew root 'lavan,' meaning 'white' or 'pure,' and is linguistically related to the name Lebanon and the word for the moon. It conveys purity, brightness, and clarity.
Maayan
“Spring, wellspring”
Maayan comes from the Hebrew word for a natural spring or wellspring of water. In the arid landscapes of the ancient Near East, springs were not merely geographical features but sources of life, sacred gathering points, and symbols of divine blessing. A wellspring sustains the land around it, flowing constantly and reliably. The name thus carries connotations of life-giving abundance, clarity, and an inexhaustible inner resource. As a unisex name, Maayan has a flowing, natural quality that transcends conventional gendering.
Mahalat
“Lyre, dance, or forgiveness”
Mahalat is an ancient Hebrew name of uncertain but debated etymology, possibly meaning 'lyre,' 'dance,' or 'sickness/forgiveness.' It appears in the Bible as the name of a daughter of Ishmael who became a wife of Esau, and also as a musical term in Psalm headings.
Mahli
“Weak, my dance”
Mahli is a biblical Hebrew name meaning 'weak,' 'sick,' or 'my dance,' derived from the root 'halah.' In the Bible, Mahli was a grandson of Levi and an ancestor of the Levitical clan of Mahlites, indicating priestly lineage.
Malachai
“My messenger, my angel”
Malachai is a variant spelling of Malachi, a Hebrew name meaning 'my messenger' or 'my angel,' from 'malach' (messenger/angel) and the possessive suffix 'i.' Malachi was the last of the Hebrew prophets, and the book bearing his name closes the Old Testament.
Malachi
“My messenger”
Malachi derives from the Hebrew mal'akhi, meaning 'my messenger' or 'my angel', carrying a sense of divine purpose and communication.
Malka
“Queen”
Malka is a Hebrew name meaning queen, from the root m-l-k, one of the most significant roots in Semitic languages, encompassing the concepts of kingship, sovereignty, and divine rule. The name has been used in Jewish communities for centuries, carrying an air of dignity and regal authority. It is associated with strong, celebrated women in Jewish tradition, and its simplicity and directness give it a timeless strength. In modern Israel the name remains in use, appreciated for its rootedness in the Hebrew language.
Malkah
“Queen”
Malkah is the Hebrew word for 'queen,' derived from the root 'melech' (king). It is the direct feminine form of Melech and connotes royalty, dignity, and nobility.
Malki
“My king, my royalty”
Malki is a Hebrew name meaning 'my king' or 'my royalty,' formed from 'melech' (king) and the possessive suffix '-i.' It is an affectionate, personal form of the royal root, expressing a close relationship with sovereignty or God as king.
Maor
“Light, luminary”
Maor is a Hebrew name meaning 'light' or 'luminary,' derived from the root 'or' (light) with the prefix 'ma,' forming a noun meaning a source of light. It evokes radiance, enlightenment, and divine illumination.
Maoz
“Fortress, stronghold”
Maoz is a Hebrew name meaning fortress or stronghold. It conveys the image of an unassailable refuge, a place of safety and protection. The name is best known from the Hanukkah hymn 'Maoz Tzur', meaning Rock of Ages or Fortress of Rock, in which God is addressed as a mighty stronghold who saves the Jewish people. The name carries connotations of divine protection, resilience, and unshakeable strength.
Margalit
“Pearl”
Margalit is a Hebrew name meaning pearl, evoking something precious and luminous formed through patience and time. It is an elegant name with a distinctive sound that sets it apart from its more familiar Western cousins like Margaret. The name suggests beauty, rarity, and quiet resilience.
Matan
“Gift, the act of giving”
Matan is a Hebrew name meaning gift or the act of giving. It is related to the word 'matana', meaning gift, and shares the same root as the name Nathan. In Jewish tradition, Matan Torah refers to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, one of the most significant events in Jewish religious history. The name speaks of generosity, divine bestowal, and the sacred act of giving.
Matityahu
“Gift of God”
Matityahu is the original Hebrew form of Matthew, derived from 'Mattithyahu' meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God.' It combines 'mattan' (gift) with 'Yah,' a shortened form of the divine name.
Mazal
“Luck, fortune, or star”
Mazal comes from the Hebrew word meaning 'luck,' 'fortune,' or 'star constellation.' It is related to the phrase 'mazal tov,' the traditional Jewish expression of congratulations meaning 'good luck' or 'good fortune.'
Mehetabel
“God makes happy”
Mehetabel derives from the Hebrew 'Meheitav'el,' meaning 'God makes happy' or 'whom God benefits.' It combines 'metav' (good, beneficial) with 'El' (God).
Meir
“One who shines”
Meir comes from the Hebrew root 'or', meaning light, through the verb 'he'ir', to illuminate or to shine. The name carries connotations of intellectual and spiritual brilliance, suggesting a person whose presence and wisdom bring light to those around them. It is a name deeply embedded in Jewish scholarly tradition.
Meital
“Dew drops”
Meital is a modern Hebrew name composed of the elements mei (waters of) and tal (dew), meaning dew drops or waters of the dew. Dew carries deep symbolic resonance in biblical Hebrew poetry, representing divine blessing, renewal, and life-giving grace in an arid land. The name has a delicate, poetic quality and a soft sound that suits its imagery, making it a cherished choice in Israel.
Menahem
“Comforter, consoler”
Menahem is a Hebrew name meaning comforter or consoler, from the root nacham, which carries the idea of breathing deeply in sympathy with another, from which comfort and consolation emerge. The root nacham is one of the most emotionally rich words in Biblical Hebrew, appearing in contexts of mourning, repentance, and divine compassion. Menahem was a king of Israel mentioned in the Second Book of Kings, and the name has been used continuously in Jewish communities across the centuries. It is a name of profound emotional meaning, suggesting one who brings relief in times of grief and difficulty.
Menucha
“Rest, serenity”
Menucha comes from the Hebrew root nuach, meaning to rest or to settle. It represents the quality of deep, peaceful rest, the kind associated with Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. In biblical and rabbinic literature, menucha is more than the absence of activity; it describes a state of completeness, stillness, and spiritual fulfilment. The name carries profound tranquillity and theological depth.
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