Abraham אַבְרָהָם m English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Swedish, Biblical Norwegian, Biblical Danish, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
אַבְרָהָם (ʾAvraham), which may be viewed either as meaning
"father of many" or else as a contraction of
Abram 1 and
הָמוֹן (hamon) meaning "many, multitude". The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see
Genesis 17:5). With his father
Terah, he led his wife
Sarah, his nephew
Lot and their other followers from Ur into Canaan. He is regarded by Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son
Isaac and by Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son
Ishmael.
... [more] Adam אָדָם m English, French, German, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Catalan, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Georgian, Malay, Indonesian, Dhivehi, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewThis is the Hebrew word for
"man". It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew
אדם (ʾaḏam) meaning
"to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian
adamu meaning
"to make".
... [more] Adi 1 עֲדִי f & m HebrewMeans
"jewel, ornament" in Hebrew.
Adir אַדִּיר m HebrewMeans
"strong, mighty" in Hebrew. This word is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe God.
Akiva עֲקִיבָא m HebrewFrom an Aramaic form of
Yaakov. Akiva (or Akiba) ben Joseph was a prominent 1st-century Jewish rabbi.
Ami 4 עַמִי m HebrewMeans
"my people" or
"my nation" in Hebrew.
Amos עָמוֹס m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewFrom Hebrew
עָמַס (ʿamas) meaning
"load, burden". Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Amos, which speaks against greed, corruption and oppression of the poor. Written about the 8th century BC, it is among the oldest of the prophetic books. As an English name,
Amos has been used since the Protestant Reformation, and was popular among the Puritans.
Arieh אַרְיֵה m Biblical, HebrewDerived from Hebrew
אֲרִי (ʾari) meaning
"lion", an animal particularly associated with the tribe of
Judah (see
Genesis 49:9). This is the name of an officer of King Pekahiah in the Old Testament.
Ariel אֲרִיאֵל m & f Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, Polish, Biblical, Biblical GreekMeans
"lion of God" in Hebrew, from
אֲרִי (ʾari) meaning "lion" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament it is used as another name for the city of Jerusalem. Shakespeare utilized it for a spirit in his play
The Tempest (1611) and Alexander Pope utilized it for a sylph in his poem
The Rape of the Lock (1712), and one of the moons of Uranus bears this name in his honour. As an English name, it became more common for females in the 1980s, especially after it was used for the title character in the Disney film
The Little Mermaid (1989).
Ayal אַיָּל m HebrewMeans
"stag, male deer" in Hebrew.
Baruch בָּרוּך m Biblical, Biblical Latin, HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
בָּרוּך (Baruḵ) meaning
"blessed". In the Old Testament this is the name of a companion of the prophet Jeremiah, acting as his scribe and assistant. The deuterocanonical Book of Baruch was supposedly written by him. A famous bearer was Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), a Dutch-Jewish rationalist philosopher.
Boaz בֹּעַז m Biblical, Hebrew, Dutch, Biblical HebrewMeans
"swiftness" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the man who marries
Ruth. This was also the name of one of the two pillars that stood outside Solomon's Temple (with
Jachin).
Chaim חַיִּים m HebrewDerived from the Hebrew word
חַיִּים (chayim) meaning
"life". It has been used since medieval times.
Chesed חֶסֶד f & m HebrewMeans
"kindness, goodness" in Hebrew.
Daniel דָּנִיֵּאל m English, Hebrew, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Finnish, Estonian, Armenian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning
"God is my judge", from the roots
דִּין (din) meaning "to judge" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king's dreams. The book also presents Daniel's four visions of the end of the world.
... [more] Dar דַּר f & m HebrewMeans
"mother-of-pearl, nacre" in Hebrew.
David דָּוִד m English, Hebrew, French, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
דָּוִד (Dawiḏ), which was derived from
דּוֹד (doḏ) meaning
"beloved" or
"uncle". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of
Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament,
Jesus was descended from him.
... [more] Dor דּוֹר m & f HebrewMeans
"generation" in Hebrew.
Dori דּוֹרִי m HebrewMeans
"my generation" in Hebrew.
Dror דְּרוֹר m HebrewMeans
"freedom" or
"sparrow" in Hebrew.
Eden עֵדֶן f & m Hebrew, English (Modern), French (Modern)From the biblical place name, itself possibly from Hebrew
עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning "pleasure, delight", or perhaps derived from Sumerian
𒂔 (edin) meaning "plain". According to the Old Testament the Garden of Eden was the place where the first people,
Adam and
Eve, lived before they were expelled.
Ehud אֵהוּד m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical HebrewMeaning unknown, possibly related to Hebrew
אָחַד (ʾaḥaḏ) meaning
"to unite" or
הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning
"glory". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the biblical judges. He killed Eglon, the king of Moab, and freed the city of Jericho from Moabite rule.
Eli 1 עֵלִי m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewMeans
"ascension" in Hebrew, a derivative of
עָלָה (ʿala) meaning "to ascend". In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young
Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.
... [more] Elijah אֱלִיָּהוּ m English, Hebrew, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
אֱלִיָּהוּ (ʾEliyyahu) meaning
"my God is Yahweh", derived from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) and
יָהּ (yah), both referring to the Hebrew God. Elijah was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker, as told in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament. He was active in the 9th century BC during the reign of King
Ahab of Israel and his Phoenician-born queen
Jezebel. Elijah confronted the king and queen over their idolatry of the Canaanite god
Ba'al and other wicked deeds. At the end of his life he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and was succeeded by
Elisha. In the New Testament, Elijah and
Moses appear next to
Jesus when he is transfigured.
... [more] Elior אֱלִיאוֹר m HebrewMeans
"my God is my light" in Hebrew.
Ephraim אֶףְרָיִם m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
אֶףְרָיִם (ʾEfrayim) meaning
"fruitful". In the Old Testament Ephraim is a son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This name was also borne by two early saints: Ephraim or Ephrem the Syrian, a 4th-century theologian, and Ephraim of Antioch, a 6th-century patriarch of Antioch.
Evron עֶבְרוֹן m Hebrew (Rare)From a biblical place name, also called
עַבְדּוֹן (ʿAvdon) meaning "servile", for which it may be a clerical error.
Eyal אֱיָל m HebrewMeans
"might, strength" in Hebrew.
Ezra עֶזְרָא m English, Hebrew, BiblicalMeans
"help" in Hebrew. Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.
Gai גַּיְא m HebrewMeans
"valley, ravine" in Hebrew.
Gideon גִּדְעוֹן m Biblical, Hebrew, English, DutchFrom the Hebrew name
גִּדְעוֹן (Giḏʿon) meaning
"feller, hewer", derived from
גָּדַע (gaḏaʿ) meaning "to cut, to hew". Gideon is a hero and judge of the Old Testament. He led the vastly outnumbered Israelites against the Midianites, defeated them, and killed their two kings. In the English-speaking world,
Gideon has been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation, and it was popular among the Puritans.
Gili גִּילִי f & m HebrewMeans
"my joy" in Hebrew.
Guy 2 גַּיְא m HebrewAlternate transcription of Hebrew
גַּיְא (see
Gai). This is the more common transcription.
Hadar הָדָר f & m HebrewMeans
"splendour, glory" in Hebrew.
Haim חַיִּים m HebrewAlternate transcription of Hebrew
חַיִּים (see
Chaim). This seems to be the most common transcription for Israeli Jews.
Hallel הָלֵּל f & m HebrewDerived from Hebrew
הָלַל (halal) meaning
"praise". This is the name of a Jewish prayer, consisting of several psalms. The more traditional name
Hillel, which is typically only masculine, is spelled the same but is vocalized with a different vowel.
Harel הַרְאֵל m HebrewMeans
"altar, mountain of God" in Hebrew. In the Hebrew Bible this word is applied to the altar in the temple in Jerusalem (
Ezekiel 43:15).
Hillel הִלֵּל m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical HebrewDerived from Hebrew
הָלַל (halal) meaning
"praise". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament as the father of the judge Abdon. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Jewish scholar Hillel the Elder.
Ira 1 עִירָא m English, Hebrew, BiblicalMeans
"watchful" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of King
David's priest. As an English Christian given name,
Ira began to be used after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where remained moderately common into the 20th century.
Levi לֵוִי m Hebrew, English, Dutch, German, Biblical, Biblical LatinPossibly means
"joined, attached" in Hebrew. As told in the Old Testament, Levi was the third son of
Jacob and
Leah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of the Israelites, known as the Levites. This was the tribe that formed the priestly class of the Israelites. The brothers
Moses and
Aaron were members. This name also occurs in the New Testament, where it is borne by a son of
Alphaeus. He might be the same person as the apostle
Matthew.
... [more] Liron לִירוֹן m & f HebrewMeans
"my song, my joy" in Hebrew, from
לִי (li) "for me" and
רֹן (ron) "joy, song".
Maayan מַעֲיָן f & m HebrewMeans
"spring of water" in Hebrew.
Malachi מַלְאָכִי m Hebrew, English, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
מַלְאָכִי (Malʾaḵi) meaning
"my messenger" or
"my angel", derived from a possessive form of
מַלְאָךְ (malʾaḵ) meaning "messenger, angel". This is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Malachi, which some claim foretells the coming of Christ. In England the name came into use after the Protestant Reformation.
Meir מֵאִיר m HebrewMeans
"giving light" in Hebrew.
Menahem םְנַחֵם m Biblical, HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
םְנַחֵם (Menaḥem) meaning
"comforter", a derivative of
נָחַם (naḥam) meaning "to comfort". This was the name of a king of Israel, appearing in the Old Testament. His reign was noted for its brutality.
Meyer מֵאִיר m HebrewAlternate transcription of Hebrew
מֵאִיר (see
Meir). It also coincides with a German surname meaning "mayor, leader".
Miron 2 מִירוֹן m HebrewFrom the name of the highest mountain in Israel, Mount Meron. It is also the name of a village on its slopes, thought to be on the same site as the ancient Canaanite city of Merom.
Mor מוֹר f & m HebrewMeans
"myrrh" in Hebrew.
Moran מוֹרָן f & m HebrewMeans
"viburnum shrub" in Hebrew.
Mordecai מָרְדֳּכַי m Biblical, HebrewMeans
"servant of Marduk" in Persian. In the Old Testament Mordecai is the cousin and foster father of
Esther. He thwarted a plot to kill the Persian king, though he made an enemy of the king's chief advisor
Haman.
Neta נֶטַע f & m HebrewMeans
"plant, shrub" in Hebrew.
Nir נִיר m HebrewMeans
"plowed field" in Hebrew.
Niv נִיב m HebrewMeans either
"speech, expression" or
"fang, tusk" in Hebrew.
Noam נוֹעַם m & f Hebrew, FrenchMeans
"pleasantness" in Hebrew. A famous bearer is Noam Chomsky (1928-), an American linguist and philosopher.
Noga נֹגַהּ f & m HebrewModern Hebrew transcription of
Nogah, usually used as a feminine name.
Noy נוֹי f & m HebrewMeans
"beauty" in Hebrew.
Ofer עֹפֶר, עוֹפֶר m HebrewMeans
"fawn" in Hebrew. This makes it a modern variant of the Classical Hebrew name
Ophrah.
Ofri עֹףְרִי, עוֹףְרִי f & m HebrewMeans
"my fawn" in Hebrew.
Omer עוֹמֶר m & f HebrewMeans
"sheaf of wheat" in Hebrew.
Omri עָםְרִי m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical HebrewPossibly means
"servant" in Hebrew (or a related Semitic language), from the root
עָמַר (ʿamar) meaning "to bind". This was the name of a 9th-century BC military commander who became king of Israel. He appears in the Old Testament, where he is denounced as being wicked.
Ophir אוֹפִיר m & f Biblical, HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
אוֹפִיר (ʾOfir), meaning unknown. This is the name of a son of
Joktan in the Old Testament (where it is also used as a place name).
Or אוֹר m & f HebrewMeans
"light" in Hebrew.
Orel אוֹרְאֵל m HebrewMeans
"light of God" in Hebrew.
Ori אוֹרִי m & f HebrewMeans
"my light" in Hebrew.
Osher אוֹשֶׁר, אֹשֶׁר m & f HebrewMeans
"happiness" in Hebrew.
Raanan רַעֲנָן m HebrewMeans
"fresh, invigorating" in Hebrew.
Ravid רָבִיד m & f HebrewMeans
"ornament, necklace" in Hebrew.
Raz רָז m & f HebrewMeans
"secret" in Hebrew.
Reuben רְאוּבֵן m Biblical, Hebrew, EnglishMeans
"behold, a son" in Hebrew, derived from
רָאָה (raʾa) meaning "to see" and
בֵּן (ben) meaning "son". In the Old Testament he is the eldest son of
Jacob and
Leah and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben was cursed by his father because he slept with Jacob's concubine
Bilhah. It has been used as a Christian name in Britain since the Protestant Reformation.
Roni 1 רוֹנִי f & m HebrewMeans
"my joy" or
"my song" in Hebrew.
Rotem רוֹתֶם m & f HebrewFrom the name of a desert plant (species Retama raetam), possibly related to Hebrew
רָתַם (ratam) meaning "to harness, to bind".
Sagi שָׂגִיא m HebrewMeans
"elevated, sublime" in Hebrew.
Shai שַׁי m & f HebrewEither from Hebrew
שַׁי (shai) meaning
"gift" or else a Hebrew diminutive of
Isaiah.
Sharon שׁרון f & m English, HebrewFrom an Old Testament place name, in Hebrew
שָׁרוֹן (Sharon) meaning
"plain", referring to a fertile plain on the central west coast of Israel. This is also the name of a flowering plant in the Bible, the rose of Sharon, a term now used to refer to several different species of flowers.
... [more] Simcha שִׂםְחָה f & m HebrewMeans
"happiness, joy" in Hebrew.
Stav סתָו, סתיו f & m HebrewMeans
"autumn" in Hebrew.
Tam 2 תָּם m & f HebrewMeans
"honest, innocent" in Hebrew.
Tom 2 תּוֹם, תָּם m & f HebrewMeans
"the end, innocence, simplicity" from Hebrew
תּוֹם (tom). It can also be an alternate transcription of
תָּם (see
Tam 2).
Uria אוּרִיָה m & f HebrewModern Hebrew form of
Uriah, also used as a feminine name.
Uriel אוּרִיאֵל m Biblical, HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
אוּרִיאֵל (ʾUriʾel) meaning
"God is my light", from
אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light, flame" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Uriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition. He is mentioned only in the Apocrypha, for example in the Book of Enoch where he warns
Noah of the coming flood.
Yaniv יָנִיב m HebrewMeans
"he will prosper" in Hebrew.
Yaron יָרוֹן m HebrewMeans
"to sing, to shout" in Hebrew.
Yitzhak יִץְחָק m HebrewHebrew form of
Isaac. This was the name of two recent Israeli prime ministers.
Ziv זִיו m & f HebrewMeans
"bright, radiant" in Hebrew. This was the ancient name of the second month of the Jewish calendar.
Zohar זֹהַר m & f HebrewMeans
"light, brilliance" in Hebrew.