How to Give Your Baby a Hebrew Name

Traditionally, a Jewish family will give a child an English name and a Hebrew name, with most of the Hebrew names stemming from the Bible. The following steps will direct you to the meanings and spellings of some Hebrew names for children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby Names
• Genealogy Books
• Internet Access
• Computers
• Genealogy Software

1. Choose a name that symbolizes love. For a girl, Ahava and Haviva mean beloved.

2. Select a strong and powerful name. For a girl, Malka means queen and Ariel means lioness of God. For a boy, Gibor means powerful and Ethan means strong and firm.

3. Decide on a name that glorifies God. For girls, Danielle means "God is my judge," Jane means "God is gracious," and Basia means daughter of God. For boys, Joshua means "God is my salvation," Hezekiah means "God gives strength," and Joel means "God is willing."

4. Name your child for the earth, air, fire or water. For girls, Carmel or Carmela means garden or vineyard, Jemima means dove, and Moselle means "from the water." For boys, Josiah means fire of the Lord, Jonah means dove, Hershel means deer and Jubal means ram's horn.

5. Choose a bright name for your daughter. Liora and Meira mean light, Mehira means energetic, Arin means enlightened, Aliza means joyful, and Chaya means life or life-giving.

6. Opt for a name that symbolizes goodness. Dara is a female name that means compassion. For male names, Shalom means peace and Levi means joined in harmony.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that traditionally, Jewish people of Ashkenazi descent do not name their babies after living relatives. In most cases, you can assume that a person with a name that ends in "Jr." is not Jewish.
• Remember that some of these names can have various spellings in English, since Hebrew sounds do not always translate directly into English letters. For example, "Malka" is sometimes spelled "Malha." Consult relatives or a rabbi if you are unsure of the way to spell a Hebrew name in English.
• Keep in mind that these names come from various parts of the country and can be derived from different cultures. The spellings and meaning may vary slightly from region to region - check with your family or other resources if this is important in naming your child.

on 8/8/2006 Shoshanna is a lily, not a rose (Lily of the Valley is Shoshannat Ha-Amakim in Hebrew). However, Shoshanna was used also as meaning any beauteous flower. Chaim is of course life.

on 8/8/2006 Sheera is a song, Chaim actually means life and Shoshana is a rose. Be careful that you know the meaning or origin of the name you choose. I have met many people who are named after evil people from the Bible, probably because their parents were unaware of the source of the name.

on 2/21/2006 Ariel is a male name that means "lion of God." It's only been used for girls in the past two decades or so, and is still not used for girls in Jewish circles. The feminine forms are Ariela, Ariella, and Arielle, but even feminizing the name doesn't make it mean "lioness of God." Ariela would means "lion of God."

on 11/22/2005 My wife's name (Ammi) is a wonderful Hebrew name. It is the first person common plural of "people." In the Old Testament, it is usually used to refer to the people of Israel. As such, it is a term of endearment - "my people" used by Adonai of His creation.

on 11/22/2005 Just wanted to let those considering Hebrew names know that Sephardic Jews do indeed name their children after living relatives, and that some Ashkenazic Jews have dropped the old custom. Another way to name a child after a relative is to give them a name that begins with the same letter, or is a derivative/alternate form of it. For example, your daughter could be Chava after Aunt Eve, or vice-versa.