Hebrew Names

Joab is the biblical name of an advisor of David, who led many military victories, and is surely much more usable than the burdened Job. A similar option is Joah, a possible replacement for Jonah or Noah.

More familiar to English speakers as Reuben, Jacob and Leah's first son and a founder of one of the Tribes of Israel.

A middle-aged, if not elderly, name associated with Israeli statesman and onetime prime minister Begin, this is a symbolic appellation for boys born on the holiday of Tishah-b'Ab.

Shulamit--which has a variety of different spellings--is a serious-sounding Old Testament name that appears in the Song of Songs. Its common nickname is Shula, which is sometimes used on its own. Toni Morrison used the sleeker variation Sula in one of her novels.

Feminine name consistently popular in the Latino community.

Hagar is an Old Testament name with an unfortunate association with comic strip character "Hagar the Horrible."

Also a city near Tel Aviv, Hadar is a name found primarily in Israel. There is also a citrus fruit associated with the holiday of Sukkat the Torah calls the "hadar fruit".

This rare name crosses cultures. With the popularity of Ella and Bella, perhaps we'll hear more of Pella one day soon?

Has a pleasantly fizzy, effervescent feeling.

In Genesis, this is the name of a son of Abraham and Keturah, and it's also a place name. Negative meaning aside, Midian is an attractive name with deep roots that's exceedingly rare. They call that a Trifecta.

A more scriptural way to spell Abraham.

This modernized version of Yehudah is the source of on popular choice Judah and is traditionally given to boys born at Chanukah — a Jewish festival of lights and rededication which is celebrated in the winter. Yehuda first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 200 and, as of 2023, it has ranked consistently since 2014. The Yehudah spelling has never ranked, while Judah is used six times more often than Yehuda.

Sharp and sleek, it refers to Benjamin being compared to a wolf in Genesis.

Anyone who ever saw "Seinfeld" wouldn't be able to resist adding a couple more "yada" 's. Also a bit too close to Yoda.

Highly unusual; conceivable alternative to Daniel.

Aharon is one of the many variations of the Old Testament Aaron, one of the first Biblical patriarch names to become trendy in the modern world.

Familiar as the most common form of greeting in Hebrew, but also associated with top female model Shalom Harlow.

Model Trish Goff's Nima is a boy, but the a ending gives this name a feminine feel.

In the Bible, a son of Abraham and Keturah; this ancient and musical name nonetheless sounds like a character in a 1950s science fiction movie.

Looks modern, but sounds like the dated Ronnie.