Hebrew Names

This name of a minor Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament is rarely heard outside the Jewish culture.

Adaiah is a rare Old Testament name with a pleasing sound.

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.

One of the most unusual of the biblical iah-options, this was the name of a long-reigning king of Judea, and just might appeal to the parent looking for a quasi-unique Old Testament choice. And it avoids the negative Dickensian aura of the other New Testament U-name, Uriah.

Bizzy has a 1930s wisecracking waitress -- think Mitzi, Flossie, Fanny -- feel to it, yet at the same time feels like a fresh, modern nickname for Elizabeth. Given that any Bizzy better be, this name could be a way to make your Elizabeth stand out.

Unusual Samantha alternative with little aural appeal.

Long forgotten Old Testament name with modern potential.

The kind of feminized male name that never caught on.

Eliyahu is the Hebrew form of the increasingly popular Biblical prophet name Elijah, also found in forms Elias and Eli. There were 100 boys given the name Eliyahu in the U.S. in 2012. Its upside is that it's one of the most distinctive forms of the name, but that final yahoo may prove difficult.

Certainly qualities desired for our sons.

With its appealing double-a configuration, this is the name of an Israeli kibbutz on the Galilee beach. For girls, Saar is a popular modern name in the Netherlands, a shortened form of Sarah.

Zibby is the adorable, zippy nickname for Elizabeth used for the lead female character in the film "Liberal Arts." Zibby can make a Libby for the 21st century.

Lively sounding Hebrew choice.

Not one of the five hundred names of Muhammad, but that of his uncle.

This multi-cultural name has a pleasant, delicate sound. Variations include Amali and Amalya,both of which mean industrious.

The cake company pretty much knocked this otherwise-pretty compilation name out of consideration for most parents.

Gentler and much less frequently heard than Tamar.

Japhy Ryder was a hero of Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums. Compared with Moses and Noah, Japhy sounds downright adorable and eminently baby-worthy.

This Hebrew form of Ethan is commonly heard in Israel. Other forms are Eitan and Eytan