Hebrew Names

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.

The name given to Jacob/Yaacov after wrestling with God's angel, most often used without the initial Y.

Rebekka is a more creative spelling -- at least in some people's opinion -- of the biblical favorite Rebecca. Rebekka is also the usual German version. The Rebekkah spelling was commonly used in Early America.

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

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

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

Hard to think of this name without "Captain" in front of it.

Unusual name that's close -- possibly too close -- to several more familiar choices.

A modern Hebrew translation of Shayna, the Yiddish word for "beautiful," and commonly heard in Israel.

This is one of several Hebrew names with the beginning syllable Chaz.

Place-name of a settlement in Galilee in Israel.

The misspelling that created an indelibly one-person name.

Lisa was one of the first names to spawn a range of variations, and this is one, sometimes pronounced lee-sha. The original is simpler and prettier.

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.

Certainly qualities desired for our sons.

Tehila may at first appeal as a distinctive choice. Danger: might tend to sound like a mispronunciation of tequila.

Biblical names are expanding (literally) as some parents move on from Isaiah and Elijah to more elaborate choices with simple short forms like Jed and Zeb.

Jadon is the original Biblical form of this name, but Jayden is by far the most popular spelling, currently in the Top 20. Jaydon is borrowing from both versions, but not improving the name in the process. At Number 999 in 2015, it's in danger of dropping of the charts for good.

Love the popular Noah but want to make it more distinctive? You can vary it to Noam, and going all the way to Noaz takes it from distinctive to unique.

A jewel-encrusted choice, far more unusual than Pearl.