Hebrew Names

Abijah, which you might think of as Abigail with rhythm, is the name of both female and male personages in the Bible. A biblical Queen Abijah was the daughter, wife, and mother of kings. The name is pronounced with a long i, to rhyme with Elijah.

More orthodox spelling of a name that also appears as Hazaiah and Hazaia. An obscure Biblical choice that has some modern zest.

After breaking into the Top 400 in 2011, this name has lost ground.

Avdel is an obscure Old Testament name with a straightforward feel and sound and the fashionable A initial. One to consider if you want a highly unusual yet not difficult Hebrew or Biblical name.

Biblical wife of Moses whose name has many variations, with and without the initial T and final h, with one p or two. However you spell it, it's an original choice that also carries teasing potential; those zipper jokes will get old fast, though Zippy is a cute nickname.

Old Testament name of the daughter-in-law of Naomi, now eclipsed by the originally misspelled Oprah.

Little-used name borne by several biblical figures including a king. It would make an unexpected way to get the nickname Eli - or Kim.

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.

Has a pleasantly fizzy, effervescent feeling.

This form of the stylish Old Testament name is too close to the feminine Yona.

A more scriptural way to spell Abraham.

Unusual Daniel relative.

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.

Definitely a name you won't hear in every playground, Dalfon (also spelled Dalphon) is a highly unusual weather name with a distinctive sound.

See SARAI.

More than the sum of Abby and Ella.

Rarely, if ever, heard in this country, and unlikely to appeal to many Americans; sounds slightly like a product you might put in your coffee.

Could be used to honor a Joel.