Israeli Names
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
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Modern Israeli baby names tend to be short and unisex. While most parents in Israel use Hebrew names, conventional Biblical names are out of fashion while names relating to weather and nature are in style. Popular Israeli names are often those that translate easily to English or other cultures. Unusual names are preferred, but unique or invented ones are not.
Here is Nameberry's collection of Israeli baby names. For more information, see our blog on Israeli baby names. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
Here is Nameberry's collection of Israeli baby names. For more information, see our blog on Israeli baby names. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
- Lior
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"I have a light"Description:
Lior is a unisex name frequently heard in Israel, capturing the popular light theme through its meaning. For English speakers, the one down side is possible pronunciation confusion with "liar," though it's really lee-OR, with a long e sound and emphasis on the second syllable.
- Armin
Origin:
Form of Herman or ArmenMeaning:
"soldier or wish, hope"Description:
Possibly related to the Ermin- names (which gave us Emma and her variants) or to Herman OR to the Persian/Kazakh/Armenian names Arman or Armen, this is an unusual choice which fits current trends.
- Arman
Origin:
Form of Herman or ArmenMeaning:
"soldier or wish, hope"Description:
Feels as strong and international as Roman, with none of the popularity. Arman might be a form of the German Herman or of the Persian/Kazakh/Armenian Armen or Arman, meaning wish or hope.
- Micaela
Origin:
Italian, Spanish, and Israeli variation of MichaelaMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.
- Lior
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"I have a light"Description:
Lior connects with several factors stylish for Israeli names: It's short, it's unisex, and it has an uplifting nature theme. Lior might make a more modern spin on Leah.
- Dani
Origin:
Diminutive of DanielDescription:
Seen as feminine in English-speaking countries, Dani is a Top 100 boy name in the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
- Sarita
Origin:
Italian and Spanish, diminutive of SaraDescription:
Delicately pretty name all but unknown here.
- Rimona
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"pomegranate"Description:
Well used in Israel, likely to be confused with Ramona here.
- Davi
Origin:
Portuguese variation of David, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
Davi is a Portuguese variant of David, meaning 'beloved'. It is especially popular in Brazil, where it ranks in the Top 10 names for boys. A rising star in the UK in 2023, Davi was also given to around 140 boys in the US in the same year. While some parents outside of Portuguese speaking communities might be using the name as a streamlined and modern twist on David, the original Portuguese pronunciation is slightly different to the English DAY-vee, and is said da-VEE.
- Ab
- Astera
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"Aster"Description:
Pronounced as-TAIR-ah, this is one of many frequently heard Israeli flower names. Other floral choices popular in Israel include Dafna, which means laurel; Dailia; Irit, which means daffodil; and Vered, which means rose.
- Inbar
Origin:
IsraeliMeaning:
"amber"Description:
Fashionable choice in modern Israel, also a place-name there, not likely to succeed here.
- Avner
- Revka
- Rashka
- Sarit
- Micha
- Rive
- Armoni
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"chestnut"Description:
Is Armoni a respelling of the designer name Armani or a Hebrew name meaning chestnut? Your choice, but we prefer the nature interpretation.
- Yehoshua