Yiddish Names

Yiddish baby names came close to being extinct at one point, but now are undergoing a revival along with the Yiddish language and a fashion for vintage names with personal meanings. Jewish parents may want to honor an ancestor with a Yiddish name or simply find names for a son or daughter that honor the Yiddish language as a component of their Jewish heritage.

Browse all of Nameberry's Yiddish names, originally brought to the US a century or more ago by Ashkenazic Jews immigrating from Germany and Eastern Europe, on the complete roster here. 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.
  1. Goldie
    • Origin:

      Anglicized form of Yiddish Golde or Golda
    • Meaning:

      "gold"
    • Description:

      Goldie is a shimmering new addition to the nickname name lineup, and became one of the fastest rising girl names in 2023. After peaking at Number 114 in 1904-1905, Goldie slid off the list completely in 1958. She re-entered the US Top 1000 again in 2021.
  2. Liev
    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Lev
    • Meaning:

      "heart"
    • Description:

      Liev Schreiber's birth name is Isaac Liev, Liev after his mother's favorite Russia author, Leo Tolstoy. Though Liev is increasing in popularity in the secular world thanks to the actor, it originated as a Yiddish diminutive.
  3. Feivel
    • Origin:

      Yiddish
    • Meaning:

      "brilliant one"
    • Description:

      This comes from Faivish, the Yiddish form of Phoebus, the Greek sun god...and it's also the little mouse in "An American Tail."
  4. Brick
    • Origin:

      Word name, various origins
    • Description:

      This is an Anglicized form of various names; the Irish Gaelic O Bruic; German, Bruck or Breck, meaning "swamp" or "wood"; Yiddish, Brik, "bridge"; and Slovenian, Bric, "dweller from a hilly place." Gosh, and we thought it was just a macho word name invented by Tennessee Williams for the hero of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
  5. Ita
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "thirst"
    • Description:

      The name of one of the most famous medieval Irish saints, who was known as "the foster-mother of the saints," and founded a nunnery in the county of Limerick. Might be of interest to someone looking for an unusual 3-letter name.
  6. Chaya
    • Origin:

      Feminization of Chayyim or Chaim, Hebrew, Hindi, "life; shadow, shade"
    • Meaning:

      "life; shadow, shade"
    • Description:

      A life-affirming name of Hebrew origin, currently popular in Israel, Chaya has also risen up the charts in both the US and the UK in recent years. Used as a common name for leafy shrub in Mexico, it shares the same root as Chava, Eve, and Eva.
  7. Moshe
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "son or deliver"
    • Description:

      Moshe is the original Hebrew form of Moses, also spelled Mosheh. In the past it was changed to names like Morris, Moe and Maurice.
  8. Adi
    • Shlomo
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "his peace"
      • Description:

        Rarely, if ever, heard outside the Jewish community.
    • Rifka
      • Origin:

        Yiddish variation of Rivka, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "to tie, bind"
      • Description:

        The Yiddish form of Rivka hums along at the bottom of the baby name charts. It's been given to anywhere between 5 and 20 baby girls since the late '60s. Rivka is currently more than 30 times as popular, but for Jewish families, the softer (but still saucy) Rifka may be due for a comeback.
    • Lazer
      • Origin:

        Yiddish variation of Eliezer or Lazarus
      • Meaning:

        "God helps"
      • Description:

        Lazer has some biblical cred as a form of Eliezer, Eleazar, or Lazarus, all relatives, and it's also a modern bad boy name a la Ranger and Breaker. Our recommendation would be to use one of the biblical forms as the proper name and Lazer as a nickname.
    • Rada
      • Origin:

        Yiddish; Slavic
      • Meaning:

        "rose; happy, willing"
      • Description:

        This sweet and simple name has origins in both Yiddish and Slavic, each with an equally appealing meaning.
    • Raizel
      • Origin:

        Yiddish
      • Meaning:

        "rose"
      • Description:

        The most popular flower name in Israel, though that popularity does not extend to the US.
    • Shem
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "name"
      • Description:

        This down-to-earth Bible name is surprisingly little-used, considering the popularity of other Old Testament names. Shem was Noah's eldest son, and is the origin of the term Semitic (as in the language family).
    • Chava
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "life"
      • Description:

        The Hebrew, Biblical form of Eve. While English speakers will likely find the forms Ava or Eve easier in everyday life, Chava is a lovely variation for a family that speaks Hebrew or Yiddish - plus, English speakers could always learn.
    • Charna
      • Origin:

        Yiddish
      • Meaning:

        "dark, black"
      • Description:

        Popular name in Israel, worth considering for a dark-haired daughter with a bit of a bohemian cast.
    • Issur
      • Evron
        • Roza
          • Origin:

            Russian and Polish variation of Rosa
          • Description:

            Adds some zest to Rosa.
        • Tevel