415+ Hebrew Girl Names
- Bina
Origin:
Diminutive of Sabina and other -ina names, Yiddish or HebrewMeaning:
"bee or understanding"Description:
Sources say that Bina, which is close to the word for bee in Yiddish, was once used as a translation for the Hebrew Deborah, which means bee. On its own, it also means "understanding" in Hebrew. Simple and sweet in itself, it could also be short for (or a nod to) many names including Sabina, Robina, Columbina, and Jacobina.
- Sethe
Origin:
Egyptian mythological name or variation of Seth, HebrewMeaning:
"appointed, placed"Description:
Author Toni Morrison is an acknowledged master of naming, and Sethe, the name of one of the main characters of Beloved, which can be pronounced as Seth or Seth-eh, relates to the male biblical name Seth but is also the name of the Egyptian god of confusion.
- 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.
- Hepzibah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my delight is in her"Description:
This is a streamlined spelling of the biblical Hephzibah. Hephzibah is an Old Testament name that came into use in the 17th century, but is not often used today. It does have less formal nicknames Eppie and Hepsie, which seem revivable. Hephzibah "Eppie" Cass/Marner is the heroine of George Eliot's novel Silas Marner and Hepzibah Smith is a witch in the Harry Potter series.
- Michal
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"brook"Description:
In the Bible, daughter of King Saul and wife of King David.
- Kelilah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"crown, laurel"Description:
Kelilah, also spelled Kelila, is a lovely and unusual name that would make a perfect substitute for the trendy Delilah.
- Bitsy
Origin:
Diminutive of Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
The archetypal diminutive, in every sense of the word. Bitsy enjoyed some use as a nickname in the era when children were named after family members and then called by a cute pet name: Chip, Skip, Babe, Bitsy. As a full name, it has made the US list only three times: in 1943, 1958 and 1962.
- Mehitabel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God rejoices"Description:
Most famously, the name of a 1920s alley cat.
- Naarah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"girl, maiden"Description:
Another rarely heard biblical name, with some possible pronunciation confusion.
- Shaina
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"beautiful"Description:
Despite its Irish sound, this commonly used word name has usually been confined to Jewish families.
- Bette
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethDescription:
Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.
- Tavora
Origin:
Hebrew, feminine variation of TavorMeaning:
"break, fracture"Description:
Tavora is an attractive option, based on the name of a mountain in northern Israel. But the meaning of Tavora and brother name Tavor is less than optimal.
- Raffaela
Origin:
German variation of Hebrew RaphaelaMeaning:
"God heals"Description:
Whether spelled Raffaela, Rafaela, Raffaella, or Raphaela, a euphonius name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image. Like Gabriella and Isabella, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream.
- Rimona
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"pomegranate"Description:
Well used in Israel, likely to be confused with Ramona here.
- Chava
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"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.
- Liz
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethDescription:
A girl named Liz on her birth certificate could feel deprived of her full identity. Call her Liz, but name her Elizabeth -- or at least Lizbeth or Eliza.
- Ozara
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"treasure, wealth"Description:
Striking and glamorous, though perhaps just plain Zara is intriguing enough.
- Tzofia
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"a scout of Jehovah"Description:
The "Tz" beginning of Tzofia represents the Hebrew letter tzadi, which is pronounced more like ts. So Tzofia sounds like Sofia with a light t at the beginning — intriguing, but a difficult sound for a native English speaker to reproduce. While Tzofia is a distinct name from the megapopular Sophia and Sofia, many people will hear it as a cognate and pronounce it the same...or like Zofia.
- Malka
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"queen"Description:
Nonbiblical Hebrew name used as an affectionate nickname since the Middle Ages.
- Bluma
Origin:
YiddishMeaning:
"flower"Description:
This floral name, related to bloom and Blossom, is common in the Jewish community, but not often heard outside it. Other Yiddish nature names are Ita (star), Masha (rising water), and Mayim (water).