Jewish Names

In the Old Testament, Itamar (or Ithamar) was the youngest son of Aaron.

The name of the late husband of Naomi in the Bible.

Mottel, also spelled Motl or Motel, was once a common Yiddish name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It's never been recorded on the US charts, but the feminine variation, Mattel, is beginning to rise in religious families.

Fashionable choice in modern Israel, also a place-name there, not likely to succeed here.

Zusa is a sweet (literally!) and sparky Yiddish name which has real potential in today's naming climate, given the popularity of high-value Scrabble letters like Z.

Hila is a name that has grown in popularity in recent years, placing it firmly within Israel's Top 20 for girls. It is sometimes written as Hilla or Hilah. In Pashto, it means "hope" and is also spelled Heela.

The extra N in Anael adds a dose of femininity.

From Hebrew, Oria is a variation of Oriya, created by combining Ori meaning "light" with yah indicating God. From Italian, it is a variation of the Latin Aurea, a golden Saint name, once popular in Spain.

Derived from the Hebrew words shai, meaning "gift," and li, "mine." The Shaily variation is more common in Israel and the US.

Older Biblical form of Jekuthiel.

Also an English surname, Sender derives from Alexander and has an attractive modern sound. Though given to only a handful of baby boys per year, it nevertheless is in step with the brotherhood of er-ending choices fashionable today.

With Katya catching on, this sound-related name could too, though there is the Batgirl association. Basha, Basya, Batyah, Bitya, Peshe, Pessel (Yiddish).

Naviʾ is the Hebrew word for "prophet," while neviʾa is "prophetess." Both ultimately derive an Akkadian word meaning "to proclaim" or "to summon."

Hebrew name with a bright sheen.

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