Jewish Baby Girl Name Ideas

Hebrew and Yiddish names and their meanings

Feb 20, 2007 Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Jewish tradition offers many beautiful and meaningful names for baby girls. Here are some Hebrew and Yiddish names to consider.

Are you looking for a Jewish baby name for your baby girl? Here's some information about Jewish baby name traditions that you might find helpful. And here are a list of Hebrew and Yiddish baby names for girls, along with their meanings.

This list includes both traditional and the modern choices, and most of these names will not stand out as particularly odd in the modern world. I also looked for Jewish names that are fairly unusual. We're all familiar with popular Biblical names like Sarah, Rachel, and Rebecca, so here are some names that are less likely to be on the top 100 baby names list.

Jewish Baby Girl Names

  • Adara-- Hebrew, "exalted, praised, or noble"
  • Adina-- Hebrew, "small, delicate"
  • Aliza-- Hebrew, "gift of joy, joyous one." Also spelled Aleeza or Aleezah.
  • Aliya-- Hebrew, "to ascend." Also spelled Aleah.
  • Ariel-- Hebrew, "lioness of God." Also spelled Arielle.
  • Beyla-- Yiddish, translated sometimes as "white" and sometimes as "beautiful." Also spelled Baila. Similar to the popular baby names Bella or Bailey
  • Bina-- Yiddish, "bee"
  • Bluma-- Yiddish, "flower"
  • Caila-- Yiddish, "crown of laurel," from the Hebrew name Kelila. Similar to the popular baby name Kayla.
  • Charna-- Yiddish, "dark" (from a Slavic word)
  • Dafna-- Hebrew, "bay, daphne, laurel." Corresponds to the name Daphne.
  • Danna-- Hebrew, "God is my judge." A feminine form of Daniel. A variation is Danya. Corresponds to the modern names Dana and Danielle.
  • Dara-- Hebrew, "compassion"
  • Davida-- Hebrew, "beloved." A feminine form of the David, a powerful Biblical figure and the second King of Israel.. A similar name is Davina.
  • Devorah-- Hebrew, "bee." In the Bible, Devorah was a prophetess, judge, and military leader. Corresponds to the English name Deborah.
  • Dorin-- Hebrew, "gift." Corresponds to the English name Doreen.
  • Eliana-- Hebrew, "my God has answered."
  • Elinor-- Hebrew, "my light is God." Corresponds to Eleanor.
  • Gittel-- Yiddish, "good"
  • Hadassah-- Hebrew, "myrtle." The Hebrew name of the Biblical Queen Esther.
  • Ilana-- Hebrew, "tree"
  • Leia-- Hebrew, 'to be weary." In the Bible, Leia was the first wife of Jacob. Corresponds to Leah.
  • Liora-- Hebrew, "light"
  • Malka-- Hebrew, "queen"
  • Marni-- Hebrew, "rejoice." Corresponds to the name Marnie.
  • Maya-- Hebrew, "water"
  • Miriam-- Hebrew, "a great sorrow." The Biblical sister of Moses and Aaron. Similar in meaning to Mara.
  • Nava-- Hebrew, "pretty, desirable"
  • Nessa-- Hebrew, "miracle"
  • Naomi-- Hebrew, "pleasant." In the Bible, Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth.
  • Ofra-- Hebrew, "young deer"
  • Peri-- Hebrew, "fruit"
  • Perle-- Yiddish, "pearl"
  • Rani-- Hebrew, "she is singing"
  • Raya-- Hebrew, "female friend"
  • Reina-- Yiddish, "clean, pure." Also spelled Rayna.
  • Roni-- Hebrew, "my song or my joy"
  • Shalom-- Hebrew, "peace"
  • Sheina-- Yiddish, "beautiful, pretty," as in the Yiddish phrase, sheine maidele (pretty girl). Also spelled Shayna or Shana.
  • Shiloh-- Hebrew, 'his gift"
  • Shira-- Hebrew, "song, chant, poem"
  • Shoshannah-- Hebrew, "lily, rose." Corresponds to the English names Susannah or Susan.
  • Tamar-- Hebrew, "palm tree, date tree." Another form is Tamara.
  • Tovah-- Hebrew, "good"
  • Varda-- Hebrew, "rose, pink"
  • Zehava-- Hebrew, "gold, golden"
  • Yarden-- Hebrew, "to go down," as in the River Jordan. Jordan is the popular English version of this name for both girls and boys.
  • Zipporah-- Hebrew, "bird"

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The copyright of the article Jewish Baby Girl Name Ideas in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish Jewish Baby Girl Name Ideas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.