65 Hebrew Baby Names: Classic and Modern Israeli Names with Meanings

Evidence-based, parent-tested. References guidelines from the AAP, CDC, and WHO.

Informational only, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about your baby's specific needs.

Hebrew has given English more first names than almost any other language. Michael, Sarah, Daniel, Hannah, and Elizabeth are so familiar that most people forget they are Hebrew at all.

But there is a second, less familiar group: the names Israeli parents choose today. Many are short, drawn from nature, and used for both boys and girls, such as Noa, Tal, Lior, and Gal. This list covers both groups: 65 names with their meanings and how to say them.

📌 Key Takeaway: Hebrew names fall into two broad styles. Biblical names (Ezra, Levi, Naomi, Miriam) are usually built from a phrase about God or a story of the child’s birth. Modern Israeli names (Tal, Oren, Aviva, Maayan) are more often plain nature words. If you want something recognizably Hebrew but fresh, the modern group is where to look. For names taken directly from scripture, see our biblical baby names.

65 Hebrew Baby Names: Classic and Modern Israeli Names with Meanings

Modern Hebrew Girl Names

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning	Say it
Noa	Girl	Hebrew	”Movement”; a biblical name and a long-time favorite in Israel. Not related to the boy’s name Noah	NO-ah
Talia	Girl	Hebrew	”Dew from God”	TAHL-yah
Shira	Girl	Hebrew	”Song, poetry”	SHEE-rah
Aviva	Girl	Hebrew	”Spring”	ah-VEE-vah
Liora	Girl	Hebrew	”My light”	lee-OR-ah
Orly	Girl	Hebrew	”Light for me”	OR-lee
Yael	Girl	Hebrew	”Ibex, mountain goat”	yah-EL
Ayelet	Girl	Hebrew	”Doe, gazelle”	ah-YEH-let
Tamar	Girl	Hebrew	”Date palm”	tah-MAR
Ilana	Girl	Hebrew	”Tree”	ee-LAH-nah
Dalia	Girl	Hebrew	”Hanging branch”	DAHL-yah
Hadassah	Girl	Hebrew	”Myrtle tree”; the Hebrew name of Queen Esther	hah-DAH-sah
Shoshana	Girl	Hebrew	”Lily” or “rose”; the source of Susan and Susanna	sho-SHAH-nah
Aliza	Girl	Hebrew	”Joyful”	ah-LEE-zah
Rina	Girl	Hebrew	”Joy, song”	REE-nah
Adina	Girl	Hebrew	”Delicate, gentle”	ah-DEE-nah
Eliana	Girl	Hebrew	”My God has answered”	el-ee-AH-nah
Chaya	Girl	Hebrew	”Living, alive”	KHAH-yah
Keren	Girl	Hebrew	”Ray of light”; also “horn”	KEH-ren
Hila	Girl	Hebrew	”Halo”	HEE-lah

Classic Hebrew Girl Names

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning	Say it
Naomi	Girl	Hebrew	”Pleasantness”	nay-OH-mee
Hannah	Girl	Hebrew	”Grace, favor”	HAN-uh
Sarah	Girl	Hebrew	”Princess, noblewoman”	SAIR-uh
Abigail	Girl	Hebrew	”My father is joy”	AB-ih-gayl
Esther	Girl	Persian, used in Hebrew	Probably “star”	ES-ter
Ruth	Girl	Hebrew	Probably “friend, companion”	ROOTH
Miriam	Girl	Hebrew	Meaning debated; the original form of Mary	MEER-ee-um
Deborah	Girl	Hebrew	”Bee”	DEB-or-uh
Elisheva	Girl	Hebrew	”My God is an oath”; the original form of Elizabeth	el-ee-SHEH-vah

Modern Hebrew Boy Names

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning	Say it
Ari	Boy	Hebrew	”Lion”	AH-ree
Eitan	Boy	Hebrew	”Strong, enduring”; the Hebrew form of Ethan	ay-TAHN
Noam	Boy	Hebrew	”Pleasantness”	NO-ahm
Oren	Boy	Hebrew	”Pine tree”	OR-en
Ilan	Boy	Hebrew	”Tree”	ee-LAHN
Aviv	Boy	Hebrew	”Spring”	ah-VEEV
Dov	Boy	Hebrew	”Bear”	DOHV
Zev	Boy	Hebrew	”Wolf”	ZEV
Uri	Boy	Hebrew	”My light, my flame”	OO-ree
Matan	Boy	Hebrew	”Gift”	mah-TAHN
Nadav	Boy	Hebrew	”Generous”	nah-DAHV
Ronen	Boy	Hebrew	”Joyful song”	ro-NEN
Omer	Boy	Hebrew	”Sheaf of grain”	OH-mer
Itai	Boy	Hebrew	”With me”	ee-TYE
Idan	Boy	Hebrew	”Era, time”	ee-DAHN

Classic Hebrew Boy Names

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning	Say it
Ezra	Boy	Hebrew	”Help”	EZ-ruh
Levi	Boy	Hebrew	”Joined, attached”	LEE-vye
Asher	Boy	Hebrew	”Happy, blessed”	ASH-er
Elijah	Boy	Hebrew	”My God is Yahweh”	ee-LYE-juh
Micah	Boy	Hebrew	”Who is like God?”	MY-kuh
Jonah	Boy	Hebrew	”Dove”	JO-nuh
Gideon	Boy	Hebrew	”One who cuts down, hewer”	GID-ee-un
Amos	Boy	Hebrew	”Carried, borne”	AY-mus
Isaac	Boy	Hebrew	”He will laugh”	EYE-zik
Raphael	Boy	Hebrew	”God has healed”	RAF-ay-el
Ezekiel	Boy	Hebrew	”God strengthens”	ih-ZEE-kee-ul
Judah	Boy	Hebrew	”Praised”	JOO-duh
Simon	Boy	Hebrew	”He has heard”	SY-mun

Several of these carry the idea of a child who was asked for or given. For more, see names that mean miracle, gift, or blessing.

Unisex Hebrew Names

Short nature names used for both boys and girls are one of the most distinctive features of modern Israeli naming.

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning	Say it
Tal	Unisex	Hebrew	”Dew”	TAHL
Lior	Unisex	Hebrew	”My light”	lee-OR
Gal	Unisex	Hebrew	”Wave”	GAHL
Shai	Unisex	Hebrew	”Gift”	SHY
Ariel	Unisex	Hebrew	”Lion of God”	ah-ree-EL
Zohar	Unisex	Hebrew	”Radiance, brilliance”	ZO-har
Maayan	Unisex	Hebrew	”Spring of water”	mah-ah-YAHN
Yuval	Unisex	Hebrew	”Stream”	yoo-VAHL

For more options in this style, see our gender-neutral baby names.

Pronunciation Notes Before You Choose

Stress usually falls on the last syllable. In Hebrew it is tah-MAR, ay-TAHN, and lee-OR. English speakers tend to stress the first syllable instead, so decide which version you will use at home.

The “ch” is not the ch in chair. In names like Chaya and Chaim, it is a throaty sound made at the back of the mouth, closer to the ch in the Scottish word loch. It is often written kh. If nobody in your family makes this sound naturally, the name will usually be said with a plain h.

Noa and Noah are different names. Noa (נֹעָה) is a girl’s name meaning movement. Noah (נֹחַ) is a boy’s name meaning rest. They are spelled differently in Hebrew and come from different roots.

Naming customs differ between communities. Ashkenazi Jewish families traditionally name a child after a relative who has passed away, while many Sephardi families name after living grandparents. If the name is meant to honor your heritage, it is worth asking your family which custom they follow.

FAQ

What are popular Hebrew baby names right now?

In Israel, short modern names such as Noa, Tamar, Maya, Ari, Noam, and Uri are widely used. In English-speaking countries, the classic Hebrew names Ezra, Levi, Asher, Elijah, and Naomi have all been rising.

What Hebrew name means light?

Lior and Liora mean my light, Orly means light for me, Uri means my light or my flame, and Zohar means radiance. All come from the Hebrew word or, meaning light.

What are unisex Hebrew names?

Tal (dew), Lior (my light), Gal (wave), Shai (gift), Ariel (lion of God), and Maayan (spring of water) are used for both boys and girls in Israel.

Are Noa and Noah the same name?

No. Noa is a girl’s name meaning movement, and Noah is a boy’s name meaning rest. They have different spellings and roots in Hebrew, even though they look almost identical in English.

Sources

Behind the Name. Hebrew names.
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Most common given names.
Oxford University Press. A Dictionary of First Names (Hanks, Hardcastle, and Hodges).

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or healthcare provider with any questions about your baby's health.

Written by

Vega Lin

Founder & Editor — Mother of 2 (Taiwan)

Vega writes Baby Care Guide from the intersection of evidence-based research (AAP, CDC, WHO) and real parenting experience. Holds a Master's in Digital Innovation from Tunghai University. Read more →