Hebrew & Jewish Girl Names

Advertisements
Advertisements

15 min read

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintFriendlyShare

The origin and meaning of some of the most common Jewish and Hebrew names for girls.

126 Jewish & Hebrew Names For Girls (And Meanings)

Whether you’re looking for a Jewish and Hebrew name for your child, or you want to learn about your own name, or even just looking to discover Jewish names for girls - this is the right place for you. Browse our list and gain a deeper understanding of some of the most common and unique Jewish female names. You can also learn more about the Jewish Way to Name a Baby and the traditions of celebrating a newly born girl.

NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list. Many Hebrew names have slight variations, and other less common names do not appear on this list at all.

See here for Jewish boys' names.

Jewish & Hebrew Baby Girl Names Inspired By October 7th Attack

Since Hamas's massacre on October 7, 2023 many Israeli babies have been named after communities ravaged by Hamas, as well as the party in which many Israelis were attacked.
According to the Population Authority the following is the frequency of the names:
Be'eri - 11 girls
Oz - 1 girl
Nova - 3 girls
Erez - 2 girls
Nir - 3 girls
Dekel - 1 girl

Names beginning with ‘A’

Ahuva אהובה
Ahuva means "beloved." The word appears in the Bible, in Deuteronomy 21:15 and Nechemia 13:26.

Aliza עליזה
Aliza means "joy." In kabbalah, Aliza signifies the joyful ability to rise above nature.

Anat ענת
Anat means "to sing." Anat appears in the Bible in the book of Judges 3:31.

Ariella אריאלה
Ariella means "lioness of God." The variant form "Ariel" is another name for Jerusalem, and specifically the altar in the Holy Temple (Ezekiel 43:15). (variations: Ariel, Arielle)

Atara עטרה
Atara means "crown." It is sometimes used for naming after a Kreindel, a Yiddish name of the same meaning.

Avigail אביגיל
Avigail means "father's joy." Avigail appears in the Bible as King David's wife (1-Samuel 25:42). (variations: Abigail, Avigayil)

Avishag אבישג
Avishag means "father's joy." Avishag appears in the Bible as attending to King David in his old age (1-Kings 1:3).

Avital אביטל
Avital appears in the Bible as King David's wife (2-Samuel 3:4). Avital means "father of dew," referring to God as sustainer. In kabbalah, Tal signifies Divine nourishment in a hidden manner, just as dew descends unseen to water the plants.

Aviva אביבה
Aviva means "springtime."

Ayala איילה
Ayala means "deer." The name is often associated with the biblical Naftali, who is compared to a swift deer (Genesis 49:21).

Ayelet איילת
Ayelet means "musical instrument," as in Psalms 22:1.

Names beginning with ‘B’

Bat Sheva בת שבע
Bat Sheva means "daughter of seven." Bat Sheva appears in the Bible as King David's wife (2-Samuel 11:27), and the mother of King Solomon (2-Samuel 12:24). (variant spellings: Batsheva, Batsheba)

Batya בתיה
Batya means "daughter of God." Batya was the daughter of Pharaoh, who rescued baby Moses from the Nile River (Exodus 2:5). (variations: Batia, Basya)

Bat-Tziyon בת ציון
Bat-Tziyon means "daughter of Zion," or "daughter of excellence." (variant spellings: Bat-Tzion, Bat-zion)

Bayla ביילא or ביילה
Bayla means "beautiful." It may also be related to the name Bilhah, who was the mother of Dan and Naftali, two of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Genesis 29:29 and 30:3) (variant spelling: Baila)

Bina בינה
Bina means "understanding, intelligence, wisdom."

Bracha ברכה
Bracha means "blessing."

Bruriah ברוריה
Bruriah means "clarity of God." Bruriah was a great Torah scholar during Talmudic times, the wife of Rabbi Meir.

Names beginning with ‘C’

Carmel כרמל
Carmel means "vineyard, garden, orchard." (variations: Carmela, Carmelit, Carmiela, Carmit, Carmiya)

Chana חנה
Chana means "grace." This name is associated with the ability to create beautiful prayers; Chana appears in the Bible as praying to God, and then giving birth to the prophet Samuel. (1-Samuel ch. 1) (variant spellings: Hana, Hannah)

Chava חוה
Chava means "life." Chava appears in the Bible as the first woman (Genesis 3:20). (variations: Eve, Hava, Havi, Chavi)

Chagit חגית
Chagit means "festive, celebration." Chagit appears in the Bible as King David's wife (2-Samuel 3:4). (variant spelling: Hagit)

Chaviva חביבה
Chaviva means "beloved."

Chaya חיה
Chaya means "alive, living." Chaya is related to the name Chava, who appears in the Bible as the first woman. (Genesis 3:20)

Names beginning with ‘D’

Dafna דפנה
Dafna means "laurel."

Dalia דליה
Dalia means "shoot" in Biblical Hebrew (e.g. Ezekiel 17:6, 31:7). In Modern Hebrew, as in other languages, it is the name of a flowering bush native to Mexico (spelled "Dahlia" in English). (variations: Dahlia, Dalya)

Dalit דלית
Dalit means "to draw water."

Daniella דניאלה
Daniella means "God is my judge."

Devorah דבורה
Devorah means "to speak kind words." Devorah appears in the Bible as the great prophetess and judge who led a revolt against the Canaanite king (see Book of Judges). A different Devorah was the nurse of Rebecca (Genesis 35:8). (variations: Devora, Debra, Deborah)

Dinah דינה
Dinah means "judgment." Dinah appears in the Bible as the daughter of Jacob and Leah. (Genesis 30:21) (variant spellings: Dina, Deena)

Names beginning with ‘E’

Efrat אפרת
Efrat means "honored, distinguished." Efrat appears in the Bible as the wife of Caleb (1-Chronicles 2:19). (variant spelling: Ephrat)

Eliana אליענה
Eliana means "My God has answered me."

Elisheva אלישבע
Elisheva means "God is my oath." Elisheva appears in the Bible as the wife of Aaron the High Priest (Exodus 6:23). (variations: Elisheba, Elizabeth)

Emunah אמונה
Emunah means "faith." (variant spelling: Emuna)

Esther אסתר
Esther means "hidden" in Hebrew, and "star" in Persian. Esther saved the Jews in the Purim story from Haman's genocidal plot, as recorded in the biblical Book of Esther. Esther was known to be a very beautiful woman (she was chosen to be queen), yet her "hidden" internal qualities were even more beautiful. (variant spelling: Ester)

Names beginning with ‘F’

Faige פייגא or פייגה
Faige means "bird" in Yiddish, and also is related to theYiddishword for the fruit "fig." (variations: Faigy, Faigel, Faiga)

Freida פריידא or פריידה
Freida means "joy" in Yiddish. (variations: Freda, Freeda, Freyde, Freydel)

Fruma פרומא or פרומה
Fruma means "pious" in Yiddish.

Names beginning with ‘G’

Gavriella גבריאלה
Gavriella means "God is my strength." (variation: Gabriella)

Geula גאולה
Geula means "redemption."

Gila גילה
Gila means "joy." In kabbalah, Gila means "to reveal God," which is a great source of joy.

Golda גאלדא ,גולדא or גולדה
Golda means "gold" in Yiddish. (variation: Goldie)

Names beginning with ‘H’

Hadassah הדסה
Hadassah is the Hebrew name of Esther, who saved the Jews in the Purim story from Haman's genocidal plot, as recorded in the biblical Book of Esther. Hadassah means "myrtle tree." (variations: Hadas, Hadasa, Dassa, Dassi)

Hadar הדר
Hadar means "splendid, ornamented, beautiful."

Hinda הינדה
Hinda is Yiddish for "deer." The name is often associated with the biblical Naftali, who is compared to a swift deer (Genesis 49:21).

Hodaya הודיה
Hodaya means "praise God."

Names beginning with ‘I’

Idit עידית
Idit means "choicest." (variation: Edith)

Ilana אילנה
Ilana means "tree." In kabbalah, the numeric value of Ilana (96) equals the "throne of God." (variations: Elana, Ilanit)

Irit עירית
Irit means "asphodel," a flowering perennial, several species of which are native to the Holy Land.

Names beginning with ‘K’

Keila קיילא or קיילה
Keila is a Yiddish name derived from the Hebrew word "Keli," which means "vessel." A talented person is often referred to as "Keli" – a complete vessel, capable of performing great things.

Keren קרן
Keren means "ray [of sunlight]." (variation: Karen)

Kinneret כנרת
Kinneret is another name for the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Tiberias.

Names beginning with ‘L’

Leah לאה
Leah means "to be tired." Leah appears in the Bible as the wife of Jacob, the mother of six of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Genesis 30:19)

Leeba ליבה
Leeba means "beloved" in Yiddish.

Levana לבנה
Levana means "white" or "moon."

Levona לבונה
Levona means "frankincense," a spice used in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 30:34).

Lila לילה
Lila means "night." (variations: Leila, Leilah)

Liora ליאורה
Liora means "I have light." (variation: Lior)

Names beginning with ‘M’

Machla מחלה
Machla means "affliction." Machla appears in the Bible as one of the five daughters of Tzelofchad. (Numbers 26:33)

Malka מלכה
Malka means "queen."

Maya מיה
Maya means "water" in Aramaic (Talmud - Brachot 25b).

Mayan מעין or מעיין
Mayan means "spring, oasis."

Mazal מזל
Mazal means "constellation" or "luck."

Meira מאירה
Meira means "one who gives light." A variant form, Mira, is a nickname for Miriam.

Meirav מירב
Meirav means "to maximize." Meirav appears in the Bible as the daughter of King Saul (1-Samuel 14:49).

Menucha מנוחה
Menucha means "tranquility" in Hebrew.

Michal מיכל
Michal means "Who is like God?" Michal appears in the Bible as King Saul's daughter (1-Samuel 14:49), and the first wife of King David (1-Samuel 18:27).

Milka מילכה
Milka appears in the Bible as one of the five daughters of Tzelofchad. (Numbers 26:33)

Miriam מרים
Miriam appears in the Bible as a prophet and the sister of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 15:20). Miriam means "bitter sea," because she was born at a time when the Egyptians embittered the lives of the Jews. Miriam, however, remained sweet despite the hardships around her, giving Jews courage in those difficult times. (Midrash Yalkut Shimoni - Exodus 165) (variations: Mirel, Mirele, Mimi)

Moriah מוריה
Moriah means "God teaches." Mount Moriah is the site of the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22:2), and of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (2-Chronicles 3:1).

Names beginning with ‘N’

Naama נעמה
Naama means "pleasant."

Naomi נעמי
Naomi means "pleasant." Naomi appears in the Bible as the mother-in-law and inspiration for Ruth, as recorded in the Book of Ruth. In kabbalah, the numeric value of Naomi (170) represents goodness ("tov") on all levels.

Netanya נתניה
Netanya means "gift of God." It is related to the name Natan, which appears in the Bible as a prophet and contemporary of King David (2-Samuel 5:15).

Nava נאוה
Nava means "beautiful." The word appears in the Bible, in Song of Songs 2:14.

Nechama נחמה
Nechama means "comfort."

Noa נועה
Noa means "vigorous motion," as in Isaiah 7:2 and Psalms 107:27. Noa appears in the Bible as one of the daughters of Tzelofchad. (Numbers 26:33)

Nurit נורית
Nurit is a flower, the buttercup.

Names beginning with ‘O’

Ora אורה
Ora means "light." (variation: Orit)

Orli אורלי
Orli means "I have light." (variation: Orly)

Orna אורנה
Orna is related to the word meaning "pine tree."

Osnat אסנת
Osnat is an Egyptian name meaning "belonging to God." Osnat appears in the Bible as the wife of Joseph, and mother of Ephraim and Menashe (Genesis 41:45). (variations: Asnat, Asnas, Osnas)

Names beginning with ‘P’

Penina פנינה
Penina means "pearl." Penina appears in the Bible as Elkanah's wife (1-Samuel 1:2). In kabbalah, Penina is related to the word penimi, meaning "inner," alluding to inner depth and purity – just as a pure pearl is produced internally. (variations: Perle, Perel)

Names beginning with ‘R’

Rachel רחל
Rachel means a "female sheep," a symbol of purity. Rachel appears in the Bible as one of the four matriarchs – the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph (Genesis 29:16). Rachel was buried in Bethlehem so that her soul could pray for the Jews who in the future would be led into exile.

Raizel רייזל
Raizel is a Yiddish variant of "Rose." (variations: Rose, Raisal, Raisa, Risa)

Rina רינה
Rina means "joy." The letters of Rina can be rearranged to spell "the candle of God." (variation: Rinat)

Rivka רבקה
Rivka means "to tie." Rivka appears in the Bible as one of the four matriarchs, the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob. Rivka was known for her great kindness, e.g. when she drew well-water for Abraham's servant and all his camels. (see Genesis ch. 24) (variations: Rifka, Rebecca)

Ruth רות
Ruth means "sweet and pleasant." Ruth appears in the Bible as a righteous convert, and ancestor of King David, as recorded in the Book of Ruth. (variations: Rut, Rus)

Names beginning with ‘S’

Sarah שרה
Sarah means "princess." Sarah appears in the Bible as a great prophet, the first of the matriarchs – wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. (Genesis 17:15) (variations: Sari, Sarit, Sarita)

Sarai שרי
Sarai means "my princess." Sarai appears in the Bible as the original name of Sarah – wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac (Genesis 11:29).

Serach סרח
Serach means "free of restraint." Serach appears in the Bible as the granddaughter of Jacob (Genesis 46:17).

Sharon שרון
Sharon is a region in Israel, known for being especially plentiful and nourishing (see Metzudot Tzion, Isaiah 33:9). (variations: Sharona, Sharonit)

Shayna שיינא or שיינה
Shayna means "beautiful" in Yiddish. (variations: Sheina, Shaindel)

Shifra שפרה
Shifra means "improved." Shifra appears in the Bible as a Hebrew midwife who disobeyed Pharaoh's orders to kill Jewish babies. (Exodus 1:15)

Shiloh שילה
Shiloh was an important Biblical city in Ephraim's territory which for a time housed the Tabernacle. According to the Midrash, when used as a person's name, Shiloh means "a present to him" and is a reference to the Messiah, who will receive tribute from the nations. This name is used both for boys and girls. (variant spelling: Shilo)

Shira שירה
Shira means "song" in Hebrew.

Shoshana שושנה
Shoshana is the Hebrew word for "rose." Shoshana appears in the Bible in Song of Songs 2:2, as "standing out like a rose amongst the thorns." In kabbalah, Shoshana has the same numeric value (661) as Esther, the hero of the Purim story who lived in the city of Shushan (related to "Shoshana"). (variation: Shani)

Shlomit שלומית
Shlomit means "peaceful." Shlomit appears in the Bible in Leviticus 24:11.

Shulamit שולמית
Shulamit means "peaceful." Shulamit appears in the Bible in Song of Songs 7:1.

Sigal, Sigalit סיגל, סיגלית 
Sigal means "treasure" (see Deuteronomy 26:18). Sigalit also means "violet."

Simcha שמחה
Simcha means "joy."

Names beginning with ‘T’

Tal טל
Tal means "dew." In kabbalah, Tal signifies Divine nourishment in a hidden manner, just as dew descends unseen to water the plants.

Talia טליה
Talia means "dew from God." In kabbalah, Tal signifies Divine nourishment in a hidden manner, like dew that descends unseen to water the plants.

Tamar תמר
Tamar means "palm tree," denoting righteousness. Tamar appears in the Bible as the wife of Judah, and the ancestor of King David. (Genesis 38:6)

Techiya תחיה
Techiya means "revival."

Tehilla תהילה
Tehilla means "song of praise."

Tikva תקווה
Tikva means "hope."

Tirtzah תרצה
Tirtzah means "agreeable." Tirtzah appears in the Bible as one of the daughters of Tzelofchad. (Numbers 26:33)

Tova טובה
Tova means "God's goodness." (variations: Tovat, Tovit, Tovah)

Tzipporah צפורה
Tzipporah means "bird." Tzipporah appears in the Bible as the wife of Moses (Exodus 2:21). In kabbalah, Tzipporah has the same numeric value (376) as Shalom, peace. (variation: Tzipora)

Tziona ציונה
Tziona means "excellent."

Tzivia צביה
Tzivia means "assembly of God." Tzivia appears in the Bible as the mother of a Jewish king (2-Kings 12:2).

Tzofiya צופיה
Tzofiya means "guardian."

Tzviya צביה
Tzviya means "deer, gazelle." The name is often associated with the biblical Naftali, who is compared to a swift deer (Genesis 49:21).

Names beginning with ‘U’

Uriella אוריאלה
Uriella means "light of God."

Names beginning with ‘V’

Vered ורד
Vered means "rose" in Aramaic, the language of the Talmud. (variations: Varda, Vardit)

Names beginning with ‘Y’

Yael יעל
Yael means "to ascend" and "mountain goat." Yael appears in the Bible as the hero who saved the Jewish people by bravely killing the enemy general. (Judges ch. 4) (variations: Jael, Yaela)

Yaffa יפה
Yaffa means "beautiful." In kabbalah, Yaffa has the same numeric value (95) as Malka, queen. (variation: Jaffa)

Yakova יעקובה
Yakova is the feminine form of Yaakov (Jacob), meaning "held by the heel." Yaakov was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 25:26). (variation: Jacoba)

Yardena ירדנה
Yardena means "to flow down," in reference to the Jordan (Yarden) River. (variation: Jordana)

Yehudit יהודית
Yehudit means "praise" (Genesis 26:34, 29:35), and is the female version of Yehudah. Yehudit appears as a hero of the Chanukah story who bravely killed the enemy general. (variation: Judith)

Yiskah יסכה
Yiskah means "to gaze." Yiskah appears in the Bible as the niece of Abraham (Genesis 11:29). Tradition says that Yiskah was another name for Sarah, so called because she "gazed" with prophetic inspiration, and because others "gazed" at her beauty.

Yocheved יוכבד
Yocheved means "God's honor." Yocheved appears in the Bible as the mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. (Exodus 6:20)

Names beginning with ‘Z’

Zahava זהבה
Zahava means "gold." (variation: Zahavit, Zehava)

Zissel זיסל
Zissel means "sweet" in Yiddish. (variations: Sissel, Cecilia)

 

FAQs:

How do I choose a Hebrew name for a girl?

  • There are no set rules when choosing a Jewish or Hebrew name for a girl. Many people like to choose a name based on its meaning or they like the way it sounds. Others may feel they would like to honor a deceased family member by either using one of their names or to pick a name with the same first letter. Some people like to take inspiration from an English name and choose a Hebrew name based on a similar meaning or the way it sounds.

What are some Jewish female names?

  • There are many Jewish and Hebrew female names. Check out our extensive list of Jewish names for girls and learn about their meanings and origins too. You can also explore our list of Jewish names for boys here
Click here to comment on this article
guest
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Itamar
Itamar
2 months ago

The mixture of Hebrew with Yiddish names doesn't hold water. Those who give Hebrew names to their children would never consider, or even know about, Yiddish (Germanic) names. In addition, there are quite a few mistakes in your explanations. For example, Deborah has nothing to do with speaking. It simply means "a bee". There are many animals on the list of Hebrew names, and this is one of them. And there are many more.

EXPLORE
LEARN
MORE
Explore
Learn
Resources
Next Steps
About
Donate
Menu
Languages
Menu
oo
Social
.