Jewish Baby Names from the Torah and Tanakh
34 names in this collection
Biblical names are the bedrock of Jewish naming tradition. These names come directly from the Torah (Five Books of Moses), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim) — the three sections of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. When Jewish parents choose a biblical name, they are connecting their child to the patriarchs, matriarchs, prophets, and heroes who shaped Jewish history.
In Ashkenazi tradition, biblical names were often given alongside a Yiddish 'kinnui' (secular name) for everyday use. A boy might be called Moshe at the Torah reading but Moishe or Motke at home. This dual-naming practice preserved the sacred dimension of biblical names while allowing the warmth and intimacy of Yiddish in daily life.
Biblical names carry not just historical weight but spiritual aspiration — naming a child Dovid (David) expresses a hope that the child will be beloved; naming a daughter Esther invokes courage in the face of danger.
“Exalted father”
Biblical patriarch Abraham
“Blessed”
One who is blessed by God
“Grace; Favor”
Biblical Hannah who prayed for a son and bore Samuel
“Life; Living one”
The biblical Eve, mother of all living
“Beloved”
King David from the Bible
“Bee; To speak”
The biblical judge and prophetess Deborah
“Star”
Queen Esther from the Purim story
“Myrtle tree”
The Hebrew name of Queen Esther, heroine of Purim
“Myrtle; Splendor”
Yiddish form of Hadassah, Queen Esther's Hebrew name
“He will laugh”
Biblical patriarch Isaac
“Little Jacob”
Affectionate Yiddish form of Yaakov (Jacob)
“God has helped”
Yiddish form of Eliezer/Lazarus
“Weary; Wild cow; Gazelle”
Biblical matriarch Leah, wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel
“Bitterness turned to wonder”
Yiddish diminutive of Miriam, Moses' sister
“Drawn from water”
Biblical prophet Moses
“Gift of God”
Yiddish diminutive of Mordechai, the Purim hero
“My struggle; Wrestling”
Biblical patriarch Naftali, son of Jacob
“He gave; Gift”
The prophet Nathan who advised King David
“Oracle; Dark-complexioned”
Biblical priest known for his zealous devotion to God
“To bind; To tie; Captivating”
Biblical matriarch Rebecca
“Ewe; Lamb”
The beloved matriarch Rachel
“Beautiful; Improved”
One of the heroic Hebrew midwives who defied Pharaoh
“Peace; His peace”
King Solomon from the Bible
“Name of God; God has heard”
Biblical prophet Samuel
“Name of God”
Affectionate diminutive of Shmuel, the prophet Samuel
“Princess; Sarah”
Yiddish diminutive of Sarah, the first matriarch
“God is good”
The iconic protagonist of Fiddler on the Roof
“Bird”
Wife of Moses
“Deer; Gazelle”
Hebrew equivalent of the popular Yiddish name Hirsh
“Holder of the heel; Supplanter”
Biblical patriarch Jacob
“Little Jacob; Supplanter”
The quintessential Yiddish everyman name
“He will laugh”
Biblical patriarch Isaac
“God will add”
Yiddish diminutive of Yosef (Joseph)
“Praise; Jew”
Yiddish diminutive of Yehuda (Judah)
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