After you’ve honored your parents and your in-laws by naming your first two sons and daughters after them, you get to choose a name for your next baby. Although it’s exciting, picking a name isn’t always easy. Among the top names in the US, in 2013, were the biblical names Jacob, Noah, Daniel, Joshua, Leah, Sarah, Hannah and Rachel. We’ve put together a list of the most popular Jewish names and their origins.
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Aaron
Aaron was the first High Priest, and Moses’ brother. He was known for pursuing peace.
Abraham
Abraham was the patriarch of the Jewish people.
Adam
Adam was the first man. Adam means ground.
Asher
The meaning of Asher is blessed. Asher was the son of Jacob.
Avi
Avi means my father.
Baruch
Blessed is the meaning of Baruch.
Benjamin
Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob’s sons.
Chaim
The meaning of Chaim is life.
Daniel
Daniel means G-d is my judge, connoting the harmony of G-d’s compassion and justice.
David
David means beloved. He was the second king of Israel.
Eitan/Ethan
Eitan’s meaning is strongly flowing.
Eli
Eli means ascend or uplifted. Eli was a High Priest and the last of the judges in the days of Samuel.
Eliyahu/Elijah
The meaning of Eliyahu is toward G-d.
Emanuel
Emanuel means G-d is with us.
Ezra
Ezra means helper. Ezra led the Jewish people’s return from Babylonian exile, and spearheaded the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.
Hillel
Hillel means praise. Rabbi Hillel was one of the greatest rabbinic Sages.
Joshua
The meaning of Joshua is savior/deliverer. He led the Jews into Israel.
Levi
Levi denotes one who accompanies or attends. Levi was the son of Jacob and Leah.
Menachem
The meaning of Menachem is comforter.
Micha/Michael
Micha means who is like G-d?
Moshe
Moshe was the greatest prophet ever. He led the Jews away from Egypt and received the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Natan/Nathan
Natan means he gave. Natan was a prophet and contemporary of King David.
Noah
The meaning of Noah is tranquility. Noah built the ark and his family survived the flood.
Shalom
Shalom means peace.
Shaul/Saul
Shaul was the first king of Israel.
Simcha
Simcha means joy.
Tzvi
Tzvi means deer.
Uri
The translation of Uri is my light.
Yair
Yair means he will shine. Yair was Joseph’s grandson.
Yaakov/Jacob
Yaakov means held by the heel. Yaakov fathered the 12 tribes of Israel.
Yitzhak/Isaac
Yitzhak means he will laugh. Yitzhak was Abraham’s son.
Yosef/Joseph
Yosef means G-d will increase. Yosef was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. Yosef represents the power of unification, as he reunited all 12 brothers together in Egypt.
Yonatan/Jonathan
Yonatan means G-d’s gift. Yonatan was King Saul’s son.
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Adina
Adina means gentle.
Ariella
Ariella means lioness of G-d.
Abigail
The meaning of Abigail is father’s joy.
Aviva
Aviva means springtime.
Chana/Hannah
Chana is the Hebrew word for grace.
Chava
Chava means life.
Chaya
Chaya means alive/living.
Devorah/Debra
To speak kind words is the translation of Devorah.
Esther
Esther means hidden in Hebrew, and star in Persian. Esther saved the Jews in the Purim story. Esther was known to be a very beautiful woman, yet her hidden internal qualities were even more beautiful.
Emunah
Emunah is the Hebrew word for faith.
Ilana
Ilana means tree.
Leah
Leah means to be tired. Leah was Jacob’s wife.
Lila
The meaning of Lila is night.
Mazal
Mazal means constellation or luck.
Miriam
Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron.
Naomi
Naomi means pleasant.
Orly
Orly means I have light.
Rachel
Rachel was Jacob’s wife and Joseph’s mother.
Rivka/Rebecca
Rivka means to tie. Rivka was Isaac’s wife and Jacob’s mother. She was known for her great kindness.
Sarah
Sarah means princess. Sarah was the first matriarch, Abraham’s wife and Isaac’s mother.
Shoshana
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.”
Talia
Talia means dew from G-d.
Tova
Tova means G-d’s goodness.
Tzipporah
The meaning of tzipporah is bird. Tzipporah was Moses’ wife.
Yael
Yael means to ascend.
Zahava
Zahava means gold.
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