From Lisa Katz,
Your Guide to Judaism.
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Choosing a Hebrew Name

Hebrew Names for Boys

A B C D G H I J L M N O P R S T U Y Z

Hebrew Names for Girls

A B C D G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V Y Z

Why Give a Hebrew Name?

Certain religious rituals require Hebrew names. Hebrew names are used for calling people to the Torah. Certain prayers, such as the memorial prayer or the prayer for the sick, use the Hebrew name. Legal documents, such as the marriage contract or ketubah, also use the Hebrew name.

Orthodox Jews and Israelis often give their children a Hebrew name, and that name is used for both everyday and religious purposes.

Elsewhere it has become customary for Jewish parents to give their children two names - a secular name for use in the gentile world and a Hebrew name for religious purposes.

How To Give a Hebrew Name

Often parents choose Hebrew names that start with the same letter as the secular name. For instance, Blake's Hebrew name might be Boaz and Lindsey's might be Leah.

Sometimes the secular name is an interpretation of the Hebrew name, like Jonah for Yonah and Eva for Chava. Similarly, the names might share meaning, like Justin and Daniel.

And sometimes the English and Hebrew names are not connected in any way. Lisa's Hebrew name might be Sara.

The two main sources for Hebrew names for today's Jewish babies are older Biblical names and modern Israeli names.

To learn more about how to give a Hebrew name, see this FAQ about Jewish Naming Customs.