Looking for a Jewish girl's name honoring the name Brenda.

I thought of Bracha, and it's a sweet name but I don't love it... Any other names that sound similar?

Google also says that Brenda means "flaming sword" and that's super cool but I'm not sure if there are any Hebrew names with that equivalent.

Thanks!

Hello! We have a little girl called Rivka and live in the UK. Jewish, but not religious. We are having another little girl and are struggling to find a name we both love and agree on.

Our current shortlist is Miriam (nn Miri - I prefer this as stand alone, but not sure if best to go with the full version to give her options), Naomi and Zohar. We're not 100% on any of these though!

Other names we've considered: I love Liora; Lior; Ora, but my partner doesn't; Adira; Avital; Suri; Ayala; Maayan; Nessa; Talia; Dahlia; Zahava (not sure what the nn would be?).

We probably don't want another 'R' name, to avoid being too matchy (though open if it's not too close), and for the same reason keen to avoid names strong on 'v' or 'k' sounds as they seem a bit too similar to Rivka.

Any ideas much appreciated, thank you!

I know Michael is Jewish name. My husband is Portuguese speaking so we’d like something that works in this language too

Hi! We are expecting a baby girl. My husband is Israeli, so we want a name that works in Hebrew (doesn’t have to be strictly Israeli though) and English. We would prefer a shorter name.

Top contender is Mia, but I’m just not sure about it! I also like Talia and Noa.

Any other suggestions for names that fit this criteria/vibe? Thanks!

My husband and I are expecting our first child next year B"H. We know the sex and have a shortlist of three names we love, from which we plan to choose only after the baby is born. We still have many months to go, so there is plenty of time!

Despite being very secular, my Israeli husband surprised me by saying he wouldn't want to make our final decision until after doing thorough research into the name's meaning and significance in the Torah and Talmud.

I've of course done plenty of internet research on the names on our list, and know of some books about Jewish baby names. But I think it would be fun learning opportunity and also a meaningful experience for cultural connection in these difficult times to take it even further.

Is this something a rabbi or other scholar would consult on? Maybe even looking at the gematria? Love to hear about the experiences of anyone who has done something similar.

Which do you prefer (if any)?

Kelila Dara

Halleli Azamra

Feel free to share any thoughts on the names/their combos/suggest any other combos.

I would really appreciate any suggestions! I love the meaning of Noa (movement) and we are struggling to find something that goes with the sound and meaning of the name…

Love the name but struggle if it’s “Jewish enough”. Also, hoping it would work well in Hebrew since we have lots of Israeli relatives. Thanks!

Looking to honor someone whose name started with an H but don't want a ch (e.g., Chaim) or something super biblical like Hezekiah. Ideas? (both/all gendered names welcome)

Hi all! I'm converting and my mikveh and beit din are fast approaching. I value asking questions and I want my Hebrew name to reflect that. Does anyone know any names related to asking/answering?

The only name I've found so far is Anat. I like it, but I just wanted to see if there is anything else that speaks to me more before I choose it as my name.

I also have a family member that I'd like to honor with either her name or the first letter of it, so currently I'm thinking Anat Rachel or Anat Rivka.

I’m converting and am trying to choose my Hebrew name. I (28F) go by “Kel” and like the name Kelila because it reminds me of my English name, but I haven’t seen many Jewish Kelilas… I found this name on Kveller but I’m wondering if this name is known/popular/normal? If not, what are some suggestions for names with similar vibes. I will probably do a more biblical second name like Ruth or Chava

Thoughts on Lavi/Lavy? I like the meaning but am struggling with the sound. LA-vi.

Also interested in Rafael - we like the nickname Rafa but see it more from people with a Latin heritage - any considerations there? Thank you!

Edited to say - thanks for all the thoughts, some more honest than I was prepared for (but hey, Reddit). We know Rafi is a more traditional nickname for Jews but I’m not sure i get over it, I knew too many Rafi/ Raphys growing up. And spelling for Lavi would be with an I, for sure. Lev is an option but Lavi is higher on his list so I am considering it.

My partner is converting to Judaism and wants to choose a new Hebrew name. Any suggestions for Tanja?

What would be a good Hebrew name to choose to honor my grandmother, Cecelia?

I imagine this question has been asked before (but I couldn’t find it), so any insight or link would be appreciated.

What are there any rules of thumb about the process of selecting Hebrew name (in addition to the legal, birth certificate name)?

Like, are they generally biblical names or words in Hebrew? Would a Yiddish name count as a “Hebrew name“? And, there are a few names that feel Jewish, but I don’t think they are. Is there a reliable resource online that has a list of Hebrew names? Should they be similar to the legal name? When is this name used? Basically, looking for a primer for guidelines on this!

TIA

Context: Expecting baby girl in December, after losing our first daughter at full-term last year. We also have a 4 year old son with a Hebrew / Irish name. We live in the US and both my partner and I have Jewish ancestry, but are not religious and have a pretty basic last name.

Top names:

• Ori Raphaelle
• Ori Emmanuelle
• Ori Shaina

Love the meaning of these Hebrew names, especially in the context of our loss (Ori is “my light”, Raphaelle is “God heals” and also a family name, Emmanuelle is “God is with us”, Shaina is “beautiful” and also my Hebrew name.)

Questions:

• While Ori is gender neutral, I’m wondering if it feels more masculine to people - and how it might perceived?
• Thoughts on Ori + these middle names? My husband is pretty sold on Ori, but less so on these middle names.
• Any other considerations or suggestions?

Many thanks!

Hi! My wife and I are thrilled to be expecting our third daughter in March. We are having a LOT of trouble coming up with names. Our two daughters have Israeli names with friendly transliterations. That's the style we would like to continue, but we are open to all suggestions. We both like the idea of connecting the Hebrew name to the English name, but are open to interpretations in addition to direct transliteration. We are also open to Hebrew names that can be pronounced somewhat easily by an American audience, like Talia (but not Talia, because that's my sisters name). We also have a long list of names we can't use because they belong to living relatives (can't use: Sarah, Sofia, Rachel, Noa, Eliana, Rebecca, Miriam, Elizabeth, Esther, Ella, Eve, etc etc).

Our current list includes Hannah (which is a nice name, but, to me, kind of boring) and Aviva (which is a really nice name for spring time, but I don't love how it ends with the "uh" sound.)

There is no bad idea at this point, so I'm hoping some suggestions here may provide a spark. Any ideas?

Hi everybody! I'm converting soon and in the process of picking out my Hebrew name. One suggestion that my Rabbi made was to look up my current name, which is Kirk, and try to find a Hebrew name with the same meaning. Well, I googled Kirk and it means "church" literally a church. Should I just give up this particular route of picking a Hebrew name since obviously churches aren't really a thing or are their male/unisex names that refer to a....place of worship, I guess?

Thank you!

Hello! I am considering what to do for my Hebrew name, as it says in the title I am non-binary and am not really happy with picking a masculine or feminine name. I have seen some names that are used for men or women but I haven't found one that clicks just right. In English, some non-binary people just pick one masculine and one feminine name (like Jeremy Michelle) and that's what I've been considering in a Hebrew name.

I love the story of Serach Bat Asher, and I would love to pick Serach as the feminine name.

For the "masculine" name, I've been struggling. I want a name that means "remember", and I've been using Zachor, but I don't see that used as a name. As a person, remembering history and family stories is a core part of who I am, so I wanted a name that reflects 'a person who remembers those who others have forgotten'.

I'm a little at a loss for what is in semi-common use. As a trans person, I'm used to having a unique or odd name, I just am a little hesitant using Zachor when I can't find a record of anyone using it.

Thanks!!

It’s my name and growing up in America I never had context for how common or uncommon it is in Israel. I never see it anywhere.

Help us choose! Expecting our first baby girl this spring (actually right before Shavuot!) and can’t decide between Naomi and Noelle. Last name rhymes with Sarnoff. What connotations/images do you have for each name, if any?

We are Jewish and I know the Christmas association with Noelle, but don’t mind it because of how much I love it. And I also don’t mind that it won’t be a winter/Christmas time baby. We also live in a pretty Christian/non-Jewish area.

Please comment why you prefer the name/which sounds better with last name. Have also thought that if our next baby is a girl, we would use the other, but not sure if it’s too matchy.

Basically what the title says. Is there female version of the name?

Is the name Nadav too “Israeli” for an American Jewish boy? My cohort of Jewish friends are either Israeli and say the name is definitively Israeli or formerly religious and say it’s not a good Jewish name bc of the biblical context or they are assimilated American Jews and don’t have much of an opinion.

Long time lurker first time poster! Looking for a P name for baby #2 to honor my late grandmother. I'm finding P boy names difficult! I recently learned that Phineas has Hebrew origins, but does anyone know any Jews actually named Phineas? Just curious because I don't!

How would רפאל be perceived for a girl? Cool and edgy? Kind of like עמנואל but a bit edgier ? Or much more ‘out there’? What about רפאלה ?

Thanks !!

Hi guys - we have a mixed ethnicity family (ashenazi Jewish and Christian Levantine Arab) so we are big on names that reference both backgrounds, and I was wanting your opinions on whether you think the name Amira is what you would consider a "Jewish name".

I know that technically it is both a Hebrew and Arabic name, but I can't help but notice when I see or meet anyone called Amira they are always of Arabic ethnicity.

Thanks!

I am looking for Hebrew girl names that would be considered edgy, cool, rare in Israel today but not too far out there/not weird just unique.

I know shorter names are more popular but I do tend to favor longer names with nickname potential. Also would prefer a name with Hebrew origin.

Thanks in advance 🙏🏼

Hello! I am near my due date and struggling to choose a baby name. My son has a unique (by American standards) Hebrew name: Ziv (pronounced Zeev). For my daughter a few of my top names are Maya, Zelda, and Arielle/Ariella.

Since my son has a unique name I would like to choose a unique name for my daughter but nothing is really sticking out.

I love the name Maya but I read every where how common it is. Neither my husband and I have met a Maya and there are not any Maya’s in my son’s school. How many Maya’s do you know? Is it really as common as people say?

All of the names we are considering have an indirect connection for honor names, middle name is an honor name: Miriam. Not sure I like Maya Miriam with the two M’s and also the they both have water meanings.

I love the name Zelda but seems like non Jews think of the video game and other Jews see it as an old bubbe name (and not in a good way).

I love the meaning of Arielle but along with Maya I know it is super common in Jewish circles. Again, I don’t personally know any female Arielle’s. I like that it can be gender neutral with Ariel or Ari bc Ziv is as well. I like Aria for a nickname, too. But again, that is a super common secular name in the US right now.

We considered the name Talia but I don’t think it is THE one. I like Layla and Lila but they do not go with our last name.

Thank you in advance! 😊

EDIT to add one I forgot: we loved the name Ayla when I thought it was pronounced eye-la and had the meaning oak tree, but went down a rabbit hole and found it is the same name as Elah/Ella in Hebrew and pronounced more like A-lah. Just had two people close to me name their child something similar so I think that is out. I do like possibly the idea of Ayala with the nickname of Ayla (eye-la) though that nn is not really Jewish.

I know that the name Nofra is not Hebrew by origin, but I was wondering how common it is/was amongst Jewish communities. One of my ancestors was named Nofra and I haven't been able to find much about this name, other than it is rare, (especially in Eastern/South E. Europe, where she was from) and that it is mostly used in Spain (if my research is correct). Anyone has any information about it? Thanks!