Meaning of Jewish and Biblical Names

On the following list you'll find names that are Bible-based or popular Jewish names. Most come from Hebrew, although some are based on Egyptian or other languages.

A

• Aaron m. Possibly means "high mountain" or "exalted."
• Abraham m. May mean "father of many."
• Amos m. "To carry."
• Ari m. "Lion."
• Ariel m.f. "Lion of god."

B

• Baruch m. "Blessed."
• Benjamin m. "Son of the south."
• Boaz m. "Swiftness"

D

• Daniel m. "God is my judge."
• Dara f. May mean "wisdom" or "compassion."
• David m. Possibly "beloved."
• Deborah f. "Bee."

E

• Eli m. "Height" or "ascension."
• Elijah m. "My God is Yahweh."
• Emmanuel - Immanuel m. "God is with us."
• Ephraim m. "Fruitful."
• Esther f. May mean "star" (Persian).
• Ethan m. "Solid, enduring."
• Ezekiel m. "God strengthens."
• Ezra m. "Help."

F

• Freda - Freyde f. "Joy."

G

• Gideon m. "Feller" or "hewer."

H

• Hannah f. "Favor" or "grace."
• Hillel m. "Praise."
• Hyman - Hymie m. "Man."

I

• Ira m. "Watchful."
• Isaac m. "He laughs"
• Isaiah m. "Yahweh is salvation."

J

• Jacob m. "Holder of the heel" or "supplanter."
• Jeremiah m. "Yahweh has uplifted."
• Joel m. "Yahweh is god."
• Joseph m. "He will add."
• Judith f. "Woman from Judea"

L

• Leah f. Probably means "weary."
• Levi m. "attached."

M

• Marni f. "Rejoice."
• Maya f. "Water."
• Menachem - Menahem m. "Comforter."
• Miriam - Mary f. May mean "sea of bitterness," "rebelliousness," "wished for child."
• Mordecai m. "Servant of Marduk (Persian)"
• Moses - Moshe m. May mean "deliver" or "son."

N

• Naomi f. "Pleasantness."
• Nathan m. (short for Jonathan or Nathaniel or on its own) "Giver."
• Nissa f. "Sign."
• Noam m. "Pleasantness."

O

• Ophrah f., m., "Fawn."
• Oren m. "Pine tree."

R

• Rachel f. "Ewe."
• Raisa f. "Rose."
• Reuben m. "Behold, a son."
• Ron m., f. "Song, joy."

S

• Sarah f. "Lady," or "princess."
• Saul m. "Asked for" or "prayed for."
• Shayna f. "Beautiful."
• Shalom m. "Peace."
• Shimon - Simon m. "Hearkening" or "listening."
• Susanna f. "Lily."
• Solomon - Sol - Solly m. "Peace."

T

• Tamar f. "Date palm."
• Tobiah - Tevye m. "Yahweh is good."

U

• Uriel m. "God is my light."

Z

• Zelda f. "Luck."

SOURCE: Behind the Name: Jewish Names. Many more names and more complete etymology will be found.