Popular Israeli Names for Girls
Alison left the following comment:
I am an American Jew and I am trying to find popular Israeli girl names.
We are due in April with a girl and we’d like to give her a Hebrew name (her older brother is named Avishai Navon). Both my husband and I have come up with several but none we can agree upon. I have been doing lots of web searches to try and find current Israeli girl names but I keep coming up with the same few.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as we are at a road block at this point.
First of all, thank you for visiting and I wish you an easy pregnancy and birth.
In 2006, the most popular girls’ names were: Noa, *Shira, *Maya, *Yael, Tamar, Sarah, *Roni, Agam, Michal, and *Adi. My 4-year-old has friends in gan with the starred names. We also have Ayelet, Shahar, Aviya, and Dalia. Dalia is old-fashioned–I don’t know if it’s making a comeback.
A lot depends on the “migzar.” Haredim, national religious, and secular Israelis choose different types of names, although there is a lot of overlap. The trends for girls’ names change more quickly than for boys.
Readers, please comment with names of girls in your neighborhood, especially babies. Alison, let us know if you want help with the connotations of a particular name.
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Randi Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 7:23 AM
I named my American daughter Ma’ayan because I love the sound of the name but have no idea is it’s old fashioned in Israel, or popular, or what?
Any insight on the frequency of children named this and connotations?
Thanks!
mominisrael Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 7:53 AM
I don’t have numbers, but it’s definitely popular among young children. Not old-fashioned at all.
Esti Said,
June 28, 2009 @ 6:30 AM
What about the name Norah? Is it becoming popular in Israel at all? I really love it but I am very concerned that it is too Arabic. Sorry if that offends anyone but that’s the truth. “Nurah” is an Arabic name meaning “light.” “Nurit” would be the Hebrew version but I am still trying to make Norah work. I also don’t want it to be pronounced no-RAH — accent on the second syllable — because that does not work in Hebrew. Help?!
mominisrael Said,
June 28, 2009 @ 7:25 AM
Hi Esti,
I’ve never heard of Nora used as a Hebrew or Israeli name. Nurah is a light bulb in Hebrew, but Nurit is a flower. It’s old-fashioned now.
israeli Said,
October 24, 2009 @ 6:22 AM
Norah wouldn’t work. Noh-rah means terrible
mominisrael Said,
October 24, 2009 @ 6:51 PM
Israeli, good point!
Planning Ahead Said,
November 7, 2009 @ 12:53 AM
What about Michaela (prounounced Me-cha-el-a with a “ch” like “Chanukah”)?
It is a hebrew name and I like the multi-cultural aspect (pronounced Me-kay-lah is Italian, pronounced Me-ka-el-a is in Spanish) in the USA I think most would pronounce it Mih-kay-luh) but since our last name is not very “Jewish sounding” I would like my daughter to have an obviously Jewish/Israeli first name.
Is Michaela popular in Israel?
mother in israel Said,
November 7, 2009 @ 7:51 PM
Hi Planning Ahead,
It is old-fashioned, like many feminized names including Yisraelah. Even Yisrael and Michael for boys are not too popular these days.
Also due in April with a girl! Said,
December 13, 2009 @ 5:13 AM
I’m having the same issue! My first born is Kobi Eitan, and am expecting a girl around Pesach. My husband and I are trying to stay away from names with “R” or “CH” so that non-Hebrew speakers will be able to properly pronounce his name.
I’d also love some suggestions…
mother in israel Said,
December 13, 2009 @ 6:38 PM
Also due, can you narrow it down a bit more?
Hopefully helpful Said,
January 19, 2010 @ 10:34 AM
From experience I’ve found that it’s best to stay away from “r” and “ch” sounds just as Also due had mentioned.
We ended up picking Lyla for our little girl (like the Hebrew word for night which I though would be a little unique), and our second choice was May (“my” in Israel) or Maya. I might also suggest the name Naomi, I think it’s a beautiful name and it would have definitely been on our list if it didn’t sound so similar to my own name (Noam)…
Hopefully helpful Said,
January 19, 2010 @ 10:39 AM
Oh, and also another name that just came to me is Eden. The “E” would be pronounced differently in Hebrew than in English, but still it’s close enough and the meanings are obviously the same.
For boys, Daniel would work nicely, and also maybe Tom?
mother in israel Said,
January 19, 2010 @ 1:46 PM
Thanks, helpful! Eden is quite common here, don’t know that I’ve heard Layla.
Lea R. Said,
February 10, 2010 @ 4:51 AM
I am also due with a girl this spring, and we need a name that can be pronounced everywhere (Europe/US/Israel). We are Conservative, so for us it could really go either way (secular/modern or religious), but it should be a Jewish name. I would be very happy to hear your comments on some names we are considering – are they common for girls in Israel? What background would you expect from these names if you heard them in Israel?
Mira (Meira?)
Ayelet
Bella
Leila, Lila
Nili
Noya
Timna
Yael
Every comment is appreciated – thank you so much!!
Lea
mother in israel Said,
February 10, 2010 @ 10:52 AM
Hi Lea,
I wish you a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery. Here are my thoughts:
Mira (Meira?)-Haven’t heard it lately. Not sure, but I think it’s old-fashioned.
Ayelet–was more fashionable 10 or more years ago.
Bella–grandmother’s name.
Leila, Lila–Haven’t heard it. Lilach, Lee, Linoi, are more common
Nili–old fashioned
Noya–that is still in style now.
Timna–common in religious communities.
Yael–still common for babies, at least in religious communities and perhaps outside too, but I’m not 100% sure.
Lea R. Said,
February 10, 2010 @ 9:16 PM
thank you, mother in israel, that was very helpful for me!
sierra Said,
March 5, 2010 @ 4:14 PM
I really like: Edden, Penina, Ashira, Adele, Maya, Jordan, Adriana, Leah, Leila.
For boys: Shimon, Adam, Avner,
mother in israel Said,
March 5, 2010 @ 4:51 PM
Thanks, Sierra, for sharing your preferences.
UK dad-to-be Said,
March 7, 2010 @ 5:31 PM
Is Shifra considered old-fashioned ? Does it sound very frum or is it found amongst secular families too ?
We don’t want her to be instantly categorised as one thing or another.
Thanks
mother in israel Said,
March 8, 2010 @ 1:14 AM
UK Dad: I don’t think secular families use Shifra these days.