Jewish Baby Names for Girls: 150+ Names with Meanings
Over 150 Jewish girl names with Hebrew spellings, meanings, and origins — biblical heroines, modern Israeli favorites, Yiddish classics, and Sephardi treasures, plus the Simchat Bat ceremony.
A Name for a Daughter
In the book of Proverbs, it is written: “A woman of valor, who can find? Her worth is far above rubies.” Jewish tradition has always honored the strength, wisdom, and spirit of women — from the matriarchs who shaped a nation to the everyday heroines who kept families and communities alive through every challenge history could throw at them.
Choosing a name for a daughter is choosing a word that will accompany her through life. In Jewish tradition, that word carries meaning, history, and blessing. It connects her to the women who came before and to the Hebrew language that has sustained the Jewish people for millennia.
This guide offers over 150 names, organized by category, each with its Hebrew spelling, meaning, and origin. Whether you are drawn to the ancient or the modern, the familiar or the unexpected, the right name is here — or it will inspire the one that is.
The Simchat Bat Ceremony
While boys receive their name at the brit milah on the eighth day, girls are traditionally named in synagogue when the father is called to the Torah. In recent decades, the Simchat Bat (joy of the daughter) or Brit Bat (covenant of the daughter) ceremony has become widespread — a dedicated celebration to welcome a baby girl and announce her name.
A Simchat Bat typically includes:
- Blessings over wine and candles
- Readings from Torah or other Jewish texts about strong women
- The formal announcement of the baby’s Hebrew name and its significance
- A festive meal with family and community
There is no single fixed liturgy — families and rabbis create ceremonies that feel meaningful and personal.
Biblical Names
| Name | Hebrew | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abigail (Avigail) | אֲבִיגַיִל | Father’s joy |
| Adah | עָדָה | Ornament, beauty |
| Batsheva | בַּת שֶׁבַע | Daughter of the oath |
| Chana (Hannah) | חַנָּה | Grace, favor |
| Deborah (Devorah) | דְּבוֹרָה | Bee |
| Dinah | דִּינָה | Judgment |
| Esther | אֶסְתֵּר | Star, hidden |
| Eve (Chava) | חַוָּה | Life, living |
| Hagar | הָגָר | Stranger, flight |
| Judith (Yehudit) | יְהוּדִית | Woman of Judah |
| Leah | לֵאָה | Weary, delicate |
| Michal | מִיכַל | Who is like God? |
| Miriam | מִרְיָם | Bitter sea, wished-for child |
| Naomi | נָעֳמִי | Pleasantness |
| Noa | נוֹעָה | Movement, motion |
| Rachel | רָחֵל | Ewe, lamb |
| Rebecca (Rivka) | רִבְקָה | To bind, captivating |
| Ruth | רוּת | Friend, companion |
| Sarah | שָׂרָה | Princess |
| Tamar | תָּמָר | Palm tree, date |
| Tzipporah | צִפּוֹרָה | Bird |
| Yael | יָעֵל | Mountain goat, to ascend |
| Zilpah | זִלְפָּה | Drooping, frailty |
Talmudic and Rabbinic Names
| Name | Hebrew | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Beruriah | בְּרוּרְיָה | Chosen by God |
| Bracha | בְּרָכָה | Blessing |
| Chaya | חַיָּה | Life, living |
| Emunah | אֱמוּנָה | Faith |
| Geulah | גְּאוּלָה | Redemption |
| Nechama | נֶחָמָה | Comfort |
| Penina | פְּנִינָה | Pearl |
| Shoshana | שׁוֹשַׁנָּה | Rose, lily |
| Simcha | שִׂמְחָה | Joy |
| Tova | טוֹבָה | Good |
| Tzvia | צְבִיָּה | Gazelle |
| Yocheved | יוֹכֶבֶד | God’s glory |
| Zahava | זְהָבָה | Golden |
Modern Hebrew and Israeli Names
| Name | Hebrew | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Agam | אֲגַם | Lake |
| Achinoam | אֲחִינֹעַם | My brother is pleasant |
| Alma | אַלְמָה | Young woman, world |
| Amit | עֲמִית | Friend |
| Ayelet | אַיֶּלֶת | Doe, dawn |
| Carmel | כַּרְמֶל | Garden, vineyard |
| Chen | חֵן | Grace, charm |
| Dafna | דַּפְנָה | Laurel |
| Dana | דָּנָה | She judged |
| Gal | גַּל | Wave |
| Hadar | הָדָר | Splendor, citrus |
| Inbar | עִנְבָּר | Amber |
| Keren | קֶרֶן | Ray of light, horn |
| Liat | לִיאַת | You are mine |
| Lihi | לִיהִי | She is mine |
| Lilach | לִילָךְ | Lilac |
| Lior | לִיאוֹר | My light |
| Maya | מַיָּה | Water |
| Moriah | מוֹרִיָּה | God is my teacher |
| Neta | נֶטַע | Plant, sapling |
| Nirit | נִירִית | A wildflower of Israel |
| Noy | נוֹי | Beauty |
| Ofir | אוֹפִיר | Gold |
| Orna | אָרְנָה | Pine tree |
| Roni | רוֹנִי | My joy |
| Shachar | שַׁחַר | Dawn |
| Shaked | שָׁקֵד | Almond |
| Shira | שִׁירָה | Song |
| Tal | טַל | Dew |
| Tehila | תְּהִילָּה | Praise, glory |
| Yarden | יַרְדֵּן | Jordan River |
Yiddish Names
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Baila | Yiddish | Beautiful |
| Bluma | Yiddish | Flower |
| Chana | Yiddish | Grace |
| Faiga | Yiddish | Bird |
| Fruma | Yiddish | Pious, devout |
| Gittel | Yiddish | Good |
| Golda | Yiddish | Gold |
| Hendel | Yiddish | Deer |
| Kreindel | Yiddish | Crown |
| Malka | Yiddish/Hebrew | Queen |
| Masha | Yiddish | From Miriam |
| Mindel | Yiddish | From Miriam |
| Perl | Yiddish | Pearl |
| Raizl | Yiddish | Rose |
| Shaindel | Yiddish | Beautiful |
| Soreh | Yiddish | Sarah |
| Tzirel | Yiddish | Ornament |
| Yenta | Yiddish | Gentle, noble |
| Zelda | Yiddish | Blessed, happy |
Sephardi Names
| Name | Hebrew/Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Alegra | Ladino | Joy, happiness |
| Aziza | Arabic/Hebrew | Strong, precious |
| Batya | בַּתְיָה | Daughter of God |
| Djamila | Arabic | Beautiful |
| Esmeralda | Ladino | Emerald |
| Fortuna | Ladino | Lucky, fortunate |
| Gracia | Ladino | Grace |
| Hadassah | הֲדַסָּה | Myrtle (Esther’s Hebrew name) |
| Jamila | Arabic | Beautiful |
| Latifa | Arabic | Gentle, pleasant |
| Luna | Ladino | Moon |
| Mazal | מַזָּל | Luck, fortune |
| Ora | אוֹרָה | Light |
| Paloma | Ladino | Dove |
| Perla | Ladino | Pearl |
| Reina | Ladino | Queen |
| Sol | Ladino | Sun |
| Vida | Ladino | Life |
A Name Is a Prayer
Every name on this list carries a story — of a biblical heroine, a beloved grandmother, a quality worth aspiring to, a hope for the future. In Jewish tradition, naming a daughter is an act of faith: faith that she will carry the name well, that the name will carry her well, and that both she and her name will be a blessing in the world.
Take your time with this decision. Say the names aloud. Imagine calling them across a playground, writing them on a lifecycle certificate, hearing them chanted in synagogue. The right name has a way of announcing itself. Trust it when it does.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Simchat Bat ceremony?
Simchat Bat (joy of the daughter) is a naming ceremony for Jewish baby girls, typically held within the first few weeks after birth. Unlike the brit milah for boys which has a fixed time (8th day), the Simchat Bat can be held any time. It often includes blessings, readings, the announcement of the baby's Hebrew name, and a festive meal. Customs vary widely by community.
Can a girl be named after a male relative?
Yes, this is common. Families often use a feminine form of a male relative's name. For example, a girl named after a grandfather named David might be called Davida or Davina. A girl named after a Moshe might be Mosheena or Miriam (both beginning with M). The initial letter or the spirit of the name can carry the connection.
What are the most popular Jewish girl names in Israel right now?
Popular Israeli girl names include Tamar, Noa, Shira, Maya, Adele, Yael, Avigail, Lihi, and Alma. Israeli naming trends lean toward nature-inspired names, short two-syllable names, and names that sound modern while maintaining Hebrew roots. Biblical names like Noa and Tamar remain perennial favorites.
Sources & Further Reading
- Behind the Name — Hebrew Names ↗
- My Jewish Learning — Jewish Baby Names ↗
- Anita Diamant, The New Jewish Baby Book
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