In Ashkenazi Jewishnaming tradition以及一些象牙人，它习惯于在一个死亡的亲戚后命名一个孩子。这是一件美丽的事情，但这也意味着一些受欢迎的犹太名字变得重复。
As someone who is very connected to the Jewish community, I for one, know of certain common Jewish names I have ruled out because I know so many other people bythose names. (Sorry to all my friends named Jacob! I still love you!) For this reason, many Jewish parents choose to honor their relatives by choosing a baby name that uses the same first letter — for example, my parents chose the name Madeline in honor of my grandmother, Marilyn. Additionally, the sound or meaning of a name can also be a way to honor a loved one; for example, babyArimight be named for Great-Uncle Leon, as both名字意味着“lion.”
For expecting parents who are seeking something a little bit different, we compiled a list of meaningful and lesser-used Jewish names, in languages including Hebrew,Ladino,andYiddish. See 21 of our favorite unique Jewish names below.
Girls:
Ahava— Ahava means “love” in Hebrew. Its Ladino equivalent isAmada.
Dalit— This lovely Hebrew name means “to drawwater.”
Gila— Gila means “joy” in Hebrew, reminding us of a quality that one can never have too much of.
Levana— Levana means “moon” in Hebrew, reminiscent of the peace of a clear night sky.
lila.— This name means “night” in Hebrew, making up half of a Hebrew expression you might know, “Lila tov.,” meaning “goodnight.”
Perla— Perla means “pearl” in Ladino. Given that pearls are the birthstone for those born in June, Perla could be the perfect name for those expecting in the next few months.
Viva— Viva means “alive” in Ladino, reminiscent ofAviva, which means “spring” in Hebrew.
Yaara— Yaara means “woodland” in Hebrew. Asspring approaches，这个名字非常适合尊重一个特别喜欢本质上的家庭成员。
Zelda— Zelda is a Yiddish name that means “happiness.” Yiddish is the language that many Askhenazi Jews’ ancestors spoke, so Zelda is a lovely name to honor that history in a unique way.
Unisex:
keshet.- Keshet意味着希伯来语中的“彩虹”。也是领先的名称Jewish LGBTQorganization, this name emphasizes the values of inclusion and pride.
Noam— This unisex Hebrew name意味着“愉快，”a joyous quality to honor in any person
Osher— Like Zelda, Osher means “happiness” in Hebrew.
Shir— Perfect for honoring a music lover in your life, Shir means ”song” in Hebrew.
Stav— This Hebrew name means “autumn,” and it’s perfect for a baby arriving inthat season— or any season if you like a good conversation starter!
齐夫— Ziv means “brilliance” or “glow” in Hebrew. Short and sweet, this name can be a spiritual and meaningful way to honor a loved one who has passed.
男孩:
Bendit— Bendit means “blessed” in Ladino. Its Hebrew equivalent isBaruch..
Eliel— Meaning “my God” in Hebrew, this familiar-yet-different Jewish name is on track to become more popular this year — but it is still quite unique.
Gideon— Gideon, whose Hebrew origins mean “mighty warrior,” honors one of the Judges of Israel. Though it is a classically biblical name, it is much more less common than Jacob or Joshua.
Mendel— Mendel means “he who comforts” in Yiddish. Thisuplifting namereminds us of a compassionate quality that is not conventionally fostered so much in boys. Go on, crush the patriarchy by choosing this name for your son!
Raviv— Raviv means “rain” in Hebrew. After this difficult year, this unique name is a cleansing reminder of good times to come.
Velvel— Velvel means “wolf” in Yiddish. Honoring this pack animal is a symbolic nod to the importance of one’s family, and one’s people.
Header image by CSA Images/Getty Images
