Top Baby Names in Israel

To continue with an exploration of global names - check out Top Baby Names in Russia from 9/28 - I'll be moving ahead to Israel! Names with Hebrew origins are very popular in the US - Ethan, Noah, Abigail, Sarah - so why not check out more modern Hebrew choices?

Because Israel splits up statistics by religion, this post will be about Jewish names - perhaps Muslim and Christian posts will follow? Let me know if you're interested, readers!

Source: List of most popular given names

Male Names

Noam
An excellent alternative to Noah, Noam is more substantial and has a great meaning - "pleasantness". Quite a few famous Noam's have popped up in history, if you love a name with traditional roots.

Ori
Ori is the perfect male complement to the more feminine Ari. It means "my light", which is adorable for any little one. It might be too short for a US name, so try it as a nickname for Orion or Orlando.

Itai
Also spelled Ithai, this Old Testament name means "with me". It could be a great alternative to Ethan, Isaac or Ty, but it's definitely unique!

Yosef - Joseph
Currently ranked at #709 in the US, this name is accessible but could be an uncommon way to honor a grandpa Joe. Nicknames Seff or Sefi are also cute.

Ariel
Originally a male name meaning "lion of God", this name was claimed for the girls in 1989 with the release of The Little Mermaid. Perhaps Ariel could return to the boys side in another few years?

Yonatan - Jonathan
I'm more of a fan of the English variation, but Yonatan could work if you're looking for something more unique in the US - bonus points for adorable nickname Yoni!

Eitan - Ethan
Pronounced AY-tahn, this is a cool mix between popular Ethan and unusual Eden. Few English boys names begin with "Ei", to add to the rareness.

Moshe - Moses
Most popularly associated with the Biblical prophet, Moses has been on the US Top 1000 since 1880. The Hebrew variation softens the name a bit, but the original feels more usable.

Female Names

Noa
While this name has a history and meaning all its own - "movement" - it might be too close to boys' #1 Noah to find footing in the US. Noemie, Genoa, or Inoa would be more accesible as a full name.

Shira
Meaning "my song", this could be a great alternative to Shay, Shelby or Shiloh. It has only appeared on the US Top 1000 once, in 1985.

Tamar - Tamara
Dropping the A at the end of popular Tamara invites a much cooler interpretation. Next to other ends-in-R names like Skyler or Harper, Tamar will fit right in.

Talia
On its own, this name is pretty and strong without being overused. As a nickname of Natalia, it's also a unique option. Talia would also work as a cross-cultural option.

Yael
An intriguing name with no parallels in the US, Yael is the name of a female warrior in the Old Testament - tenacious and exotic, this is a great choice!

Edel - Adele
From the Hebrew for "ornament", this Yiddish name will fit in with the other trendy E-names without giving up any personality. Note - other languages also claim Edel, but with different meanings.

Avigail - Abigail
Meaning "my father is joy", this could be a nice alternative to Abigail - but you'll be asked to spell it almost every time it's said. Avi or Abbie might work better.

Ayala
This name is a feminine and friendly alternative to Aaliyah or Aria. It means "doe" in Hebrew - other variations include Aya or Ayelet.

Throwback Thursday #6: It Had to Be Jew

In honor of my recent two year anniversary with my boyfriend, this Throwback Thursday is brought to you by his family tree! His Jewish ancestors immigrated to the US in the early 1900's from Eastern Europe, so there's quite a few foreign names to be found. I was only too excited for these new names (at least to me) when he showed me his family tree.

On a personal note, our names are at #6 and #7 currently - Ethan and Emily. While I'm used to being surrounded by Emily's, Ethan's name trended upwards a bit later. This means that if we hear someone yell "Ethan", it's usually a mom to her six-year-old.

A pretty gross picture of us in 2013

Female names

Fannie - short form of Frances, meaning "free man"

While this is a really cute name that should be brought back with the nickname-name trend, it's a slang term in the UK that won't go over well. 

Simi - short form of Simcha, meaning "happiness"

While Simcha is traditionally a boy's name, I think it's a great unisex choice. Simi has a bright, fun sound and a great meaning. Southern California residents will also recognize it's connection to Simi Valley, though the valley title comes from the Chumash language. 

Ochel - ?

I've done quite a bit of research to no avail. If any readers can find out Ochel's origins, I'd be grateful! I'm 99% sure it's Hebrew, perhaps with some translation errors. 

Sandel - spelling variation of Shaindel, diminutive of Shaina, meaning "beautiful"

While this name would definitely get some shoe-related teasing, learning more nicknames for Shaina and the like is always fun. 

Male names

Isidore - from Greek, "gift of Isis"

I was surprised to see a Greek name on a mostly Hebrew list, but thanks to Behind the Name, I found out that it seems to have become popular in Jewish families as the Americanization of Isaac, Israel or Isaiah. This name is cute, and could definitely fit in with all the other Is-names on the playground.

Tvie - spelling variation of the Yiddish form of Tobiah, "God is good"

Many of you might be familiar with this name through the main character of "Fiddler on the Roof", Tevye. The Slavic sound is cool and unusual, and it's a great cousin of Toby. 

Cornelius - from Latin, "horn" 

This name only dropped off the list in 2009, so it's not as outdated as you might think. While the sound may be "corny", it's definitely got character (and a few literary references). 

Zalman - variation of Solomon, meaning "peace"

Well-known author Salman Rushdie has made this name more recognizable, but it's got a personality all its own. The Z adds zip, but the history is classic. Check out other old Z-names in my Throwback Thursday post from September 3rd!

Any names you haven't heard of? Can any readers offer more history for these variations? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!