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The Meanings of Specific Jewish Names

Did you ever wonder what your Hebrew name means? Over the years, our Ask the Rabbi team has fielded hundreds of such questions. Here is a sampling of their responses.

Why Is Alexander a Jewish Name?
The name Alexander is unique in that its origin is definitely not Jewish.
10 Keys to Understanding Many Ashkenazi Surnames
Goldstein, Schapiro, Landau, Posner, Isaacs, Schwartz, Weiss, Moskowitz, Goldberg, Rosenberg … the list goes on.
9 Yiddish Names Actually From Greek and Latin
Ashkenaz was birthed in France and has its roots along the Mediterranean, drawing from older Greek and Italian Jewish communities.
12 Jewish Given Names From the Animal Kingdom
Some of the most common Jewish names mean animals, kosher and not kosher…
Why Am I Named After a Bee?
The Jewish name of Deborah (Devorah)
What Does the Name Shaindel Mean?
The Jewish names of Yafah and Shaina
Shaindel is derived from the Yiddish word “shain” (in German, “schön”), which means “beautiful.” The equivalent name in Hebrew is Yafah.
What Does the Name Hadassah Mean?
The female Jewish name Hadassah is biblical, and was one of the names of Queen Esther, the heroine of the biblical story of Purim . . .
What Does the Name Jonah Mean?
The Jewish names of Yonah and Toibah
The name Jonah, or in Hebrew, Yonah, means “dove.” It is the name of a biblical prophet.
What Does Shalom Mean?
Shalom means peace, and is rooted in the word (shaleim), which means completion. Without peace, there can be no completion.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
Learn the meaning and significance of this Jewish name.
What Does the Jewish Last Name Shapiro mean?
Discover the history and significance of this famous Jewish surname.
What Does the Jewish Last Name Rapoport Mean?
Learn the meaning and significance of this famous Jewish surname.
What Does the Jewish Last Name Epstein Mean?
Learn the meaning and significance of this famous Jewish surname.
What Does the Jewish Last Name Jaffe Mean?
Learn the meaning and significance of this famous Jewish surname.
What Does the Jewish Last Name Horowitz Mean?
Learn the meaning and significance of this famous Jewish surname.
Why Is Gordon a Jewish Last Name?
Gordon, Jewish or Scottish? Given name or surname? Find out!
What Does Kaplan Mean?
Are the Kaplans priests? Are they all one family? And where did the name come from?
What Does the Jewish Last Name Bitton Mean?
This name is fairly common among Jews of North African descent. What does it mean?
What Does the Jewish Last Name Azoulay Mean?
The surname Azoulay is common among Jews of North African descent. Where did this name originate?
What Does the Jewish Last Name Cohen Mean?
The name Cohen is common among both Sephardim and Ashkenazim, making it one of the most widespread Jewish names of all time.
What Does the Last Name Levy Mean?
This name is the second most popular family name in Israel, belonging to approximately 1.2 percent of the population.
What Does the Last Name Schreiber Mean?
The last name Schreiber may be a hint that its bearer descends from a sofer, a skilled scribe tasked with the sacred duty of writing Torah scrolls, mezuzahs, and tefillin.
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