Jewish berries needed! (Other persepctives also appreciated)

Girl Names
1

Hi all! I’m seeking the opinions of other Jewish berries because I am reorganizing and changing my Hebrew baby name list. While I’m only in college right now, I plan to move to Israel afterward and hopefully raise a family there. It’s making the whole process of thinking about baby names that much more complicated. Right now, for my girls, I’m thinking that I want them to have English names and then also Hebrew names. The majority of my family and friends are in the states so we will be back to visit and spend time with them, and because my children would technically be American citizens I think it makes sense to have names that could work in the US separate from their Hebrew names. I had thought of using Hebrew names that could work in both countries (for example Talia or Eliana) but most of the Hebrew names I’m drawn to (besides Esther) don’t work very well, plus I love a lot of non-Hebrew names and I’d be sad if I couldn’t use them. I’m not sure what names they would be referred to the majority of the time, so for the sake of this post, let’s say they are called both names about half the time.

I’d love your thoughts about which names you like and also which corresponding non-Hebrew and Hebrew name combos that make sense. Please let me know if you have any questions. Bolded names are my favorites. Names with a star signify an honor name.

My favorite Hebrew combos + meanings

Tzipporah Yael (bird, mountain goat)
Esther* Libi (star of my heart)
Esther* Margalit (star, pearl)
Nechama Lior (comfort, my light)
Chaya* Gefen (life, vine)
Ayelet Miriam (gazelle, sea of bitterness)
May Ophira ( bitter?, gold)
Gefen Alma - (vine woman)

What are your thoughts on these combos?

Now for the Hebrew names and which non-Hebrew names they could correspond with. I think I want the names (at least the first names) to have some sort of connection either by sound meaning, or first letter but I’m not too picky. Here are some of my ideas.

Hebrew names + non-Hebrew names they could correspond with

Tzipporah - (Rowena)*
Chaya * - (Eve, Celia,* Evelyn,* Ida)
Nechama - (Nell)
Ayelet - (Annabeth, Amelia)
Gefen - (Fern)
Rachaela - (Rowena, Ruthie, Rosemary)
Reut / Ruti - (Winifred)*
Shula / Shulamit - (Winifred)*
Raisel - (Rosemary)
Yonina - (June, Rowena *)

Which of these work? Which do you like? Are there other Hebrew names you’d suggest to go with the non-Hebrew names (either the ones here or others in my UC if I didn’t include them)?

P.S. I do plan to use the name Esther as a first name both for her Israeli and US certificates although I think I’ll use a different middle in English than her Hebrew middle.

Thank you for your help!!

1 Like
2

(Not Jewish) I would just name her one name. Loving mostly everything on your list but I love

Esther Libi
Nechama Lior -love this one and its meaning (maybe you could use nn Ama)

Alma
Yonina (maybe nn Nina)
Chaya
May
Rosemary

Also love Celia

Esther Celia
Esther Libi Celia
Hope this helps

1 Like
3

Hello! I’m Jewish and my family is Israeli. Of your list, I like [name_f]Tzipporah[/name_f] [name_u]Yael[/name_u], [name_f]Esther[/name_f] [name_f]Margalit[/name_f], [name_f]Chaya[/name_f] [name_f]Gefen[/name_f], and [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_f]Ophira[/name_f]. I think if it was me, I would keep it simple and call them by their Hebrew names even in the U.S. I know American girls named [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f], [name_f]Ayala[/name_f] and Rakefet, and they do fine. With a name like [name_f]Chaya[/name_f], it would probably get changed to [name_f]Haya[/name_f], but I think that’s ok. [name_u]Or[/name_u], I would give them a Hebrew first name and [name_f]English[/name_f] middle name or vice versa. [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_f]Ophira[/name_f] is a nice example of that. [name_f]My[/name_f] sister and I both have our [name_f]English[/name_f] given names and also Hebrew names, which is also an option- mine is [name_u]Yael[/name_u].

3 Likes
4

I’m definitely considering it! I just live in rural Maine and no one here knows how to pronounce anything :woman_facepalming:t2:

5

hello!! So many of my friends have Hebrew/Yiddish names (including names that would be considered unusable at first glance, like Or and Tal,) and they’ve never had any problems with them in the U.S. Some of my friends find it helpful to have an easy nickname they can use in passing (my friend Tzipporah uses “Zippy,”) but it’s never gotten to the point where they need a completely different name. My friends and I love that our names have cultural significance, however I do see the benefits of having an English name.

my favorites are Ayelet Miriam, Chaya Gefen, and Nechama Lior, but all of these are beautiful!! Tzipporah Yael flows wonderfully, and I love the meaning of Esther Libi.

I don’t see the need for most of these, as I know people with many of these names in real life and they’ve never experienced any issues (I don’t live in a Jewish community, but my area is very accepting of all ethnic backgrounds/religions) but our situations might be a bit different in terms of the reaction these names might get :slightly_smiling_face:

I prefer shortened/altered versions of the same name, such as Ayelet “Aya,” Ayelet “Lettie,” or Yonina “Nina,” but I like Yonina “June” and Chaya “Celia.”

I definitely think that you should go with whatever works best for your family/situation!! You have such a beautiful list :grin:

6

I really like @julieghoulie730’s point of having both names on both certificates (is it even possible to have different names on different certificates?), one as a middle and one as a first. I think this would have them identify with both names equally.
So an [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] could go by [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] in the US, [name_f]Esther[/name_f] go by [name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]May[/name_f] by [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Gefen[/name_f] [name_f]Alma[/name_f] can go by [name_f]Alma[/name_f] and Tzippoah would also work, I think.

7

I’m Jewish and I live in an area that doesn’t have a high Jewish population but within our community we have a lot of Rivkas, Ashiras, Ephraims, Orlis, etc. (we even have a M@tisy@hu). I think any of these names would also work in America but I totally understand the desire to have two separate names (my personal name plan regarding Hebrew names sways all the time but currently thinking English name with the Hebrew name as an at home/at temple nickname).

I love Tzipporah Yael and Esther Margalit the most - they really sing. But all of these are brilliant.

The Hebrew to English match ups make enough… I do think that if you’re using the names 50/50 or expecting her to go by both they should be closer. Raisel and Rosemary or Nechama and Nell would be easier to flip between than Tzipporah and Rowena.

Yonina with June or Rowena doesn’t totally connect as much for me. I would love to see Yonina with Jemima or Paloma to connect on that dove meaning while still keeping the cadence.
Similarly with Tzipporah and Rowena, I don’t really see it. I teach Hebrew school and if Rowena came in and went by or had the Hebrew name Tzipporah I wouldn’t bat an eye but if you were yelling in an airport I’m not positive that Rowena/Tzipporah would be a good one to flip between.

Some general Hebrew-English match ups:
Ayelet / Tabitha
Chaya / Genevieve
Shula / Tallulah, Irene, Frida, Paloma
Shoshana / Susannah

1 Like
8

@baya44 Thank you! I definitely think your area might be more accepting of cultural names but I’m not TOO worried about it because I won’t be actually living there. [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lettie[/name_f] is a really cute idea!

@OpheliaFlora That’s definitely a good idea! I think for me it’s more that I want to be able to use [name_f]English[/name_f] names I love as well which I can’t do if I just use their Hebrew middles as their [name_f]English[/name_f] names if that makes sense.

@lateaugust Thank you so much for your feedback! Shula/Frida is one I’ve considered because I really like both names so thank you for mentioning that one. I was wondering if you think Rimona/Rowena might be more useable? I totally forgot about [name_f]Rimona[/name_f]!

9

Perhaps you could do a three name combo? Unless your favourite [name_f]English[/name_f] names are also the variations of your favourite Hebrew names.