33 Jewish Baby Names Inspired by Miracles – Kveller
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Jewish baby names

33 Jewish Baby Names Inspired by Miracles

These diverse names reference miraculous Jewish stories, events and people.

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What is a miracle, exactly? Generally speaking, Jewish tradition recognizes two categories of the concept: supernatural, out-of-the-ordinary events, like the splitting of the Red Sea during the Passover story, and a more subtle but no less incredible series of events that are carried out by humans, God’s creations. 

Some well-known miracles in Jewish tradition include the oil meant to last for one day lasting for eight in the Hanukkah story. There’s also the Purim story, a famous example of God’s actions in the background.

With this list of baby names from a variety of Jewish languages from around the world to honor our people’s diverse heritage, you can be inspired by incredible stories, events and Jewish figures connected with miracles. A new baby is, after all, a miracle in and of itself.

Girls’ names

Alta (Yiddish): “Old.” This name was given to sick girls in Ashkenazi tradition to fool the Angel of Death and provide miraculous healing.

Devora (Hebrew): “Bee.” Deborah was the Jewish judge who helped lead a miraculous victory in battle.

Esther (Persian): “Star,” referring to the Purim heroine of Esther.

Estirola (Judeo-Greek/Romaniote): Romaniote variant of Esther.

Hallel (Hebrew): “Praise.” Can be a reference to the prayers of praise to commemorate the miracles of Passover and Hanukkah.

Herut (Jewish Amharic): “Freedom.” Referring to the freeing of the Jewish slaves during the Passover story.

Hodaya (Hebrew): “To praise God.”

Judith (Hebrew): “Jewish.” In honor of Judith in the story of Hanukkah.

Lital (Hebrew): “My dew.” The hope for the miracle of dew and rain.

Manna (Hebrew and used in Judeo-Italian): The miraculous food given to the Jews in the Exodus story to sustain them.

Merjam (Ladino/Judeo-Spanish): Ladino variant of Miriam.

Najiya (Judeo-Arabic): “Saved.”

Nessa (Hebrew): “Miracle.”

Toiba (Yiddish): “Dove.” Remembering the story of Noah’s Ark.

 

Boys’ names

Ageze (Jewish Amharic): “He helped.”

Elim (Hebrew): “The place of Elim,” the station where the Jews camped before the parting of the Red Sea, where enough water and date palms existed to feed everyone.

Elisha (Hebrew): “God is my salvation.” Elisha was a prophet who performed miracles.

Hidai (Hebrew): “A praise.”

Itzik (Yiddish): “Laughter,” a reference to the miraculous fulfilment of a long-sought child.

Jonah (Hebrew): “Dove.” Jonah miraculously survived being eaten by a sea creature.

Mottel (Yiddish): Yiddish diminutive of Mordechai. In the famed “Fiddler on the Roof,” Mottel sings through the miracles of Jewish history.

Nissim (Hebrew): “Miracle.”

Palti (Hebrew): “Delivered.”

Pesach (Hebrew): “To pass over,” honoring the miracles of the Passover holiday.

Samson (Hebrew): A Biblical figure with miraculous strength.

Shmaya (Hebrew): “God heard.” The prophet Shmaya helped stop an army.

Shunem (Hebrew): “The town Shunem,” where Elisha performed the miracle of bringing a person back to life.

Tzur (Hebrew): “Rock,” a reference to “Maoz Tzur,” a song commemorating the Hanukkah miracles.

 

Gender neutral names

Maayan (Hebrew): “Water spring,” referring to a miraculous spring that followed the Jews in the desert.

Neri (Hebrew): “Candle,” in honor of the Hanukkah miracle of lights.

Or (Hebrew): “Light.”

Sinai (Hebrew): Various meanings; the mountain where the Torah was received.

Zohar (Hebrew): “Radiance.” The Zohar is a collection of Jewish mystical thought that often touches on miracles in mysticism.

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