Quick! What’s the first Jewish baby name for girls that comes to mind? Was it Sarah? It was Sarah, wasn’t it?
In “Jewish Baby Names That Start With the Letter ‘R’” we wrote that being named Rachel or Rebecca is essentially a Jewish rite of passage. The same holds true for Sarah. And while Sarah is an absolutely lovely and timeless name, there is a world beyond this particular Jewish S name. (No shade towards the first matriarch, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Podemski, Sarah Michelle Gellar or Sarah Jessica Parker.)
So, here are our favorite Jewish baby names that start with the letter “S” – male and unisex options included:
Girls:
1. Sapira — With this name, your baby won’t be precious like a diamond, gold or a pearl. She’ll be precious like a sapphire – the meaning of Sapira in Hebrew!
2. Sharona — My, my, my, my Sharona! Besides being the name of a 1979 jam by band The Knack, Sharona refers to the central plain of Israel.
3. Shayna — Who can resist a little shayna punim? In Yiddish, Shayna means “beautiful.” Alternatively, this name can be spelled Shaina.
4. Shira — Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti! In Hebrew, Shira means “song.” Perhaps the most famous person with this name is Israeli actress Shira Haas, who garnered acclaim for her role in “Unorthodox.”
5. Shoshana — If you like flowery names, this one’s for you! Shoshana (or Shoshanah) means rose or lily.
6. Simone — This name derives from the male Hebrew name Shimon and it means “one who hears.” It’s also a perfect fit if you want to honor the gymnast Simone Biles, who isn’t Jewish but who has done an impeccable floor routine to Jewish singer Noa Kirel’s “Unicorn.”
Unisex:
7. Sagie — In Aramaic (ooh, we’re getting ancient with it!) this gender neutral means “enough,” “great” and “numerous.” Dayenu!
8. Shaked — We like this name so much it’s nutty! Shaked means “almond” in Hebrew, and is a common name for babies born around Tu Bishvat.
9. Simcha — Simcha to the world! In Hebrew, this unisex name means “joy” or “happiness.” It can also be spelled Simha or Simchah.
Boys:
10. Sason — Rewind the tape. Sason also means “joy” in Hebrew.
11. Saul — In the Hebrew Bible, Saul was the first king of Israel. This name means “asked for.”
12. Seth — Did you know that Adam and Eve had a third son?! His name was Seth which means “anointed.” Another fun fact: did you know that comedian Seth Meyers is not Jewish, in spite of many people thinking he is?
13. Shem — In Biblical Hebrew, this name means “name.” Meta!! It’s a great option if you want to honor the Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name), who many consider to be the founder of Hasidic Judaism.
14. Shimon/Simon — Talkative babies to the front! In Hebrew, Shimon or Simon means “to hear” or “be heard.”
15. Solomon/Shlomo — Like the word “shalom,” the name Solomon or Shlomo means “peace” in Hebrew. In the Bible, King Solomon (the son of King David and Bathsheba) built the first Temple and was very wise.
Click here for a full list of Jewish baby names that start with the letter “S.”
