The Israeli Bureau of Statistics recently released the most popular names in Israel for 2023 and, well, they’re all beautiful.
Mohammad remains, year after year, the most popular boy’s name in the country in general, due to its ubiquitous popularity among the Muslim community in the country. Next is Joseph and its variation (Yosef/Yusuf), which was given to over 2,000 boys, the majority of whom are Jewish, though 664 were Muslim. David was the third most popular name in the country, though it was given to more Jewish kids than Joseph. Ariel is the fourth most popular name in the country, given to over 1,200 boys and over 55 girls. Uri was given to 1,745 newborns, over 1,200 of them boys and over 500 girls.
Some interesting girls’ names that stood out in their 2023 popularity are the names Arie, Shaya (a diminutive of Shay, which means gift), Reef, Heleni, Maori and Miley. Newly popular boys’ names include Ray, Maori (a diminutive of Maor), Ya’ar (Hebrew for woods), On (the name of popular Israeli model and brother of Bar Refaeli), Kerem (vineyard) and Shmaryahu.
Most of these names were given to babies before October 7, but they all have different meanings in its aftermath, especially the names in the 10 most popular names among Jewish babies. These are the most popular Jewish boys’ and girls’ names in Israel in 2023:
Jewish Girls’ Names:
1. Avigail/Abigail:
Abigail was one of King David’s wives, and the name means “my father’s joy.” This is the third year in a row that the name has the first spot in this list, and it’s for good reason.
Perhaps the most famous Abigail in Israel this year was released hostage Abigail Edan. Edan was taken into Gaza after her parents were murdered by terrorists who invaded her home in Kfar Aza, separated from her two older siblings, who managed to survive by hiding in the closet in their home’s safe room for hours. Abigail, her siblings and her aunt and uncle, who have taken all three into their home, met with President Biden earlier this year.
2. Ayala
The name and its variations was popular among Jews and Christians. The female version of Eyal, the name means doe (a deer! a female deer!). Famous Israeli Ayalas include writer TV presenter and journalist Ayala Hasson, writer Ayala Deckel and Ayala Zilberman, who you can watch in the Israeli show “HaShoter HaTov” streaming on Netflix. Ayala has risen five spots in popularity this year.
3. Tamar
Hebrew for “date” (the fruit, not the thing you go out on) and the famous biblical character from Genesis, Tamar, and its diminutive Tami, have remained popular in Israel throughout the years. The name is down one spot from last year. Tamar Ish Shalom is an Israeli journalist and TV host; Tamar Zanberg is a well-known Israeli politician.
4. Sarah
Sarah and its variations are up three spots in comparison to last year. The most famous Sarah in Israel is first lady Sara Netanyahu, but there are plenty of historical Israeli icons with that name, from Sarah Aharonson, about whom Devorah Omer wrote her much beloved book “Sarah, Heroine of NILI,” and Sarah Levi Tanai, founder of the dance troupe Inbal.
5. Maya
Maya didn’t make it to the top 10 names last year, but this year it is at a very respectable number 5. But Maya, which comes from the Aramaic word for water, has long been a popular name in Israel. There’s actresses Maya Wertheimer and Maya Dagan, singers Maya Buskila and Maya Dadon, model Maja Kravarusic (aka Maya Keyy), and authors Maya Arad of “The Hebrew Teacher” and Maya Kessler of “Rosenfeld,” coming out in English this year.
6. Noa
It’s been a popular year for Noas, and the name might rise still this year. There is hostage Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Hamas captivity just in time to wish her mother farewell. There is Israeli actress, producer, writer and activist Noa Tishby, whose popularity and platform have skyrocketed since October 7. There’s pop star Noa Kirel, who killed it at the 2023 Eurovision and remains one of Israel’s biggest pop stars. And there’s Noa Koler, one of Israel’s best actresses, who you can see in Hulu’s “Rehearsals” and ChaiFlick’s “Checkout.”
7. Yael
This name that means ibex (what an animal!) has fallen a bit in popularity this year, but still remains in the top 10. There are so many cool Yaels. Yael Grobglas of “Jane the Virgin” fame, French-Israeli singer Yael Naim, actress Yael Bar-Zohar, co-director of “Women Wage Peace” Yael Braudo-Bahat, and groundbreaking Israeli politician Yael Dayan, who passed away this year.
8. Esther
The queen! Esther, the name of the heroine of the Purim story, has rightfully made it to the top 10 list after not being there in the previous year. Esther and its diminutive, Esty or Etty, have long been beloved in Israel. There’s famed singers Esther Ofarim, Etty Ankri and Ester Rada. Perhaps the most well known Esther in Israel in 2023 was former Israeli supreme court president Esther Hayut, who was retired from the role on October 16, 2023, after she turned 70. Hayut was named by Forbes as one of 50 of 50 in 2022 for her work in the court.
9. Libby
While around the world it’s known as short for Elizabeth, Libby in Hebrew means “my heart״ and it is a bit more modern than many of the names on this least, though has plenty of reasons to be beloved.
10. Hannah
There are a lot of biblical names in this least, and Hannah, the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel which means “gracious,” is the last of them. The diminutive of the name, Chani, has also been popular in Israel in the past. Hannah isn’t just an iconic biblical name, it’s also the name of icons of Israeli stage and screen, like the first lady of Israeli theater Hanna Rovina and “Shtisel” star Hanna Laszlo, who also played Dr. Ruth in an Israeli adaptation of the autobiographical play about the Jewish sex therapist.
Jewish Boys’ Names:
1. David
The trend of biblical names continues into boys’ names! David and its diminutives, Dudu and Dudi, are also veterans in the list of popular names throughout the years. There’s Israeli legends David Grossman and David Broza, Dudu Fisher and Dudu Tassa, and so many more.
2. Lavi
Lavi has climbed up this list and is the top name that means lion on this list this year. Yes, you guessed it, there are two more lion names to come on this list! It’s so sweet and beautiful and we totally understand the hype around it.
3. Yosef
Another biblical name that’s widely beloved among every denomination in the country. In fact, the most well-known Josephs or Yossefs in Israel this year aren’t Jewish. There’s Arab-Israeli journalist and advocate Yoseph Haddad and Yousef Sweid now starring the excellent “Night Therapy” alongside Shira Haas.
4. Rafael
This name means “God has healed” and Israel definitely needed a lot of healing in 2023. There are lots of famous Raffis in Israel, the common diminutive for the name. They include journalist and TV host Raffi Reshef and dad of Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli, now the star of the Israeli reality show “The Refaelis.”
5. Ariel
This is our second lion name in the top 10, which means “lion of God.” Perhaps the most tragically famous Ariel this year is Ariel Bibas, who was kidnapped from him home on October 7 and is still believed to be held hostage in Gaza, where he will turn 5 this August. We pray for his return.
6. Ori
Ori means “my light,” and light and healing are definitely things we are wishing for. Israeli actor Ori Laizerouvich may be the most widely beloved person with that name, the incredibly diverting star of “The New Black,” which you can watch on ChaiFlicks.
7. Ari
The last of the lion names in the top 10! Ari means lion. It’s short, simple and so majestic.
8. Moshe
We all need leaders like Moses, who led our people out of Egypt, in our lives. Moses became a Netflix hit this year in “Testament: The Story of Moses” where the Jewish leader was played by Israeli actor Avi Azulay.
9. Noam
Noam means pleasantness, a unisex Israeli name that was especially popular in 2023, and a feeling that we absolutely need more of. Former Israeli general Noam Tibon decided to save his son and his neighbors on October 7, and his story of bravery is being turned into a movie by “Fauda” creator Lior Raz.
10. Yehuda
Yehuda, one of Jacob’s sons and one of the tribes of Israel, and the name of the leader of the Maccabees, is again, a very popular name in Israel. Perhaps the most well-known actor with that name in the country is Yehuda Levy, who you can watch on “Firedance” streaming on ChaiFlicks and on “A Body that Works” on Netflix.
