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A
| Abba |
From
the Arabic, Syrian, and Aramaic, meaning “father.” The name of scores of Babylonian and Palestinian talmudic scholars.
The most famous Abba was the fourth-century Babylonian-born scholar
(Berachot 24b) who settled in Israel.
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| Abir |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “strong.” |
| Abiri |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “courageous, gallant.” |
| Achi |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my brother.” In the Bible (l Kings 5:15),
a leader of the tribe of Gad. |
| Achiezer |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my brother is my helper.” In the Bible (Numbers
1:12), a leader of the tribe of Dan. |
| Achimelech |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “the king (God) is my brother.” In the Bible
(l Samuel 21:2), a Priest who befriended David. |
| Achinoam |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my brother is a delight, sweet.” Used in the
Bible as a feminine name (l Samuel 4:13). |
| Achishia |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my brother is a gift” or “my brother’s
gift.” |
| Achitzedek |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my brother is just.” |
| Adam |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “earth.” Also ascribed to Phoenician and
Babylonian origins, meaning” man, mankind.” In the Bible (Genesis
2:7), the name of the first man. |
| Adar, Addar |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “noble, exalted.” The name of the Hebrew
month that ushers in springtime. In the Bible (l Chronicles 8:3),
the son of Bela and a grandson of Benjamin. |
| Adir |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “noble, majestic.” |
| Adon |
From
the Hebrew an Phoenician, meaning “lord” or “master.” In
Hebrew literature, the name is often used as a synonym for God. In
Greek mythology, Adonis was a young man of godlike beauty. |
| Aharon |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “teaching” or “singing.” Also, from the
Hebrew, meaning “shining” or mountain.” Or, from the Arabic,
meaning “messenger.” In the Bible (Exodus 4:14), the
older brother of Moses and Miriam. |
| Akavya |
The
Aramaic form of Akiva. Akavya ben Mehalalel was a leading first
century talmudic Palestinian scholar. Akavia and Akaviah are variant
spellings. |
| Akiva |
A
variant form of the Hebrew name Yaakov (Jacob), meaning “to hold by the
heel.” The famous Rabbi Akiva (ben Joseph) was a talmudic scholar
of the first century. |
| Alexander |
From
the Greek name Alexandros, meaning “protector of men.” According
to legend in the Talmud (Tamid 31b), when the Greek monarch Alexander the
Great conquered Palestine in 333 B.C. E. all Jewish boys born in
that year were named Alexander in his honor. |
| Alon |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “oak tree.” In the Bible (l Chronicles
4:37), one of the sons of Simeon. |
| Alter |
From
the Old English and the Old High German, meaning “old, old one.”
Among Jews, a supplementary name given to a critically ill young man so as
to confuse the angel of death into thinking that the man called “old
one” could not possibly be the young sick person he was after. |
Aluf,
Aluph |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “master, prince, ruler.” Also from the
Hebrew, meaning “loyal friend” or scholar.” |
| Ami |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “my people.” In the Bible (Ezra 2:57), a
servant of King Solomon whose descendants were among the Babylonian Exile
returnees. Also, from the Aramaic, meaning “mother.” |
| Amiel |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “ “God of my people.” In the Bible (ll
Samuel 9:4), the father of Machir, who befriended King David. |
| Amir |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “”mighty, strong.” Also, from the Hebrew,
meaning “sheaf of corn.” |
| Amnon |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “faithful.”
In the Bible (ll Samuel 3:2) the eldest son of King David.ldest son
of King David. |
| Amos |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “to be burdened, troubled.” In the Bible
(Amos 1:1), one of the twelve Minor Prophets (eighth century B.C.E.) |
| Amram |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “mighty nation.” Also, from the Arabic,
meaning “life.” In the Bible (Exodus 6:18), the father of Moses. |
| Anshil |
A
Yiddish form of Asher. |
| Arel |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “lion of God.” |
| Ariel |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “lion of God.” In the Bible (Ezra 8:16), a
leader who served under Ezra. Also, a symbolic name for Jerusalem,
David’s city (Isaiah 29:1). Used also as a feminine name. |
| Arik. |
A
pet form of Arriel and Aryeh. |
| Arye, Aryeh |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “lion.” In the Bible (ll Kings 15:25), an
officer in the army of Pekach. |
| Asa |
From
the Aramaic and Arabic, meaning “to heal” or “healer.” In
the Bible (l Kings 15:8), a king of Judah. |
| Asher |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “blessed, fortunate, happy.” In the Bible
(Genesis 30:13), a son of Jacob and Zilpah. |
| Atid |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “timely, prepared, ready” or “future time.” |
| Av |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father.” |
| Avi |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father.” |
| Avichayil |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of strength” or “my father is
strong.” In the Bible (Esther 2:15), the father of Queen Esther. |
| Aviezer |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father is salvation.” In the Bible,
(Joshua 17:2), a member of the tribe of Manasseh. |
| Aviezri |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father is my help.” Based on Judges
6:11, wher Joshua is called Avi Haezri. |
| Avigal |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of waves (the sea)” or “father of
joy,” both referring to God. |
| Avimelech |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of the king” or “my father is the
king.” In the Bible (Judges 9:1), a son of Gideon, one of the
Israel’s Judges. |
| Avinadov |
From
the Hebrew, meaning “father of a prince” or “princely father.”
In the Bible (l Samuel 16:8), the second son of Jesse and a brother of
David. Also a son of King Saul and brother of Jonathon (l Samuel
31:2). |
| Avinatan |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father has given.” |
| Aviner |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father is a lamp.” In the Bible (l
Samuel 14:50), a variant form of Avner, Saul’s uncle and chief of staff. |
| Avinoam
|
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of delight.” In the Bible (Judges
4:6), the father of Barak of the tribe of Naftali. |
| Aviram |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father is mighty.” In the Bible
(Numbers 16:1), a co-conspirator with his brother Dathan against Moses. |
| Avishai |
From
the Aramaic meaning “my father is my gift” or “gift of God.”
In the Bible (l Samuel 26:6), a grandson of Jesse, a brother of Joab. |
| Avishalom |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “my father is peace” or “father of peace.”
In the Bible (l Kings 15:2), Maacha, the daughter of Avishalom, was the
mother of Aviyam, king of Judah. |
| Aviv |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “spring.” |
| Avner |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of light” or father’s candle,”
connoting strength and inspiration. In the Bible (l Samuel 17:55),
Avner ben Ner was the uncle of King Saul and commander of his army. |
| Avraham |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “father of a mighty nation” or “father of a
multitude. In the Bible (Genesis 11:26), the first Hebrew. His name
was Avram, which was later changed to Avraham (Genesis17: 5). |
| Azriel |
From
the Hebrew, meaning, “God is my help.” In the Bible (I
Chronicles 27:19), the father of a leader of the tribe of Naftali. |
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