102 Yiddish Names For Babies And Pets

Oluniyi Akande
Feb 16, 2024 By Oluniyi Akande
Originally Published on Jun 07, 2022
Edited by Shubhra Shukla
Fact-checked by Naman Khanna
Assigning Yiddish names to a baby after birth has become extremely popular with parents.
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Age: 0-99
Read time: 8.5 Min

The new wave of Yiddish and Jewish names has risen in the world.

Yiddish was a language used by the Jewish people before Holocaust. It was a German dialect with Hebrew words and still has over 200,000 speakers.

The Yiddish language was on the verge of getting extinct. It was a language that was associated with Jewish ancestors. But the language has now started gaining popularity through Hebrew Yiddish names. To keep the language alive, people started naming their kids after their ancestors and Yiddish names.

The Yiddish language has many beautiful Yiddish names with a meaning associated to them. Parents who are looking for unique names for their kids are interested in naming their kids with Yiddish names because these Yiddish names are unique and have very beautiful meanings.

If you are looking for a Yiddish name for your children or pets, here is a list of names for you.

Yiddish Girl Names

The Yiddish baby names for girls are unique and have an appropriate and good meaning, so naming them with these Yiddish-Hebrew names and keeping the heritage alive is a good thing.

Parents like their children to have an uncommon name, and also, kids want themselves to stand out in their group, and having a unique name helps fulfill these requirements.

Here is a list of Yiddish baby names for girls. 

Alte (Yiddish origin), which means 'old', is a good omen that they are wishing their Jewish baby girl lives a long life. One of the popular Jewish personal names in New York.

Baila (Yiddish origin), which means ‘one who is a beautiful form of dance’.

Bluma (Yiddish origin), which means a 'bloom' or 'flower', is of German-Yiddish origin. One of the popular female names.

Charna (Yiddish origin), which means 'dark' or 'black', is popular in Israel and various East European countries.

Chaya (Hebrew origin), which means 'life', is given as a sign of long life. One of the popular Jewish personal names.

Eidel (Yiddish origin), which means 'gentle' or 'refined', is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew name Adinah.

Freida or Frayda or Frida (Yiddish origin) means 'joy'. The German meaning of Frida is 'peace and calm'.

Fruma (Yiddish origin), which means 'deeply religious'. In Hebrew origin, it means, ‘a pious woman’.

Golde (Yiddish origin), which means 'gold', is a version of the name Golda.

Henya (Yiddish origin), which means 'grace', is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew name Chen.

Hinda (Hebrew origin), which means 'deer', also means a female deer or 'doe'.

Kayla (Yiddish origin), which means 'crown' and 'laurel' or, in Irish and Gaelic origin, means ‘slim and fair’.

Libena (Yiddish origin), which means 'dear', is related to the famous name Luba.

Libke (Yiddish origin), which means 'a loved one', is the most trending Yiddish name right now.

Mesh (Yiddish origin), which means 'brass'.

Minah (Yiddish origin), which means 'peaceful', and also means ‘of the sea’.

Perl (Yiddish origin), which means 'pearl', is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word Pnina.

Raysel or Raizel or Roza (Yiddish-Hebrew origin), which means 'rose', has many other variants.

Reyna (Yiddish origin), which means 'clean' or 'pure', also means 'queen' in Spanish origin.

Shayna or Shayna (Yiddish origin), which means 'beautiful', can be found in the Bible and also in many different languages.

Toiba (Yiddish origin), which means 'dove', is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word Yonah.

Toltse (Yiddish origin) means 'sweet'.

Zelda (Yiddish origin), which means 'blessed', is derived from the name Selig.

Yiddish Boy Names

Yiddish baby names for boys. Similar to the girls, there are many unique and meaningful names for boys as well. Following are the names of boys in the Yiddish language.

Anshel (Yiddish origin), which means 'joy' and 'affirmation', is the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word Asher.

Avrom (Yiddish origin), which means ‘father of the multitude’, is another version of Abraham.

Breine (Yiddish origin) means ‘one who is blessed'.

Dovid (Yiddish origin), which means 'beloved', is the Yiddish form of the name David.

Dudel (Yiddish origin), which means ‘one who is beloved', 'favorite' or 'darling'.

Feivish (Yiddish origin), which means 'shinning' or 'light', is very popular in Judaism and is great for children born around Hanukkah. It is one of the popular Jewish names.

Fischel (Yiddish origin), which means 'little fish', is derived from the name Fishl.

Izik (Yiddish origin), which means 'laughter', means a form of Issac. A great name for a child destined to be a king.

Josef (Yiddish origin), which means 'God will rise' or 'god will multiply', is a version of Joseph.

Hersch/Hirsch (Yiddish origin), which means 'deer', is the alternative spelling of Hersch.

Herschel (Yiddish origin), which means 'little deer'. One of the famous people with this name is Sir William Herschel, the astronomer.

Lieb  (Yiddish origin), which means 'lion'. In German, it means 'a dear one'.

Mendel (Yiddish origin), which means 'he who comforts', is a form of the Hebrew name Menachem.

Ner (Hebrew origin), which means 'candle' or 'light', is a name that every mother will like for her child.

Sholem (Yiddish-Hebrew origin), meaning 'peace', is the Yiddish form of Shalom.

Tevye/Tevya (Yiddish origin), meaning 'good', literally means, ‘God is good’.

Velvel (Yiddish origin), meaning 'wolf', is associated with the tribe of Benjamin, who was described in the Bible as a wolf.

Yankel (Yiddish origin), which means 'to follow', also means, ‘Yahweh is my savior’.

Yudel (Yiddish origin), which means 'praised'. In Hebrew, it means ‘woman from Judea’.

Zalman (Yiddish origin), which means 'peace', is a variant of Solomon.

Zelig (Yiddish origin), meaning 'blessed' or 'holy', is the Yiddish equivalent of the name Asher.

Zisse (Yiddish origin), meaning 'sweet', can be used for females as well as males.

Zemel (Yiddish origin), which means 'bread'.

Yiddish last names are related to the rich history and culture of the region.

Yiddish Last Names

Most of the Jewish last names are derived from the father's side, but many are also taken from the mother's side of the family.  Let us look for some Yiddish last names.

Abrams (Hebrew origin), meaning ‘high father’, is a reference to the prophet Abraham.

Berenson (Yiddish/German/Ashkenazi origin) means ‘bear or son’.

Blum (Yiddish origin) means ‘flower’.

Broder (Yiddish origin), which means ‘Brodsky’ or a common family name for people from Brody, is an area in Ukraine.

Cohen (Hebrew origin) means ‘priest’.

Diamond ( Yiddish/Latin origin), which means ‘diamond’ or ‘invincible’.

Gelb  (Yiddish origin), which means ‘yellow’.

Geller (Yiddish origin), which means ‘yellow’, or reference to people with lighter hair. You can find its reference in the American sitcom 'Friends'.

Koppelman  (Yiddish origin) means ‘Jacob’.

Leib/Leiberman/Liebermann (Yiddish origin) means ‘dear or beloved’.

 Levi/Levy (Hebrew origin), which means ‘descendant of Levi’, is the third son of Jacob and Leah.

Schechter (Yiddish origin) means ‘ritual slaughterer’ or ‘butcher’.

Stern (Yiddish origin) means ‘star’.

Yiddish Pet Names

Most of us in today's world have pets; some have dogs while others have cats. If you are from a Yiddish family or even if you are not from a Yiddish family, these are some amazing Yiddish dog names or pet names you can have for your dogs, cats, and other pets with a beautiful meaning to them.

Male Pet Names

Abel (Hebrew origin) means ‘breathe’. In the Bible, he was the youngest son of Adam and Eve. He was murdered by his brother Cain.

Achala (Yiddish origin) means ‘great.’ In Indian origin, it means a steady mountain.

Achi (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘my brother’, is also a popular pet name.

Adam (Yiddish origin), which means ‘the ground’ or ‘earth’. In Hebrew, it means ‘son of red earth’.

Ahron (Hebrew origin), meaning ‘mountain’, literally means a mountain of strength.

Alon (Yiddish origin) means ‘oak tree’.

Anshel (Yiddish origin), which means ‘fortunate’ or ‘happy’, was the name of one of Jacob’s sons.

Aryeh (Hebrew origin), meaning ‘lion’, literally means ‘Lion of God’.

Azrael (Yiddish origin), which means ‘angel of death’, is the guardian angel of the zodiac sign Capricorn.

Bagel (Yiddish origin) is another food-inspired name.

Caleb (Yiddish origin) means ‘faithful.’ In the Bible, Caleb was a companion of Joshua and Moses.

Chayim (Yiddish origin) means ‘life’ or ‘living'.

Eli (Hebrew origin), meaning ‘elevate’, also means ‘my God’.

From (Yiddish origin), means, ‘fruitful’.

Hadar (Yiddish origin), which means ‘greatness’, also means splendor or glory.

Haskel (Yiddish origin), which means ‘God strengthens’, is also a form of Ezikiel that can be perfect for your pet.

Kuni (Yiddish origin) means ‘childish’.

Kyle (Yiddish origin) means ‘victorious’. Its Gaelic form is Caol.

Lantz (Yiddish origin) means ‘spear’.

Lemel (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘little lamb’, also means happy in Hebrew.

Levi (Yiddish origin) means ‘attached to me’. In the Bible, Levi is the son of Jacob and Leah.

Noam (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘pleasantness’, can be used for both males and females.

Samson (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘bright sun’, is derived from the Hebrew word semes.

Uri (Yiddish origin), which means ‘my light’, is derived from the name Uriel. You will not regret naming your pet Uri.

Zipkiyah (Yiddish origin) means ‘defends humanity’.

Zundel (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘sonny boy’ or ‘small boy’, is an occupational name for a seller of kindling woods.

Female Pet Names

Adah (Yiddish origin) is named after an ornament. In Hebrew, it means adornment, which is just perfect for your little goofball.

Adele (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘God is eternal’, also means noble in German.

Atara (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘crown’, also means 'blessed'.

Bayla (Yiddish origin) means ‘beautiful.’

Bine (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘bee’, is derived from the French and German word Sabina.

Carmel (Hebrew origin), meaning ‘vineyard’, ‘garden’, ‘orchard’, literally means, ‘vineyard of God’.

Eidel (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘delicate’, also has alternate names like Edel, Aydel, and more.

Esther (Yiddish origin) means ‘hidden.’

Frema (Yiddish origin), which means ‘pious one', is the best name for your innocent little pup.

Henda (Yiddish origin) means ‘favor’ or ‘grace.’

Keila (Yiddish origin) means ‘vessel’. In Hebrew, it means, God-like or pure.

Leila (Hebrew origin) means ‘night’ or ‘dark beauty.’ In Arabic, it is Laila.

Malka (Hebrew origin) means ‘queen’.

Perle (Yiddish origin), meaning ‘pearl’, is derived from Latin.

Pesha (Yiddish origin) means ‘someone who is born on Easter’.

Sarah (Yiddish origin) means ‘ruler’ or ‘princess.’ In the Bible, she was the wife of Prophet Abraham.

Zissa (Yiddish origin) means ‘sweet girl’.

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Written by Oluniyi Akande

Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

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Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.

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Fact-checked by Naman Khanna

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

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Naman KhannaBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

An English literature graduate from Delhi University, Naman's broad interests include mathematics, science, and social science. With his knowledge and expertise in multiple subjects, he is an asset to our fact-checking team. Naman is set to pursue his postgraduate degree in English literature soon.

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