Gender-based names have become somewhat of an issue in the United States. Parents have started naming their girls something other than traditionally feminine names, such as John and Zakary. In contrast, others have reversed the trend by giving their boys traditional female names like Michael or Adam. These trends seem to be continuing with Hebrew-girl-names. Some parents have started naming their children in Hebrew, while others prefer to keep the names in English. So, are Hebrew girl names the next big thing or a passing trend?
Why call your child Josephine rather than Jessica or Emma? Why not name your daughter after your grandmother or mother when she is born, but instead give her the name of a woman known for her strength and independent spirits, such as Esther or Hannah? Should you provide an English baby name to an Israeli baby simply because a new family member seems to be falling under ethnicity and religion? Not necessarily. Several words are common in Israel and abroad, both in English and Hebrew.
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1. Abigail אֲבִיגַיִל
Abigail, which means “my father is glad,” is derived from Hebrew. When David and his men threaten to harm Nabal, the Old Testament character Abigail (also known as Avigayil) steps in to stop them.
2. Adina עֲדִינָה
Adina is a Hebrew name that translates to “fine.” Adina Bar-On was born in Kibbutz Kfar Blum, in Israel’s Upper Galilee region, and is widely regarded as the country’s foremost professional artist.
3. Agam אֲגַם
The Hebrew word for “lake” is Agam. However, despite its unisex nature, the name Agram is most commonly given to females in Israel. About 87% of Israeli Agams are women, 13% being men.
4. Adi עֲדִי
‘Adi,’ a Hebrew word meaning ‘ornament, jewel,’ is used in this context. Adi is given to women who hold the post of chief or a similar one in many Fijian cultures, depending on the community’s social structure. Adi has the potential to be both a beautiful and a mighty given name.
5. Ahava אַהֲבָה
Ahava (love) is a Hebrew word. Only five people in Israel have the name Ahava, making it the 18,495th most common name.
6. Aliyah עֲלִיָּה
The word “ascent” is transliterated as “Aliyah.” “Aliyah” and “Aliya” are both translations of “alah,” which means “to climb or ascend.”
7. Alma עַלְמָה
In Hebrew, Alma means “young woman.” Alma is a Latin-based girl name that is common across most of Europe and is a Hebrew name for girls. Almus, the Latin root of the word, means “nourishing” here.
8. Atalia עֲתַלְיָה
Atalia is a Hebrew word that roughly translates to “Yahweh is glorified.” Atalia is a modern spelling of Athaliah, a Hebrew girl’s name. The only woman documented as ruling Israel or Judea in the Hebrew Bible, Athalia is considered poorly in Biblical scriptures.
9. Aliza עַלִיזָה
“Joyful” is the Hebrew translation of Aliza’s name. Aliza Greenblatt, an American-born Yiddish poet, was born in what is now Ukraine in 1888 and came to the United States with her family in 1900.
10. Ariel אֲרִיאֵל
It means “lion of God” in Hebrew. The feminine forms Arielle and Ariella in French and English, the feminine nicknames Arie, Elle, and Ella, and the masculine nicknames Ari and Arik, all derive from the name Ariel. Additionally, the surname Ariel is quite a popular one.
11. Avia אֲבִיָה
My father is Yahweh, who translates the Hebrew name Avia. Abijah’s modern Hebrew name, Avia, is Abijah’s modern Hebrew form. Due to the streamlined spelling and more distinct pronunciation, the current version has grown popular.
12. Atarah עֲטָרָה
In Hebrew, the word for “crown” is Atarah. Typically, the first syllable is stressed by a native English speaker, resulting in the pronunciation AT-ar-rah. If you’ve ever heard someone describe the name as “stabby,” you know what I mean.
13. Beracha בְּרָכָה
Bracha is also known as Beracha, which translates as “blessed.” Beracha shares a root with a slew of other Hebrew terms. A few examples: breicha, which translates to “wellspring,” and berech, which translates to “knee.”
14. Batsheva בַּת־שֶׁבַע
In Hebrew, ‘Daughter of the oath is the meaning of the name Batsheva. The name Batsheva is a variation of Bathsheba, which bears the added form Bat-Sheva in the ancient Hebrew language.
15. Chava חַוָּה
Eve is referred to in Hebrew as Chava. The Hebrew given name Chawwah is a variant of Eve in the English language. From the Arabic (chayah), which means “to live,” or (chawah), which means “to breathe,” comes this word. Consequently, Chava is a Hebrew translation of an English translation of a Hebrew name!
16. Chesed חֶסֶד
In the Hebrew language, Chesed translates to “goodness and kindness.” This Hebrew word means “goodness, compassion,” although it might just as easily be translated to mean “grace” or “mercy.”
17. Dana דָּנָה
Dana’s Hebrew name translates to “God is my judgment.” In Hebrew, Dana is the feminine form of Daniel, yet, the precise spelling of the name is also a gender-neutral English name derived from an adjective meaning a Danish person.
18. Dafna דַּפְנָה
From the Greek Daphne, meaning “laurel,” Dafna is translated as “laurel.” These names have a common ancestor: Daphne, Lauren, and Lorraine. In commemoration of a relative with one of these names, you can still use a Hebrew girl’s name with this name.
19. Dalia דַּלְיָה
As a name for a girl, Dalia might be translated as “hanging branch.” There are three different English spellings of the name Dalia for girls.
20. Dar דַּר
Dar, which translates as “nacre,” is a gender-neutral Hebrew baby name. Mollusks create an iridescent, inorganic substance called nacre, also known as the mother of pearl.
21. Dinah דִּינָה
In Hebrew, Dinah is translated as “judged.” “The X Factor” runner-up Dinah Jane tried out for the show in 2012. After being accepted into the competition, she was later eliminated but returned with four other female contestants to form the group “Fifth Harmony.”
22. Devora דְּבוֹרָה
The alternative spelling of Devorah, which translates to “bee,” is Devora. As a result, we believe Devora is a strong contender to be one of a pair of sister names, together with Jael.
23. Diklah דִּקְלָה
Aramaic or Hebrew, Diklah may be translated as “palm grove.” Since it is a gender-neutral name historically used for boys, Diklah is now almost entirely used as a Hebrew girl’s first name in current times.
24. Dorit דּוֹרִית
An Israeli girl’s name is Dorit. Generation” is what it signifies. The word “generation” is not a translation of Dorit in English. When it comes to Hebrew names, Dorit is the feminine counterpart of Dor, which is a literal translation.
25. Efrat אֶפְרָת
“Fruitful” is a contemporary spelling of the Hebrew word Ephrath. Efrat Dor, an Israeli actress, began her career in Israel with tiny television parts. Dor’s role as Magda Gross in “The Zookeeper’s Wife” brought her international acclaim after debuting in the Israeli film “Phobidilia” in 2009.
26. Eliana אֶלִיעַנָה
It means “my God has answered.” Eliana is a Hebrew word. For those expecting their first child shortly, the name Eliana has grown in popularity among expectant parents.
27. Eden עֵדֶן
The Hebrew name Eden has a shaky connotation. According to one idea, Eden’s name is derived from Eden’s Hebrew word, which means “enjoyment, satisfaction.” Other explanations point to the word’s derivation from the ancient Sumerian edin, which means “plain.”
28. Emili אֶמילי
Emily’s Hebrew name is Emili, which translates to “rival.” Emili is a lovely alternative to Emily or Amelia, which are more commonly used. As a result, you may have to deal with people presuming that you are using a “creative” spelling rather than the official forum of a well-known name.
29. Esther אֶסְתֵר
When it comes to Esther’s Hebrew origins, there is a lot of debate. Esther is also known as Hadassah, which means “myrtle” in Hebrew.
30. Elisheva אֱלִישֶׁבַע
Elizabeth’s Hebrew name, Elisheva, translates to “my God is my oath,” hence the name. Elisheva is the 12,196th most frequent name in the United States, with 816 people being given the name.
31. Gefen גֶּפֶן
In Hebrew, the word “gefen” means “grapevine. The Gefen Publishing House is located in the middle of Jerusalem. Publishing English-language books on Israeli and Jewish topics is a specialty of Grefen’s.
32. Gali גַּלִי
The name Gali in Hebrew translates to “my wave” Also, Gali is a Hindi term. Between two mountain ranges, there is a thin swath of land that goes by the name of this region. A Gali is not the highest point in a mountain range, and there are other valleys on both sides of the Gali.
33. Galia גַּלְיָה
Galia is an extension of Gal, which translates to “wave”… sort of! Galia originally spelled Gal before the sweet, carefree “ia” sound was added.
34. Gilah גִּילָה
Gilah is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Gil, which translates to “happiness, joy.” As Gilah is a feminine form of the Hebrew word for “gil,” it follows that many Hebrew names are gender-neutral.
35. Golda גּוֹלְדָּה
Named after the color gold, Golda is a Yiddish name. Due to Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, we included Golda’s name, even though it is Yiddish rather than Hebrew for girls. Meir was the third female prime minister globally, making her the country’s first and only female prime minister.
36. Gili גִּילִי
Gili, which translates to “my joy,” is a gender-neutral Hebrew name. Gili means “eating up, swallowing” in Pali, the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism, and “to be obsessed, consumed with an idea” in Kannada.
37. Hallel הָלֵּל
Halal, the Hebrew word for “praise,” is the etymological root of the surname Hallel. This name is best known as Hillel, a more masculine version of the name Hallel.
38. Hadassah הֲדַסָּה
Hebrew word, or “myrtle tree,” is the root of the Hebrew name Hadassah. As of 2007, Hadassah has risen from 998th place in the US top 1,000 girl names to 997th. Four hundred nineteen babies were born with this name in the United States in 2020, making it the 672nd most popular choice for girls.
39. Hagit חַגִּית
“Festive” can be derived from the ancient Hebrew word Haggith. Many people pronounce the name Hagit as HAG-it because they are unfamiliar with its pronunciation.
40. Hannah חַנָּה
Hannah derives its meaning from the Hebrew name Channah, which means “grace.” The fact that people from all over the world use the name Hannah is one of its many charms. In 190 countries, we could locate records of newborns named Hannah.
41. Herut חֵרוּת
Hebrew for “freedom,” Herut is a feminine given name. Some people, particularly those who lived in Israel between 1948 and the early 2000s, have solid political associations with Herut. During this time, Herut was the name of the country’s leading conservative nationalist party.
42. Hed הֵד
In Hebrew, Hed means “Echo.” Hed is a much less common baby name than Hannah. According to our research, only two of the 49 babies born in Israel with the name Hed have been girls.
43. Hodia הוֹדִיָה
Hodia translates as “majesty of Yahweh” in the Hebrew language. Since 2014, Hodia has remained in the Israeli top 100 baby names for girls.
44. Inbar עִינְבָּר
Inbar is a Hebrew name, and it’s a common one in the country. Amber is what it means. An alternative to Amber, Inbar is a pleasant choice, and actress Inbar Lavi’s TV appearances have made her name more widely known outside of Israel.
45. Ilana אִילָנָה
Ilana means “tree” in Hebrew. According to our research, many people named Ilana are known for their creative work. This may be due to an unidentified bias in our study.
46. Kineret כִּנֶּרֶת
The name Kineret means “harp” in Hebrew. This is a different translation of, also known as Kinneret in English.
47. Keren קֶרֶן
Keren, the Hebrew name for “ray of light” or “horn,” can be translated as either. Keren-happen is the youngest of Job’s three daughters in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Job. Each of Keren-sisters happuch’s Jemima and Keziah, was given an inheritance, which was unusual for that period.
48. Keshet קֶשֶׁת
In Hebrew, the word “keshet” means “bright color”. The name Keshet is most prevalent in Israel, where it is given to 95% of female babies and 5% of male babies. It is only used as a girl’s name in other countries.
49. Libi לִיבִּי
In Hebrew, the name Libi means “heart.” Both Hebrew and Yiddish versions of Libi exist. The Yiddish Libi and the Hebrew Libi are two distinct but related names. Libi is thought to be a Yiddish variant of the Yiddish word, or line, which means “love” in Yiddish.
50. Leah לֵאָה
Hebrew le’ah (), which means “weary,” is the most likely source of Leah’s name. Deception and the promise of future marriage to Leah’s sister Racheal are why Jacob married Leah in the Torah.
51. Livna לִבְנָה
In Hebrew, Livna means “white.” Only 47 people in the world have the given name Livna as their given name, and there are only two families named Livna.
52. Liora לִיאוֹרָה
The Hebrew name Liora translates as “light for me.” When it comes to Liora, the gender-neutral Hebrew name has the same meaning as Liora, strictly feminine.
53. Marganita מַרְגָנִיתָה
Margalit is a Hebrew name that translates to “pearl.” Margalit and Margaret are derived from the Greek word, or margarites, which translates to “pearl.”
54. Malka מַלְכָּה
Malka, which translates to “queen” in Hebrew, means “princess.” With the help of Edward “Edek” Galiski, Malka Zimetbaum was able to escape from Auschwitz-Birkenau after spending nearly two years in the concentration camp. The two were apprehended, brought back to the camp, and put to death.
55. Margalit מַרְגָלִית
Margalit is a Hebrew name that translates to “pearl.” Margalit and Margaret are derived from the Greek word, or margarites, which translates to “pearl.”
56. Miriam מִרְיָם
In the Hebrew language, Miriam’s name has no clear meaning. There are numerous theories about Miriam’s origin and significance. Other theories include “wished-for child,” meaning and “sea of bitterness/rebelliousness” meaning. These hypotheses, however, are unsupported by hard evidence.
57. Maya מַיָּה
Mayim, the Hebrew word for “water,” is the root of Maya’s Hebrew name. There are times when Maya is referred to in Hebrew with an aleph added. Adding an aleph indicates that this is not a common Hebrew word or a traditional Hebrew name.
58. Michal מִיכַל
“Container” is the literal translation of Michal’s given name, which may be interpreted as “brook.” Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal, was given to David as a bride by her father. No money was required for the “bride price,” but Saul offered David the opportunity to bring him 100 enemy foreskins as an alternative.
59. Nava נָאוָה
In Hebrew, Nava means “beautiful.” Textile-based artist Nava Lubelski creates works that are both paintings and sculptures, working primarily with fabric, stitching, and paper. She is frequently referred to as a “thread artist.”
60. Naomi נָעֳמִי
The meaning of Naomi’s Hebrew name, Na’omi, is “pleasantness.” Naomi was a six-issue miniseries published by Wonder Comics, a DC Comics pop-up imprint. Powerhouse, a superhero whose real name is Naomi McDuffie, grows up on Earth and learns her true identity in a series of comic books.
61. Nili נִילִי
The name Nili was coined as a play on letters. When the Hebrew phrase Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker, “The Eternity of Israel Will Not Lie,” was translated into English, it became known as Nili. Named after the spies operating in Palestine during World War I, this was a network name.
62. Nessa נֵס
The name Nessa means “miracle” in Hebrew. Nessa is both an English nickname for Vanessa and a Hebrew girl’s name, coined by the author Jonathan Swift. Vanessa was created by reversing the first syllables of his friend’s name, Esther Vanhomrigh.
63. Netta נֶטַע
In Hebrew, Netta, the feminine form of Neta, means “shrub, plant, bush.” Netta Barzilai, the winner of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, is the upbeat looping artist we all wish for. Netta will serve as a judge on “The X Factor,” where she will help select the Israeli representative for the competition in 2022.
64. Noam נוֹעַם
“pleasantness” can be translated from Hebrew to English by Noam. Masorti Olami’s youth movement, NOAM, goes by the acronym NOAM. NOAM is known in the United States as United Synagogue Youth; it is also active in Europe, North America, South America, and Russia.
65. Ora אוֹרָה
The Hebrew word for “light” is Ora, a form of the word Or. Late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Americans were prominent on Ora. However, this was more likely usage of the English language unisex name Ora, which is from the Latin word oro meaning “to pray.”
66. Odelia אוֹדֶלְיָה
The name Odelia is a Hebrew one. “Yahweh, I thank You.” Modern Hebrew names are thought to have been inspired by the English-language name spelled the same way. As a variant of the ancient Germanic name Odilia, it is called Odelia.
67. Ofra עָפְרָה
The feminine form of Ophrah, which translates to “fawn” in Hebrew, is Ofra. OFRA Cosmetics, a high-end vegan cosmetics brand based in Florida, was founded by OFRA Gaito.
68. Orna אָרְנָה
As the name suggests, Orna translates to “pine tree” in English. Alternatively, the traditional Irish name Odharnait, meaning “little pale green one,” can be anglicized to “Orna.” The Irish word odhra, which means “pale green, sallow,” was used as an affectionate nickname for girls.
69. Raz רָז
In Hebrew, a person’s name that means “secret” is known as “Raz.” At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Israeli judoka Raz Hershko represented her country. Hershko won the 2015 European Under 18 Judo Championships and a gold medal at the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Antalya in the 78kg and over category.
70. Rachel רָחֵל
Many people outside of Jewish communities had never heard of Rachel before the Protestant Reformation in Europe when the name became popular. During this time, many Western Europeans shifted away from Catholic saint names and began using Bible-based monikers.
71. Rina רִינָה
‘Singing, joy’ is what the Hebrew name Rina means. Other languages and cultures use the name Rina differently, each with its interpretation. Rina is an anglicized version of Rona, which means “queen” in Irish. It’s possible that Rina could be an excellent nickname for Malka’s middle name, Rina, which means “queen.”
72. Rebecca רִבְקָה
“to snare,” “tie,” or “join” may have been the meaning of Rebecca’s name in ancient Hebrew. Rebecca was a popular name in the United States during the early 1970s. There were so many Rebeccas in 1975 that the name entered the top 1,000 boy names at the number 980 spot.
73. Romi רוֹמִי
Romi, which translates to “my exaltation, my height,” is Hebrew. We love Romi because it’s the perfect blend of an older, more traditional name and a short, snappy, modern spelling.
74. Rivka רִיבְקָה
Rivka is a nickname for Rebecca in Modern Hebrew that most likely means “join, tie, snare.” You can use Rivka instead of the original Rebecca as a tribute to a relative or ancestor if you don’t want to use the original.
75. Shachar שַׁחַר
Shachar means “dawn” in Hebrew. Shachar is one of the few gender-neutral names that can be used by both men and women, regardless of where you are in the world.
76. Sarah שָׂרָה
In Hebrew, “sarah” means “lady, princess, noblewoman.” When Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren and unable to conceive, the Bible tells their story. New names were given to Sarah and Abraham due to their covenant with God. As a result of Sarah’s pregnancy following the covenant, Isaac was born.
77. Shamira שָׁמִירָה
The Hebrew name Shamira means “guardian” or “protector.” In her native Holland, filmmaker Shamira Raphala began her career directing television. In the end, it was documentary filmmaking where she hit her stride.
78. Shai שַׁי
As a Hebrew name, Shai translates to “gift.” Most people agree that Shai can be pronounced either “SHY” or “SHAY” in English.
79. Shiri שׁירי
Shiri, the Hebrew name for “my song,” translates to “my song.” At the age of four, Shiri Appleby was sent to acting classes by her parents, who were concerned about her lack of social skills. After her breakout role as Liz Parker in “Roswell,” Appleby appeared in numerous television shows.
80. Shifra שִׁפְרָה
It’s possible that Shifra, a nickname for the Ancient Hebrew name Shiphrah, means “beautiful.” An Egyptian Pharaoh’s order to kill male Israelite babies at birth was defied by a Biblical midwife known as “improved,” named after her. As a result, her name has been interpreted as implying that she was a good mother.
81. Shlomit שְׁלוֹמִית
Sholmit, the Hebrew name for “peaceful,” translates to “peaceful.” One of the Israeli Defense Forces recruiters saw Shlomit Malka’s picture on Facebook and got in touch with her.
82. Simcha שִׂמְחָה
In Hebrew, “simcha” means “joy, happiness.” An important Judaism teaching is “Mitzva Gedolah Lehiyot Besimcha Tamid,” which states that “it is a great mitzvah to always be happy,” illustrating the importance of Simcha. According to this teaching, you are more capable of serving God when you are happy.
83. Stav סתיו
The Hebrew word for “autumn” is stav. In Israel, most Stavs are female, with 3,838 of them being Israeli women and 1,806 being Israeli men. One in every 1,489 people in the United States is named Stav.
84. Sivan סִיוָן
The meaning of the Hebrew name Sivan is “opportunity, period.” The Akkadian word simnu, which means “occasion” or “season,” evolved into the modern name Sivan. Traditionally, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the spring, is known as Sukkot.
85. Tamar תָּמָר
The Hebrew name Tamar translates to “date palm.” For the past four years, Tamar has been the most popular name given to newborn girls in Israel.
86. Talia טַלְיָא
Talia means “dew of God” in Hebrew. Giambattista Basile included the Italian fairy tale “Sun, Moon, and Talia” in a collection published in 1632. Basile gathered and recorded folk and fairy tales from around the world, creating the earliest known records of these stories.
87. Tzufit צוּפִית
The Hebrew word tzufit translates to “hummingbird.” Tzufit Grant began her acting career in movies like “Time Off” and “Distortion,” before becoming a television host and actress. During her morning TV show, “Milkshake,” Grant was shown to do things like drinking her urine to see if it had the health benefits people claimed.
88. Tehila תְּהִלָּה
Tehila’s root word is halal, which means “to shine, to be praised.” Hebrew girl name Tahel, which means “you will shine,” shares its root word with Tehilla, which means “you will shine.”
89. Tirtza תִּרְצָה
In Hebrew, Tirzah means “favorable.” Tirtza is a modern form of the word. Tirtza/Tirzah is a tough call for us because we prefer the more contemporary names.
90. Varda וַרְדָה
Rose is the meaning of the Hebrew given name Varda. J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Middle Earth” universe claims that Queen Varda created the stars in the sky. According to Tolkien, Middle-elves earth reveres Varda above all others because of this.
91. Yael יָעֵל
‘Mountain goat, ibex’ is the Hebrew name for Yael. Jael’s alternate spelling, Yael, is also acceptable. As depicted in the biblical story of Jael, the general of the Canaanite army, Sisera, evades capture during a battle between Israel and the Canaanite kingdoms. After fleeing to Jael’s tent, Sisera is welcomed and fed by her.
92. Yaara יַעֲרָה
Honeysuckle and honeycomb are the Hebrew namesake of the baby girl born with the name Yaara. It means “friend” in Hindi, “Dude” in Urdu and Gujarati and “Dude” in Hindi and Gujarati. Perhaps this explains why men account for 64% of all Yaaras in India.
93. Yafa יָפָה
Honeysuckle and honeycomb are the Hebrew namesake of the baby girl born with the name Yaara. It means “friend” in Hindi, “Dude” in Urdu and Gujarati and “Dude” in Hindi and Gujarati. Perhaps this explains why men account for 64% of all Yaaras in India.
94. Yarden יַרְדֵן
To “flow down” or “descend” is the root of the Hebrew word “yarden,” which means “to flow down.” Yarden is the Hebrew word for the Jordan River, commonly referred to in the English language. The name knew medieval European crusaders and pilgrims. To give their children the name, they would take vials from the river and use them to baptize their children.
95. Yakira יַקִירָה
In Hebrew, the word “yakira” means “precious.” This fashion company’s registered name is Yakira L.L.C. Ecko Unltd. Ecko rose to prominence in the skateboarding community in the late 1990s, thanks mainly to its iconic Rhinoceros logo.
96. Yarona יָרוֹנָה
The Hebrew name Yaron has a feminine form, arona, which means “to shout, to sing.” Botswana is home to the majority of people with the surname Yarona. However, Yarona FM, a popular radio station in Botswana, is most likely to blame for this and not an underground community of Hebrew speakers.
97. Zipporah צִפּוֹרָה
Zipporah derives its name from the Hebrew word for “bird.” She was born in Portugal, the daughter of a family of conversos. In the end, the family fled to London, where they could practice their religion openly.
98. Ziva זִיוָה
Ziva is a Hebrew word that means “radiant, bright.” Ziva is an Israeli pastry filled with cheese and olives, topped with sesame seeds, and baked until golden brown. If you’re lucky, it’ll be served with zhug.
99. Zillah צִלָּה
In Hebrew, the word “zillah” means “shade.” Lamech’s wives, Zillah and Adah, appear in the Torah’s Book of Genesis. Natural-born human beings were the seventh generation of descendants of their parents. Since the seventh generation is considered the beginning of a “fully launched” human race, this is significant.
100. Zohar זֹהַר
The Hebrew name “Zohar” means “brilliance, light” He started swimming when he was six years old. At the 2015 European Short Course Swimming Championships, Shikler competed in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle, setting an Israeli national record of 24.80 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.
Why call your child Josephine rather than Jessica or Emma? Why not name your daughter after your grandmother or mother when she is born, but instead give her the name of a woman known for her strength and independent spirits, such as Esther or Hannah? Should you provide an English baby name to an Israeli baby simply because a new family member seems to be falling under ethnicity and religion? Not necessarily. Several words are common in Israel and abroad, both in English and Hebrew.
1. Abigail אֲבִיגַיִל
Abigail, which means “my father is glad,” is derived from Hebrew. When David and his men threaten to harm Nabal, the Old Testament character Abigail (also known as Avigayil) steps in to stop them.
2. Adina עֲדִינָה
Adina is a Hebrew name that translates to “fine.” Adina Bar-On was born in Kibbutz Kfar Blum, in Israel’s Upper Galilee region, and is widely regarded as the country’s foremost professional artist.
3. Agam אֲגַם
The Hebrew word for “lake” is Agam. However, despite its unisex nature, the name Agram is most commonly given to females in Israel. About 87% of Israeli Agams are women, 13% being men.
4. Adi עֲדִי
‘Adi,’ a Hebrew word meaning ‘ornament, jewel,’ is used in this context. Adi is given to women who hold the post of chief or a similar one in many Fijian cultures, depending on the community’s social structure. Adi has the potential to be both a beautiful and a mighty given name.
5. Ahava אַהֲבָה
Ahava (love) is a Hebrew word. Only five people in Israel have the name Ahava, making it the 18,495th most common name.
6. Aliyah עֲלִיָּה
The word “ascent” is transliterated as “Aliyah.” “Aliyah” and “Aliya” are both translations of “alah,” which means “to climb or ascend.”
7. Alma עַלְמָה
In Hebrew, Alma means “young woman.” Alma is a Latin-based girl name that is common across most of Europe and is a Hebrew name for girls. Almus, the Latin root of the word, means “nourishing” here.
8. Atalia עֲתַלְיָה
Atalia is a Hebrew word that roughly translates to “Yahweh is glorified.” Atalia is a modern spelling of Athaliah, a Hebrew girl’s name. The only woman documented as ruling Israel or Judea in the Hebrew Bible, Athalia is considered poorly in Biblical scriptures.
9. Aliza עַלִיזָה
“Joyful” is the Hebrew translation of Aliza’s name. Aliza Greenblatt, an American-born Yiddish poet, was born in what is now Ukraine in 1888 and came to the United States with her family in 1900.
10. Ariel אֲרִיאֵל
It means “lion of God” in Hebrew. The feminine forms Arielle and Ariella in French and English, the feminine nicknames Arie, Elle, and Ella, and the masculine nicknames Ari and Arik, all derive from the name Ariel. Additionally, the surname Ariel is quite a popular one.
11. Avia אֲבִיָה
My father is Yahweh, who translates the Hebrew name Avia. Abijah’s modern Hebrew name, Avia, is Abijah’s modern Hebrew form. Due to the streamlined spelling and more distinct pronunciation, the current version has grown popular.
12. Atarah עֲטָרָה
In Hebrew, the word for “crown” is Atarah. Typically, the first syllable is stressed by a native English speaker, resulting in the pronunciation AT-ar-rah. If you’ve ever heard someone describe the name as “stabby,” you know what I mean.
13. Beracha בְּרָכָה
Bracha is also known as Beracha, which translates as “blessed.” Beracha shares a root with a slew of other Hebrew terms. A few examples: breicha, which translates to “wellspring,” and berech, which translates to “knee.”
14. Batsheva בַּת־שֶׁבַע
In Hebrew, ‘Daughter of the oath is the meaning of the name Batsheva. The name Batsheva is a variation of Bathsheba, which bears the added form Bat-Sheva in the ancient Hebrew language.
15. Chava חַוָּה
Eve is referred to in Hebrew as Chava. The Hebrew given name Chawwah is a variant of Eve in the English language. From the Arabic (chayah), which means “to live,” or (chawah), which means “to breathe,” comes this word. Consequently, Chava is a Hebrew translation of an English translation of a Hebrew name!
16. Chesed חֶסֶד
In the Hebrew language, Chesed translates to “goodness and kindness.” This Hebrew word means “goodness, compassion,” although it might just as easily be translated to mean “grace” or “mercy.”
17. Dana דָּנָה
Dana’s Hebrew name translates to “God is my judgment.” In Hebrew, Dana is the feminine form of Daniel, yet, the precise spelling of the name is also a gender-neutral English name derived from an adjective meaning a Danish person.
18. Dafna דַּפְנָה
From the Greek Daphne, meaning “laurel,” Dafna is translated as “laurel.” These names have a common ancestor: Daphne, Lauren, and Lorraine. In commemoration of a relative with one of these names, you can still use a Hebrew girl’s name with this name.
19. Dalia דַּלְיָה
As a name for a girl, Dalia might be translated as “hanging branch.” There are three different English spellings of the name Dalia for girls.
20. Dar דַּר
Dar, which translates as “nacre,” is a gender-neutral Hebrew baby name. Mollusks create an iridescent, inorganic substance called nacre, also known as the mother of pearl.
21. Dinah דִּינָה
In Hebrew, Dinah is translated as “judged.” “The X Factor” runner-up Dinah Jane tried out for the show in 2012. After being accepted into the competition, she was later eliminated but returned with four other female contestants to form the group “Fifth Harmony.”
22. Devora דְּבוֹרָה
The alternative spelling of Devorah, which translates to “bee,” is Devora. As a result, we believe Devora is a strong contender to be one of a pair of sister names, together with Jael.
23. Diklah דִּקְלָה
Aramaic or Hebrew, Diklah may be translated as “palm grove.” Since it is a gender-neutral name historically used for boys, Diklah is now almost entirely used as a Hebrew girl’s first name in current times.
24. Dorit דּוֹרִית
An Israeli girl’s name is Dorit. Generation” is what it signifies. The word “generation” is not a translation of Dorit in English. When it comes to Hebrew names, Dorit is the feminine counterpart of Dor, which is a literal translation.
25. Efrat אֶפְרָת
“Fruitful” is a contemporary spelling of the Hebrew word Ephrath. Efrat Dor, an Israeli actress, began her career in Israel with tiny television parts. Dor’s role as Magda Gross in “The Zookeeper’s Wife” brought her international acclaim after debuting in the Israeli film “Phobidilia” in 2009.
26. Eliana אֶלִיעַנָה
It means “my God has answered.” Eliana is a Hebrew word. For those expecting their first child shortly, the name Eliana has grown in popularity among expectant parents.
27. Eden עֵדֶן
The Hebrew name Eden has a shaky connotation. According to one idea, Eden’s name is derived from Eden’s Hebrew word, which means “enjoyment, satisfaction.” Other explanations point to the word’s derivation from the ancient Sumerian edin, which means “plain.”
28. Emili אֶמילי
Emily’s Hebrew name is Emili, which translates to “rival.” Emili is a lovely alternative to Emily or Amelia, which are more commonly used. As a result, you may have to deal with people presuming that you are using a “creative” spelling rather than the official forum of a well-known name.
29. Esther אֶסְתֵר
When it comes to Esther’s Hebrew origins, there is a lot of debate. Esther is also known as Hadassah, which means “myrtle” in Hebrew.
30. Elisheva אֱלִישֶׁבַע
Elizabeth’s Hebrew name, Elisheva, translates to “my God is my oath,” hence the name. Elisheva is the 12,196th most frequent name in the United States, with 816 people being given the name.
31. Gefen גֶּפֶן
In Hebrew, the word “gefen” means “grapevine. The Gefen Publishing House is located in the middle of Jerusalem. Publishing English-language books on Israeli and Jewish topics is a specialty of Grefen’s.
32. Gali גַּלִי
The name Gali in Hebrew translates to “my wave” Also, Gali is a Hindi term. Between two mountain ranges, there is a thin swath of land that goes by the name of this region. A Gali is not the highest point in a mountain range, and there are other valleys on both sides of the Gali.
33. Galia גַּלְיָה
Galia is an extension of Gal, which translates to “wave”… sort of! Galia originally spelled Gal before the sweet, carefree “ia” sound was added.
34. Gilah גִּילָה
Gilah is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Gil, which translates to “happiness, joy.” As Gilah is a feminine form of the Hebrew word for “gil,” it follows that many Hebrew names are gender-neutral.
35. Golda גּוֹלְדָּה
Named after the color gold, Golda is a Yiddish name. Due to Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, we included Golda’s name, even though it is Yiddish rather than Hebrew for girls. Meir was the third female prime minister globally, making her the country’s first and only female prime minister.
36. Gili גִּילִי
Gili, which translates to “my joy,” is a gender-neutral Hebrew name. Gili means “eating up, swallowing” in Pali, the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism, and “to be obsessed, consumed with an idea” in Kannada.
37. Hallel הָלֵּל
Halal, the Hebrew word for “praise,” is the etymological root of the surname Hallel. This name is best known as Hillel, a more masculine version of the name Hallel.
38. Hadassah הֲדַסָּה
Hebrew word, or “myrtle tree,” is the root of the Hebrew name Hadassah. As of 2007, Hadassah has risen from 998th place in the US top 1,000 girl names to 997th. Four hundred nineteen babies were born with this name in the United States in 2020, making it the 672nd most popular choice for girls.
39. Hagit חַגִּית
“Festive” can be derived from the ancient Hebrew word Haggith. Many people pronounce the name Hagit as HAG-it because they are unfamiliar with its pronunciation.
40. Hannah חַנָּה
Hannah derives its meaning from the Hebrew name Channah, which means “grace.” The fact that people from all over the world use the name Hannah is one of its many charms. In 190 countries, we could locate records of newborns named Hannah.
41. Herut חֵרוּת
Hebrew for “freedom,” Herut is a feminine given name. Some people, particularly those who lived in Israel between 1948 and the early 2000s, have solid political associations with Herut. During this time, Herut was the name of the country’s leading conservative nationalist party.
42. Hed הֵד
In Hebrew, Hed means “Echo.” Hed is a much less common baby name than Hannah. According to our research, only two of the 49 babies born in Israel with the name Hed have been girls.
43. Hodia הוֹדִיָה
Hodia translates as “majesty of Yahweh” in the Hebrew language. Since 2014, Hodia has remained in the Israeli top 100 baby names for girls.
44. Inbar עִינְבָּר
Inbar is a Hebrew name, and it’s a common one in the country. Amber is what it means. An alternative to Amber, Inbar is a pleasant choice, and actress Inbar Lavi’s TV appearances have made her name more widely known outside of Israel.
45. Ilana אִילָנָה
Ilana means “tree” in Hebrew. According to our research, many people named Ilana are known for their creative work. This may be due to an unidentified bias in our study.
46. Kineret כִּנֶּרֶת
The name Kineret means “harp” in Hebrew. This is a different translation of, also known as Kinneret in English.
47. Keren קֶרֶן
Keren, the Hebrew name for “ray of light” or “horn,” can be translated as either. Keren-happen is the youngest of Job’s three daughters in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Job. Each of Keren-sisters happuch’s Jemima and Keziah, was given an inheritance, which was unusual for that period.
48. Keshet קֶשֶׁת
In Hebrew, the word “keshet” means “bright color”. The name Keshet is most prevalent in Israel, where it is given to 95% of female babies and 5% of male babies. It is only used as a girl’s name in other countries.
49. Libi לִיבִּי
In Hebrew, the name Libi means “heart.” Both Hebrew and Yiddish versions of Libi exist. The Yiddish Libi and the Hebrew Libi are two distinct but related names. Libi is thought to be a Yiddish variant of the Yiddish word, or line, which means “love” in Yiddish.
50. Leah לֵאָה
Hebrew le’ah (), which means “weary,” is the most likely source of Leah’s name. Deception and the promise of future marriage to Leah’s sister Racheal are why Jacob married Leah in the Torah.
51. Livna לִבְנָה
In Hebrew, Livna means “white.” Only 47 people in the world have the given name Livna as their given name, and there are only two families named Livna.
52. Liora לִיאוֹרָה
The Hebrew name Liora translates as “light for me.” When it comes to Liora, the gender-neutral Hebrew name has the same meaning as Liora, strictly feminine.
53. Marganita מַרְגָנִיתָה
Margalit is a Hebrew name that translates to “pearl.” Margalit and Margaret are derived from the Greek word, or margarites, which translates to “pearl.”
54. Malka מַלְכָּה
Malka, which translates to “queen” in Hebrew, means “princess.” With the help of Edward “Edek” Galiski, Malka Zimetbaum was able to escape from Auschwitz-Birkenau after spending nearly two years in the concentration camp. The two were apprehended, brought back to the camp, and put to death.
55. Margalit מַרְגָלִית
Margalit is a Hebrew name that translates to “pearl.” Margalit and Margaret are derived from the Greek word, or margarites, which translates to “pearl.”
56. Miriam מִרְיָם
In the Hebrew language, Miriam’s name has no clear meaning. There are numerous theories about Miriam’s origin and significance. Other theories include “wished-for child,” meaning and “sea of bitterness/rebelliousness” meaning. These hypotheses, however, are unsupported by hard evidence.
57. Maya מַיָּה
Mayim, the Hebrew word for “water,” is the root of Maya’s Hebrew name. There are times when Maya is referred to in Hebrew with an aleph added. Adding an aleph indicates that this is not a common Hebrew word or a traditional Hebrew name.
58. Michal מִיכַל
“Container” is the literal translation of Michal’s given name, which may be interpreted as “brook.” Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal, was given to David as a bride by her father. No money was required for the “bride price,” but Saul offered David the opportunity to bring him 100 enemy foreskins as an alternative.
59. Nava נָאוָה
In Hebrew, Nava means “beautiful.” Textile-based artist Nava Lubelski creates works that are both paintings and sculptures, working primarily with fabric, stitching, and paper. She is frequently referred to as a “thread artist.”
60. Naomi נָעֳמִי
The meaning of Naomi’s Hebrew name, Na’omi, is “pleasantness.” Naomi was a six-issue miniseries published by Wonder Comics, a DC Comics pop-up imprint. Powerhouse, a superhero whose real name is Naomi McDuffie, grows up on Earth and learns her true identity in a series of comic books.
61. Nili נִילִי
The name Nili was coined as a play on letters. When the Hebrew phrase Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker, “The Eternity of Israel Will Not Lie,” was translated into English, it became known as Nili. Named after the spies operating in Palestine during World War I, this was a network name.
62. Nessa נֵס
The name Nessa means “miracle” in Hebrew. Nessa is both an English nickname for Vanessa and a Hebrew girl’s name, coined by the author Jonathan Swift. Vanessa was created by reversing the first syllables of his friend’s name, Esther Vanhomrigh.
63. Netta נֶטַע
In Hebrew, Netta, the feminine form of Neta, means “shrub, plant, bush.” Netta Barzilai, the winner of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, is the upbeat looping artist we all wish for. Netta will serve as a judge on “The X Factor,” where she will help select the Israeli representative for the competition in 2022.
64. Noam נוֹעַם
“pleasantness” can be translated from Hebrew to English by Noam. Masorti Olami’s youth movement, NOAM, goes by the acronym NOAM. NOAM is known in the United States as United Synagogue Youth; it is also active in Europe, North America, South America, and Russia.
65. Ora אוֹרָה
The Hebrew word for “light” is Ora, a form of the word Or. Late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Americans were prominent on Ora. However, this was more likely usage of the English language unisex name Ora, which is from the Latin word oro meaning “to pray.”
66. Odelia אוֹדֶלְיָה
The name Odelia is a Hebrew one. “Yahweh, I thank You.” Modern Hebrew names are thought to have been inspired by the English-language name spelled the same way. As a variant of the ancient Germanic name Odilia, it is called Odelia.
67. Ofra עָפְרָה
The feminine form of Ophrah, which translates to “fawn” in Hebrew, is Ofra. OFRA Cosmetics, a high-end vegan cosmetics brand based in Florida, was founded by OFRA Gaito.
68. Orna אָרְנָה
As the name suggests, Orna translates to “pine tree” in English. Alternatively, the traditional Irish name Odharnait, meaning “little pale green one,” can be anglicized to “Orna.” The Irish word odhra, which means “pale green, sallow,” was used as an affectionate nickname for girls.
69. Raz רָז
In Hebrew, a person’s name that means “secret” is known as “Raz.” At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Israeli judoka Raz Hershko represented her country. Hershko won the 2015 European Under 18 Judo Championships and a gold medal at the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Antalya in the 78kg and over category.
70. Rachel רָחֵל
Many people outside of Jewish communities had never heard of Rachel before the Protestant Reformation in Europe when the name became popular. During this time, many Western Europeans shifted away from Catholic saint names and began using Bible-based monikers.
71. Rina רִינָה
‘Singing, joy’ is what the Hebrew name Rina means. Other languages and cultures use the name Rina differently, each with its interpretation. Rina is an anglicized version of Rona, which means “queen” in Irish. It’s possible that Rina could be an excellent nickname for Malka’s middle name, Rina, which means “queen.”
72. Rebecca רִבְקָה
“to snare,” “tie,” or “join” may have been the meaning of Rebecca’s name in ancient Hebrew. Rebecca was a popular name in the United States during the early 1970s. There were so many Rebeccas in 1975 that the name entered the top 1,000 boy names at the number 980 spot.
73. Romi רוֹמִי
Romi, which translates to “my exaltation, my height,” is Hebrew. We love Romi because it’s the perfect blend of an older, more traditional name and a short, snappy, modern spelling.
74. Rivka רִיבְקָה
Rivka is a nickname for Rebecca in Modern Hebrew that most likely means “join, tie, snare.” You can use Rivka instead of the original Rebecca as a tribute to a relative or ancestor if you don’t want to use the original.
75. Shachar שַׁחַר
Shachar means “dawn” in Hebrew. Shachar is one of the few gender-neutral names that can be used by both men and women, regardless of where you are in the world.
76. Sarah שָׂרָה
In Hebrew, “sarah” means “lady, princess, noblewoman.” When Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren and unable to conceive, the Bible tells their story. New names were given to Sarah and Abraham due to their covenant with God. As a result of Sarah’s pregnancy following the covenant, Isaac was born.
77. Shamira שָׁמִירָה
The Hebrew name Shamira means “guardian” or “protector.” In her native Holland, filmmaker Shamira Raphala began her career directing television. In the end, it was documentary filmmaking where she hit her stride.
78. Shai שַׁי
As a Hebrew name, Shai translates to “gift.” Most people agree that Shai can be pronounced either “SHY” or “SHAY” in English.
79. Shiri שׁירי
Shiri, the Hebrew name for “my song,” translates to “my song.” At the age of four, Shiri Appleby was sent to acting classes by her parents, who were concerned about her lack of social skills. After her breakout role as Liz Parker in “Roswell,” Appleby appeared in numerous television shows.
80. Shifra שִׁפְרָה
It’s possible that Shifra, a nickname for the Ancient Hebrew name Shiphrah, means “beautiful.” An Egyptian Pharaoh’s order to kill male Israelite babies at birth was defied by a Biblical midwife known as “improved,” named after her. As a result, her name has been interpreted as implying that she was a good mother.
81. Shlomit שְׁלוֹמִית
Sholmit, the Hebrew name for “peaceful,” translates to “peaceful.” One of the Israeli Defense Forces recruiters saw Shlomit Malka’s picture on Facebook and got in touch with her.
82. Simcha שִׂמְחָה
In Hebrew, “simcha” means “joy, happiness.” An important Judaism teaching is “Mitzva Gedolah Lehiyot Besimcha Tamid,” which states that “it is a great mitzvah to always be happy,” illustrating the importance of Simcha. According to this teaching, you are more capable of serving God when you are happy.
83. Stav סתיו
The Hebrew word for “autumn” is stav. In Israel, most Stavs are female, with 3,838 of them being Israeli women and 1,806 being Israeli men. One in every 1,489 people in the United States is named Stav.
84. Sivan סִיוָן
The meaning of the Hebrew name Sivan is “opportunity, period.” The Akkadian word simnu, which means “occasion” or “season,” evolved into the modern name Sivan. Traditionally, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the spring, is known as Sukkot.
85. Tamar תָּמָר
The Hebrew name Tamar translates to “date palm.” For the past four years, Tamar has been the most popular name given to newborn girls in Israel.
86. Talia טַלְיָא
Talia means “dew of God” in Hebrew. Giambattista Basile included the Italian fairy tale “Sun, Moon, and Talia” in a collection published in 1632. Basile gathered and recorded folk and fairy tales from around the world, creating the earliest known records of these stories.
87. Tzufit צוּפִית
The Hebrew word tzufit translates to “hummingbird.” Tzufit Grant began her acting career in movies like “Time Off” and “Distortion,” before becoming a television host and actress. During her morning TV show, “Milkshake,” Grant was shown to do things like drinking her urine to see if it had the health benefits people claimed.
88. Tehila תְּהִלָּה
Tehila’s root word is halal, which means “to shine, to be praised.” Hebrew girl name Tahel, which means “you will shine,” shares its root word with Tehilla, which means “you will shine.”
89. Tirtza תִּרְצָה
In Hebrew, Tirzah means “favorable.” Tirtza is a modern form of the word. Tirtza/Tirzah is a tough call for us because we prefer the more contemporary names.
90. Varda וַרְדָה
Rose is the meaning of the Hebrew given name Varda. J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Middle Earth” universe claims that Queen Varda created the stars in the sky. According to Tolkien, Middle-elves earth reveres Varda above all others because of this.
91. Yael יָעֵל
‘Mountain goat, ibex’ is the Hebrew name for Yael. Jael’s alternate spelling, Yael, is also acceptable. As depicted in the biblical story of Jael, the general of the Canaanite army, Sisera, evades capture during a battle between Israel and the Canaanite kingdoms. After fleeing to Jael’s tent, Sisera is welcomed and fed by her.
92. Yaara יַעֲרָה
Honeysuckle and honeycomb are the Hebrew namesake of the baby girl born with the name Yaara. It means “friend” in Hindi, “Dude” in Urdu and Gujarati and “Dude” in Hindi and Gujarati. Perhaps this explains why men account for 64% of all Yaaras in India.
93. Yafa יָפָה
Honeysuckle and honeycomb are the Hebrew namesake of the baby girl born with the name Yaara. It means “friend” in Hindi, “Dude” in Urdu and Gujarati and “Dude” in Hindi and Gujarati. Perhaps this explains why men account for 64% of all Yaaras in India.
94. Yarden יַרְדֵן
To “flow down” or “descend” is the root of the Hebrew word “yarden,” which means “to flow down.” Yarden is the Hebrew word for the Jordan River, commonly referred to in the English language. The name knew medieval European crusaders and pilgrims. To give their children the name, they would take vials from the river and use them to baptize their children.
95. Yakira יַקִירָה
In Hebrew, the word “yakira” means “precious.” This fashion company’s registered name is Yakira L.L.C. Ecko Unltd. Ecko rose to prominence in the skateboarding community in the late 1990s, thanks mainly to its iconic Rhinoceros logo.
96. Yarona יָרוֹנָה
The Hebrew name Yaron has a feminine form, arona, which means “to shout, to sing.” Botswana is home to the majority of people with the surname Yarona. However, Yarona FM, a popular radio station in Botswana, is most likely to blame for this and not an underground community of Hebrew speakers.
97. Zipporah צִפּוֹרָה
Zipporah derives its name from the Hebrew word for “bird.” She was born in Portugal, the daughter of a family of conversos. In the end, the family fled to London, where they could practice their religion openly.
98. Ziva זִיוָה
Ziva is a Hebrew word that means “radiant, bright.” Ziva is an Israeli pastry filled with cheese and olives, topped with sesame seeds, and baked until golden brown. If you’re lucky, it’ll be served with zhug.
99. Zillah צִלָּה
In Hebrew, the word “zillah” means “shade.” Lamech’s wives, Zillah and Adah, appear in the Torah’s Book of Genesis. Natural-born human beings were the seventh generation of descendants of their parents. Since the seventh generation is considered the beginning of a “fully launched” human race, this is significant.
100. Zohar זֹהַר
The Hebrew name “Zohar” means “brilliance, light” He started swimming when he was six years old. At the 2015 European Short Course Swimming Championships, Shikler competed in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle, setting an Israeli national record of 24.80 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.