Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
There are several traditions involved in choosing a Judaism name. In Ashkenazi community, children are named after a deceased relative. These folks believe that a person’s name and soul is interconnected. So it would bring bad luck to name a child after a living person. On the other hand, in the Sephardic community, it is common to name a child after a living relative. The traditions are opposite, but one thing is common – naming the children after an admired family member. It’s their way of honoring the dead and keeping their memories alive.
Those who do not want to name their children after relatives opt for Biblical names. They pick names of characters whose stories and personalities resonate with them. So there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to naming in Judaism, except one. Every child must be given two names, first Hebrew and second, a secular name for everyday use. The secular names must correspond to the traditional name in some way or the other. It could even be the anglicized version of the same.
If you’re looking for a meaningful Judaism name for your child, peruse through MomJunction's list below. We have both traditional and secular Judaism names for you.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Zender |  |  Unisex | Defender; Protector |
| Zephan | |  Boy | Treasured by God |
| Zephaniah | | Boy | Treasured by God |
| Zephora | |  Girl | Beauty, elegance, and brightness |
| Zerach | | Boy | Shining light |
| Zeriah | | Girl | Seeds; A variant of Zera |
| Zerlinda | | Girl | Beautiful morning or dawn |
| Zeruiah | | Unisex | God is my strength |
| Zethan | | Boy | Unique; Strong; Mysterious |
| Zeva | | Unisex | Radiant, beautiful, gift |
| Zevi | | Boy | Deer |
| Zeyda | | Girl | Gift of God |
| Zhaklina | | Girl | God will increase; Bulgarian form of Jacqueline |
| Zhanna | | Unisex | Gift of God |
| Zibiah | | Unisex | Radiant or Gazelle |
| Zikmund | | Boy | Victorious protection |
| Zilah | | Unisex | Radiant, celestial, serenity |
| Zillah | | Girl | Shadow |
| Zilo | | Unisex | Unique; Rhythmic; Creative |
| Zilpah | | Girl | Dripping; Sprinkling |
| Zilpha | | Girl | God's shadow |
| Zilphia | | Girl | Sprinkle or distill |
| Zim | | Boy | My Song; My joy; Song of Joy; A contracted form of the name Zimran |
| Zimora | | Girl | A branch |
| Zimra | | Boy | The song of praise |
| Zimri | | Unisex | Prince, musical |
| Zindel | | Boy | Defender of man |
| Zinn | | Unisex | Someone who works with tin; A tin blacksmith |
| Zio | | Unisex | Light, strong, unique |
| Ziona | | Unisex | Bringer of happiness or joy |
| Zionah | | Unisex | Faithful and strong |
| Zionna | | Girl | Heavenly; Sacred place |
| Ziora | | Unisex | Gift from God |
| Zipporah | | Girl | Bird |
| Zira | | Unisex | Seed; Grain; Truth and respect |
| Zisha | | Unisex | Joyful; Energetic; Radiant |
| Zissa | | Girl | Sweet one |
| Zissel | | Girl | Sweet |
| Ziv | | Boy | Radiance; Brightness; Brilliance |
| Ziven | | Unisex | Alive, vibrant, spirited |
| Ziyon | | Girl | Sign of youth; Beauty |
| Zizi | | Unisex | Exotic, unique, spirited |
| Zofia | | Girl | Wisdom, brightness, cleverness |
| Zohar | | Unisex | Radiance or brilliance |
| Zohara | | Unisex | Radiant, luminous, shining |
| Zoheret | | Girl | She Shines; Splendor; A derivative of Zohar |
| Zollie | | Boy | Peace |
| Zondal | | Boy | Little son |
| Zooey | | Unisex | Life |
| Zophar | | Boy | Departing; Rising early; Crowned |
| Zorah | | Girl | Radiant, powerful, blossoming |
| Zosha | | Girl | Gift from God |
| Zosia | | Girl | Woman of wisdom |
| Zowie | | Girl | Life |
| Zoyla | | Girl | Variant of Zoila; Life |
| Zsanet | | Girl | God is merciful |
| Zsusanna | | Girl | Rose, Lilly; A variant of Susanna |
| Zsuzsanna | | Girl | Lily |
| Zsuzsi | | Girl | Lily; Short form of Zsuzsanna |
| Zulema | | Girl | Radiant, bright, unique |
| Zuria | | Unisex | White; Bright |
| Zuriel | | Unisex | God is my rock |
| Zurielle | | Girl | God's messenger |
| Zvi | | Boy | Deer, gazelle |
| Zyanya | | Girl | Forever; Always |
| Zygmunt | | Boy | Victorious defender |
