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80 Yiddish Boy Names To Connect With The Past

Yiddish, the cherished language spoken by Jews of Eastern Europe, is a cultural tapestry woven from German and Hebrew threads. Delving into Yiddish baby names takes us on a journey through history, language, and identity.

In Eastern European Jewish communities, personal names hold a special place. They mirror the evolution of Jewish culture and its fusion with Yiddish over centuries. Yiddish personal names, deeply rooted in tradition, have evolved over time within the community. Reflecting a mix of Hebrew, German, and even Slavic influences, these names were an intrinsic part of daily life. On the other hand, family names, a more recent addition, emerged in the 19th century due to state mandates. Unlike personal names, they were less integrated into Jewish consciousness until the 20th century (3).

Religious significance colored the naming landscape. Two categories emerged for male names: "shemot ha-kodesh" (sacred names) in Hebrew and oyfruf-nemen in Yiddish and "kinuyim" (secular names) in Hebrew, ruf-nemen in Yiddish. The former, a collection of names with profound religious connotations, adorned boys during their circumcision and held importance during synagogue readings. The latter encompassed a broader array of names that served the day-to-day identity of individuals (3).

As we delve into this treasury of tradition, join us in uncovering Yiddish baby boy names filled with timeless meanings. Each name is linked to this remarkable linguistic and cultural heritage, offering insight into the profound stories that shaped generations. These narratives continue to resonate in today's world, connecting us to the past. These names are like windows into history, showing how people's beliefs and cultures shaped the names they gave to their children. So let's explore this world of names and meanings and discover the stories they hold.

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Browse Baby Names By Gender

Browse Baby Names By Alphabet

NameGenderMeaning
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Dovid
Baby Boy Sign Boy Beloved; Uncle
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Dov
Baby Boy Sign Boy A bear; Mighty
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Wolf
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Wolf; Path of the wolf
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Mendel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Comforter; Person; Man
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Josef
Baby Boy Sign Boy He will add
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Herschel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer
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Hershel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer; Hart
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Sherman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Sheep shearer; Tailor
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Hersh
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer; Hart
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Elie
Baby Boy Sign Boy Torch; Corposcant; My God is help; My God is Yahweh
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Zalman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Peace
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Baer
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Bright; Bear
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Kalman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Remainder; Dove; Beautiful name
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Moishe
Baby Boy Sign Boy Drew out; Savior; To pull out of water
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Osias
Baby Boy Sign Boy Salvation; God saves
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Fishel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Little fish
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Leib
Baby Boy Sign Boy An animal; A lion
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Alter
Baby Boy Sign Boy Old
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Berel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bear
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Tavi
Baby Boy Sign Boy Good; Beloved; Uncle; Eighth; Twin
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Sender
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Defending men
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Baylin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Beautiful
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Feynman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fine man; Elegant man; Cultivated man; Excellent man
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Orel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Light of God; High mountain; Exalted
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Zaydee
Baby Girl Sign Girl Grandfather; Elderly man
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Yitzhak
Baby Boy Sign Boy He laughs; Laughter
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Elye
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh is my God; The Lord is my God
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Haskell
Baby Boy Sign Boy God strengthens; God's helmet
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Mosheh
Baby Boy Sign Boy Savior; Draw out of water; Son; Deliver
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Shanay
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is gracious; Beautiful
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Kern
Baby Boy Sign Boy Grain; Warrior; Stunted
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Selik
Baby Boy Sign Boy Blessed; Happy
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Aizik
Baby Boy Sign Boy He will laugh
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Anshel
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's protection; Happy; Blessed
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Ber
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bear
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Feivel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright; Pure
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Hirsch
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer; Hart; A deer
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Lantz
Baby Boy Sign Boy Spear; Yiddish form of Lancer
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Luzer
Baby Boy Sign Boy Helpless; God is my help; Morning star
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Schneider
Baby Boy Sign Boy To cut; Taylor
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Shayn
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh is gracious; God's gift; Beautiful
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Tevye
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh is good
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Slevin
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Descendant of Sléibhín; Glory; Fame; Praise; Pilgrim's cloak or mantle
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Yankel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh may protect
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Hirsh
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer; Hart; A deer; A variant of Hersch
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Zon
Baby Boy Sign Boy Little son
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Dover
Baby Boy Sign Boy The waters; River Dubra
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Fagan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rural; Rustic
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Golding
Baby Boy Sign Boy Gold
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Hirschel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer
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Lieber
Baby Boy Sign Boy Love
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Malgrim
Baby Boy Sign Boy One with individuality and independence
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Selig
Baby Boy Sign Boy Blessed; Happy life
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Benesh
Baby Girl Sign Girl Blessed
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Abrasha
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yiddish form of Abraham, meaning Father of a multitudes
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Anschil
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yiddish form of Asher; Fortunate; Blessed; Happy
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Arele
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mountain; Yiddish form of Aaron
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Avrom
Baby Boy Sign Boy A form of Abraham; Father of multitudes
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Beynish
Baby Boy Sign Boy Blessed
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Breine
Baby Boy Sign Boy Blessed
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Chatzkel
Baby Boy Sign Boy God strengthens
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Dudel
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is beloved, favorite, or darling
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Faivish
Baby Boy Sign Boy Someone with a bright and radiant personality
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Fayvel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright and radiant
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Froim
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fruitful
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Hersz
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer
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Heschel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Deer; Yahweh is salvation
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Mendeley
Baby Boy Sign Boy Comforter; Full of comfort
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Raysel
Baby Boy Sign Boy The rose flower
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Shelomoh
Baby Boy Sign Boy Peace
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Velvel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Wolf
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Zeide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Grandfather
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Zemel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Earth; Soil; Bread
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Zindel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Defender of man
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Zondal
Baby Boy Sign Boy Little son
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Fivel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Nursing
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Issur
Baby Boy Sign Boy God contends; To fight
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Moisha
Baby Boy Sign Boy Drew out
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Tevi
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Yahweh is good
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Fievel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright one; Pure; Sun

Yiddish baby names are like bridges that connect us to the past, carrying the essence of generations and their experiences. Choosing a name isn't just about what sounds good; it's about carrying forward a legacy of culture and love. As you begin naming your little one, may these names inspire you to cherish the stories they hold and the bright future they represent.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Is there a Yiddish name that means lion?

Yes. The Lion of Judah, known in Hebrew as "Aryeh Yehudah," is a symbol of Jewish identity and culture. It is widely recognized as the emblem representing the tribe of Judah. Some Yiddish names which mean lion are Aryeh, Arieh, and Lieb (1).

2.What is the Yiddish name for Fox?

Shual, a masculine name, is one Yiddish name that carries the connotation of 'fox.'

3.Are there any Yiddish baby boy names that have fallen out of use?

Velvel, meaning 'little wolf,' Yankel, a rare variant of Jacob, meaning 'may God protect,' and Yosl, a rare variant of Joseph, meaning 'he or God will add,' are considered some Yiddish boy names that are rarely used.

4. How do Yiddish baby boy names differ from other Jewish baby names?

Yiddish grew out of the Jewish language and is primarily a mix of German, Semitic, Slavic, and other languages (1). Yiddish names may have spelling and pronunciations that may differ from traditional Jewish names. The Yiddish language is predominantly associated with the Ashkenazi Jews and will draw inspiration from the culture.

5.Can Yiddish baby names be used in non-Jewish families?

Yes, Yiddish baby names can be used by non-Jewish families. Still, while using names of a different culture, one must consider cultural appropriation and respect other cultures and traditions.

6.What are some Yiddish baby boy names translated into other languages and still maintain their original meanings?

Ber meaning 'bear,' when translated into other languages like Björn in Swedish, Germanic, and Slavic languages, still retains its meaning. The feminine name Golda which means 'gold,' when translated into English, is spelled as Goldie but still holds the same meaning.

7.What is the significance of naming a baby boy after a family member or ancestor in Yiddish tradition?

In the Yiddish or Ashkenazi tradition, it is a strong custom to name a baby after a deceased ancestor. The baby is named after the closest relative who isn't named yet in the family (2). The reason behind this is that if given a name borne by a previous ancestor, the child might have some of the virtues of the deceased relative.

Infographic: Charming Yiddish Baby Boy Names

Yiddish baby boy names are not just meaningful but also carry cultural significance. Draw inspiration from the history of this language and select a name for your little son from the infographic below. You may also save and share this wonderful compilation with parents of other newborns.

timeless yiddish baby boy names (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Yiddish
    https://www.jewishlanguages.org/eastern-yiddish
  2. Jewish Personal Names
    https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Jewish_Personal_Names#:~:text=The%20first%20son%20was%20generally
  3. Names and Naming
    https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/names_and_naming

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Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

Read full bio of Nisha Bharatan
Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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