Chaim

♂ Boy

Pronounced KHYEM /xaɪm/High

Meaning: From Hebrew chayyim meaning life or lives; a plural form evoking the fullness of life; used in the traditional Jewish toast L'chaim (to life) and as a widespread given name in Jewish communitiesHigh

In 30 seconds: A deeply meaningful Hebrew name meaning life, Chaim is best known from the joyful toast L'chaim and is a beloved traditional name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities worldwide.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew chayyim meaning life or lives; a plural form evoking the fullness of life; used in the traditional Jewish toast L'chaim (to life) and as a widespread given name in Jewish communities

U.S. rank (2025)#666 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births411 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 12,058

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Chaim comes from the Hebrew word chayyim, meaning life or lives (plural, evoking the fullness of life). It is one of the most traditionally meaningful Hebrew given names, widely used in Ashkenazi Jewish communities throughout Europe and the diaspora. The name embodies the Jewish cultural emphasis on valuing and celebrating life.

Chaim has been a standard given name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities for centuries. Famous bearers include Chaim Weizmann, the first President of Israel, and author Chaim Potok. In the United States it is used primarily within Orthodox and traditional Jewish families. The name is sometimes adapted as Hyman in anglicized contexts. Its pronunciation (a guttural ch) is distinctive in English.

Did you know? The joyful toast L'chaim! (לְחַיִּים) — 'To life!' — is central to Jewish celebrations and was made internationally famous by the song of the same name in the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1964).

Overall data confidence 97%

Behind the Name — Chaim — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

HymanHaimHyam

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952)
First President of Israel and a noted chemist.
★Chaim Potok (1929–2002)
American Jewish author of The Chosen.

If you like Chaim…

Noam— shares the Hebrew origin and the same traditional Ashkenazi Jewish warmth

Shlomo— fellow traditional Ashkenazi Hebrew name with the same deep cultural resonance

Yakov— shares the biblical Hebrew tradition and the same classic Jewish community usage

Moshe— another traditional Hebrew biblical name with the same meaningful simplicity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Chaim mean?

Chaim means life or lives, from Hebrew chayyim. It is the same root as the traditional Jewish toast L'chaim, meaning to life.

How do you pronounce Chaim?

It is said KHYEM /xaɪm/ — one syllable with the guttural Hebrew ch sound (like the ch in Bach).

Is Chaim a common name?

Chaim is used primarily in traditional Ashkenazi Jewish communities worldwide and is a well-established classic in those communities.

What is the anglicized form of Chaim?

Hyman or Hyam is a traditional anglicization of Chaim used in some English-speaking Jewish families.