Hebrew Boy Names That Mean Bird

Hebrew boy names that mean bird cluster overwhelmingly around one word — dove — though a few branch out to songbirds, eagles, and even birds that speak Solomon's language.

Names30

OriginHebrew

MeaningBird

GenderBoy

Say the word dove in Hebrew and you get Yonah — and from that one root comes an entire family on this list: Jonah, the German-flavored Jona, the Greek-shaped Jonas, the Arabic Yunus and Yunis, and the Hebrew original itself, spelled Yonah or Yona.

That shared root traces back to the prophet swallowed by a great fish — a story Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all tell. Not every bird name here follows the dove: Zamir means singing bird, drawn from the Psalms, while Deron pairs 'bird' with 'freedom' in one Hebrew word.

Why Hebrew Boy Names That Mean Bird Keep Circling Back to the Dove

Hebrew boy names that mean bird lean so heavily on the dove because the word yonah carries deep symbolic weight — peace, gentleness, return after a long absence. That single image traveled with the prophet's story into Greek (Jonas), Arabic (Yunus, Yunis), and German (Jona), which is why so many unrelated-sounding names on this list actually mean the exact same thing.

The Unexpected Names on This List

Not every name here got its bird meaning from Hebrew. Ari means lion in Hebrew — its eagle meaning comes from Norse, a reminder that short, punchy names often carry more than one root. Sulayman, the Arabic form of Solomon, earns its place through the old tradition that the wise king understood the language of birds.

Names List

Jonah#128 in the U.S.Dove — from Hebrew Yonah (dove)Pronounced JOH-nuh▶Ari#393 in the U.S.From Hebrew Ari meaning lion; also a short form of Ariel (lion of God) or Aristotle; in Old Norse it meanPronounced AH-ree▶Jonas#599 in the U.S.Greek form of the Hebrew name Jonah (Yonah), meaning 'dove'; also used in some traditions as a form of JoPronounced JOH-nas▶Zamir#780 in the U.S.Song or singing; from the Hebrew zamir meaning song or singing bird, related to the word for pruning and Pronounced zah-MEER▶Yunus#1464 in the U.S.Dove, the dovePronounced YOO-nus▶Kal#2349 in the U.S.Voice of God; a short form of Kalel (Superman's Kryptonian birth name) or an independent short form of CaPronounced KAL▶Yonah#2938 in the U.S.DovePronounced yoh-NA▶Yunis#3203 in the U.S.Arabic form of Jonah (Yunus); dove, symbolizing peace and God's mercyPronounced YOO-nis▶Sulayman#3440 in the U.S.The Quranic form of Solomon — Hebrew Shlomo, from shalom, 'peace' — the prophet-king who spoke with birdsPronounced soo-lay-MAHN▶Yona#3675 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yonah, 'dove' (the prophet Jonah); independently, Cherokee yona, 'bear'Pronounced YOH-nah▶Jona#4120 in the U.S.German/Scandinavian form of Jonah — Hebrew Yonah, 'dove'Pronounced YOH-nah▶Deron#4727 in the U.S.From Hebrew dror/deron, 'a bird (a sparrow/swallow); freedom, liberty'; also a Darren/-eron echo; routes Pronounced DAIR-ən▶Arlis#5062 in the U.S.A vintage name — variously a form of Arles/Arley ('the eagle meadow'), or linked to Hebrew 'a pledge'; hePronounced AR-liss▶Joni#5309 in the U.S.Finnish form of John (Johannes) — from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'; also Hebrew Yoni, 'a dove'; hePronounced YOH-nee▶Zamariel#5872 in the U.S.A modern name with the -iel ending ('God', Hebrew) — echoing the angelic Zamariel ('the song/music of GodPronounced zə-MAR-ee-el▶Xamir#6147 in the U.S.An X- spelling echoing Zamir ('a songbird; conscience', Hebrew/Arabic) and Amir ('a prince, a commander',Pronounced zah-MEER▶Yonas#6155 in the U.S.A Greek and Amharic/Ethiopian form of Jonah — from Hebrew Yonah, 'a dove'Pronounced YOH-nahs▶Zameir#6435 in the U.S.A spelling of Zamir — variously 'a songbird; a nightingale' (Hebrew) and 'the heart, the conscience' (AraPronounced zə-MEER▶Younus#6798 in the U.S.A spelling of Yunus, the Arabic form of Jonah — from Hebrew Yonah, 'a dove' (Yunus, a prophet in Islam)Pronounced YOO-nus▶Yonael#7705 in the U.S.An Ethiopian/Hebrew name, variously read 'dove of God' (Hebrew yonah, 'dove', + El, 'God') and an elaboraPronounced yoh-nah-EL▶Reven#8164 in the U.S.A modern name, variously echoing the word raven (a black bird) and Reuben (Hebrew, 'behold, a son'); no sPronounced REH-ven▶Ahren#8305 in the U.S.Variously from the German Ahren/Arend, 'an eagle', and a form of Aaron ('a mountain of strength; exalted'Pronounced AR-en▶Zamire#8937 in the U.S.A spelling of Zamir — variously 'a songbird; a nightingale' (Hebrew) and 'a conscience/inner mind' (ArabiPronounced zah-MEER▶Derron#9175 in the U.S.A spelling of Deron/Darren — variously 'great; a little oak' (Irish Darren) and 'a gift; freedom/a songbiPronounced DAIR-on▶Zamiri#9842 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an echo of Zamir ('a nightingale/songbird', Hebrew) and Amiri ('of a prince/rulePronounced zah-MEER-ee▶Coben#10060 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a Co- + -ben coinage, an echo of Corbin ('a raven') or a form of Cohen ('a priesPronounced KOH-ben▶Jhonas#11534 in the U.S.Jhonas reads as a Latino phonetic spelling of Jonas, from the Hebrew Yonah (Jonah), 'dove.' The Jh- styliPronounced YOH-nahs▶Zeev#12281 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Zeev, 'wolf'. It is linked in scripture to the tribe of Benjamin (a 'ravenous wolf') and Pronounced ZEH-ev▶Orel#13663 in the U.S.From Hebrew Or-El, 'light of God' — or ('light') plus El ('God'). Separately, Oryol/Orel is a Russian citPronounced or-EL▶Zahmire#14190 in the U.S.A modern American respelling most naturally read as Zamir, a Hebrew name meaning 'song' or 'nightingale';Pronounced zuh-MEER▶

More Hebrew Meaning Guides

Girl Names That Mean Grace Boy Names That Mean Gift Boy Names That Mean Grace Girl Names That Mean Royalty Boy Names That Mean Strength Girl Names That Mean the Sea Girl Names That Mean Love Girl Names That Mean Beauty Girl Names That Mean Light Boy Names That Mean Royalty Girl Names That Mean Gift Girl Names That Mean Lion

Frequently Asked

What does Jonah mean in Hebrew?

Jonah means 'dove' in Hebrew, the same root behind Yonah, Jonas, and Yunus. The name is tied to the Bible's prophet swallowed by a great fish, and it has been climbing U.S. charts for decades.

Are there Hebrew names that mean bird besides dove?

Yes. Zamir means 'song' or 'singing bird,' linked to the musical Psalms, and Deron combines 'bird' with 'freedom' in a single Hebrew word — both quieter alternatives to the dove names.

Why do so many names on this list sound so different but mean the same thing?

Because 'dove' traveled through translation. Jona is the German path, Jonas the Greek path, and Yunis the Arabic path — each culture reshaped the sound of the same Hebrew word for their own language.