Hebrew Girl Names That Mean Bird

Hebrew girl names that mean bird cluster around one small root word, tzipor, that keeps resurfacing in wildly different spellings.

Names38

OriginHebrew

MeaningBird

GenderGirl

The Hebrew word tzipor simply means bird, and it shows up almost unchanged in Tzipora and Tziporah, is Anglicized into the biblical Zipporah, and turns up again, filtered through Greek, as Sephora. All four trace back to the same woman: Moses's wife, the shepherdess of Midian.

Other names on this list carry bird meaning differently. Jemima is Hebrew for dove, and that same root may sit quietly inside Jemma. Aya and Aiya mean bird in Hebrew too, while Daya pairs a Hebrew bird meaning with an unrelated Sanskrit word for mercy.

Why Hebrew girl names that mean bird share one root

Most Hebrew girl names that mean bird trace to tzipor, so parents who love Tzipora often also like Tziporah, Zipporah, or Sephora — four spellings of one idea, shaped by scripture, Hebrew, and Greek translation. Two names take a different route: Ava's bird meaning is debated, possibly Latin rather than Hebrew, and Avalee carries that uncertainty. Avielle is its own blend of Hebrew Avi and a French ending, read by some as 'divine little bird.'

Dove names and other quiet variations on bird

Dove is the specific bird behind Jemima, a name carried by one of Job's daughters, and that meaning may echo faintly in Jemma, whose primary sense is precious stone. Aya and Aiya keep the meaning simple and light — just bird, in two open, vowel-bright syllables — while Daya carries a second meaning too, mercy in Sanskrit, alongside its Hebrew sense of a bird in flight.

Names List

Ava#11 in the U.S.Life; living one; possibly from Latin avis (bird)Pronounced A-Va▶Aya#644 in the U.S.In Arabic, aya means verse of the Quran, sign, or miracle; in Hebrew it means bird of prey, specifically Pronounced AH-yah▶Jemma#866 in the U.S.Variant of Gemma, from the Italian and Latin gemma meaning 'precious stone' or 'gemstone'; also used as aPronounced JEM-uh▶Zipporah#2916 in the U.S.BirdPronounced zih-PAWR-uh▶Tzipora#3004 in the U.S.From Hebrew tzipor (צִפּוֹר) meaning 'bird'; the name means 'little bird' or simply 'bird'Pronounced tzee-POR-ah▶Avalee#3015 in the U.S.Modern blend of Ava (from Hebrew Chava: life, or Latin avis: bird) and Lee (Old English: woodland clearinPronounced AV-uh-lee▶Jemima#3024 in the U.S.From the Hebrew 'yemimah,' most commonly interpreted as 'dove,' a symbol of peace and purity; some scholaPronounced jeh-MY-mah▶Avielle#3219 in the U.S.Combination of Hebrew Avi (my father, referring to God) and the French/Hebrew suffix -elle (feminine dimiPronounced ah-vee-EL▶Aiya#3322 in the U.S.Variant of Aya, a Hebrew name meaning 'bird' or 'falcon'Pronounced EYE-ə▶Tziporah#3558 in the U.S.Bird; from Hebrew tzippor — the Midianite wife of Moses who saved his lifePronounced tsi-POR-ah▶Daya#3650 in the U.S.Compassion, mercy, kindness; from Sanskrit daya — also a Hebrew name for a bird of prey (the kite)Pronounced DAH-yah▶Sephora#4090 in the U.S.Greek form of Zipporah — Hebrew Tzipporah, 'bird' — also linked to Greek for 'beauty'Pronounced sə-FOR-ah▶Dovie#4676 in the U.S.From the word dove (a symbol of peace), with an -ie ending; also a vintage pet name (linked to Dove/DeborPronounced DOH-vee▶Jemimah#4693 in the U.S.-h spelling of Jemima — Hebrew Yemimah, 'dove' (or 'warm, bright as day') — Job's daughterPronounced jə-MY-mah▶Avamarie#4769 in the U.S.Compound of Ava ('life' or 'bird') and Marie ('beloved'); echoes the Latin 'Ave Maria'; given as one namePronounced AH-və-mə-ree▶Avi#5026 in the U.S.From Hebrew avi, 'my father' (a short form of names like Avigail/Aviva); also echoes Latin avis, 'a bird'Pronounced AH-vee▶Jonah#5198 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yonah, 'a dove' (the prophet swallowed by a great fish); predominantly a boys' name; here forPronounced JOH-nah▶Arna#5300 in the U.S.From Old Norse orn, 'an eagle' (the feminine of Arne); also Hebrew, 'cedar' (a form of Arnona); routes laPronounced AR-nah▶Avanna#5443 in the U.S.Modern blend of Ava ('life; bird') with -anna ('grace', Hebrew); also echoes Avani ('the earth', SanskritPronounced ə-VAN-ah▶Avaylah#5800 in the U.S.A modern name joining Ava ('life; a bird', or a Latin form) with the -ylah ending (echoing Ayla, 'halo ofPronounced ə-VAY-lah▶Avy#5958 in the U.S.A pet form of Ava ('life; a bird') or Avery ('ruler of the elves'); routes layeredPronounced AY-vee▶Tzipporah#6352 in the U.S.From Hebrew Tzippora, 'a bird' (the wife of Moses in the Bible)Pronounced tsih-POR-ah▶Avagrace#6645 in the U.S.A compound of Ava (variously 'life; a bird; like a bird') and Grace ('grace; God's favor', from Latin graPronounced AY-vah-grayss▶Evyn#6704 in the U.S.A spelling variously of Evan (Welsh form of John, 'God is gracious') and a short form of Evelyn ('a littlPronounced EV-in▶Sefora#6860 in the U.S.A Spanish/Italian form of Zipporah — from Hebrew Tzipporah, 'a bird; a little bird'Pronounced seh-FOR-ah▶Yona#7212 in the U.S.From Hebrew yonah, 'a dove' (the feminine sense of the name Jonah); also a Korean and Native American namPronounced YOH-nah▶Aviyana#8993 in the U.S.A modern name, variously echoing Aviana ('bird-like', from the Latin avis) and Aviya (Hebrew, 'God is my Pronounced ah-vee-AH-nah▶Tzippy#9479 in the U.S.A Yiddish pet form of Tzipporah — from the Hebrew tzippor, 'a bird'Pronounced TSIP-ee▶Ravensymone#10323 in the U.S.Ravensymone is a run-together spelling of Raven-Symone, made famous by the American actress and singer RaPronounced RAY-ven-sih-mohn▶Avianne#10409 in the U.S.A modern blend of Ava and Anne ('grace; favor'), also echoing the word avian ('of birds'). Route layered,Pronounced av-ee-ANN▶Evayah#10501 in the U.S.A modern coinage extending Eva/Ava ('life; living one,' or 'bird') with a soft -ayah ending. Melodic; rouPronounced eh-VAY-ah▶Jona#10613 in the U.S.A feminine form of Jonah, from the Hebrew Yonah, 'dove'; also read as a short form of Johanna ('God is grPronounced JOH-nah▶Dayah#11309 in the U.S.Dayah reads as a variant of Daya, which in Sanskrit means 'compassion; kindness' and in Hebrew names a kiPronounced DAY-uh▶Tzippora#15025 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Tzippora (Zipporah), 'bird.' Zipporah is the wife of Moses in the Torah — noted here respPronounced tsih-POR-uh▶Aiah#15164 in the U.S.Aiah is used today as a short, airy girl's name in the Aya/Aria orbit. A name spelled Aiah also appears iPronounced EYE-uh▶Jemmah#16177 in the U.S.A modern spelling that sits between two documented names: Gemma, from Latin gemma, 'gem, precious stone,'Pronounced JEM-uh▶Tzipa#16275 in the U.S.A Yiddish pet form of Tzipporah (Zipporah, the wife of Moses), from the Hebrew for 'bird.' A warm, traditPronounced TSIP-ah▶Zipora#17983 in the U.S.Zipora is a spelling of Zipporah, from the Hebrew Tzipporah, 'bird,' related to tzippor, 'small bird.' InPronounced zih-POR-uh▶

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Frequently Asked

What does Zipporah mean in Hebrew?

Zipporah means 'bird' in Hebrew. She's the wife of Moses in the Bible, a shepherdess from Midian who plays a dramatic role in Exodus. Tzipora, Tziporah, and Sephora are variations on that same name and meaning.

Is Ava a Hebrew name meaning bird?

Not exactly. Ava's origin is debated — it may come from Latin for 'bird' or a Germanic root, not confirmed Hebrew. Names like Avalee and Avielle build on Ava and carry that same uncertain, possible bird meaning.

Which names on this list mean dove specifically?

Jemima is the clearest one — a Hebrew biblical name meaning dove. Jemma, an English variant of Gemma, may share that root too, though its primary meaning is precious stone.