Yiddish Boy Names
118 yiddish boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for girl names instead? Yiddish Girl Names →
Ask anyone raised in an Ashkenazi family and they will tell you the same thing: a boy is named for someone. That is the whole engine behind Yiddish boy names — memory, carried forward, one generation handing a grandfather back into the world. The patriarch names dominate for exactly that reason. Dovid is the Yiddish form of David and one of the most-given names in Hasidic communities today. Avrohom answers to Abraham, Binyomin to Benjamin, and Shmiel to Samuel. Written differently from their Hebrew cousins, they sound like the language actually spoken at the table.
The rest of this list has a folk-tale texture that is entirely its own. Hershel and the shorter Hersh come from the Yiddish word for deer, and Wolf is the plainspoken animal name that so often paired with it. Sholom and Shulem both rest on the root for peace, which is a quietly beautiful thing to hand a son. Mendel and its affectionate form Mendy feel instantly familiar, Lazer is the Yiddish shape of Eliezer, and Shaya is soft and boyish in a way the longer forms never quite are.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Yiddish Boy Names
Dovid#1300 in the U.S.Beloved, dear one▶Shaya#1451 in the U.S.Gift of God; Yiddish form of Isaiah▶Mendel#1593 in the U.S.a Yiddish pet form of Menachem, from Hebrew meaning 'comforter'▶Avrohom#1682 in the U.S.Ashkenazi Hebrew/Yiddish form of Abraham, "father of a multitude (of nations)"▶Wolf#1812 in the U.S.Wolf▶Shulem#2022 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Hebrew Shalom 'peace', from root sh-l-m▶Binyomin#2094 in the U.S.Son of the south▶Hershy#2138 in the U.S.Pet form of Hersh/Hershel, from Yiddish hersh meaning deer or stag.▶Mendy#2322 in the U.S.comforter, consoler▶Zayde#2703 in the U.S.grandfather▶Sholom#2733 in the U.S.Peace▶Hershel#2755 in the U.S.Deer▶Hersh#2882 in the U.S.Deer▶Shmiel#2899 in the U.S.Name of God▶Shlome#3082 in the U.S.Yiddish and Eastern European Jewish form of Shlomo (Solomon), from Hebrew shalom meaning peace▶Lazer#3122 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Elazar or Eleazar, from Hebrew El'azar meaning 'God has helped'▶Avrum#3158 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Avraham (Abraham), from Hebrew Avraham meaning 'father of multitudes' or 'fathe▶Maven#3246 in the U.S.Expert, connoisseur; from Yiddish meyvn, from Hebrew mevin, 'one who understands'▶Zalmen#3446 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Solomon — Hebrew Shlomo, from shalom, 'peace' — long beloved in Ashkenazi commu▶Avrumy#3451 in the U.S.Yiddish diminutive of Avrum (Abraham) — Hebrew Avraham, 'father of multitudes' — beloved in Has▶Cheskel#3461 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Yechezkel (Ezekiel) — 'God strengthens' — used in Hasidic communities▶Motty#3563 in the U.S.A Yiddish/Hebrew pet form of Mordechai (linked to the god Marduk; 'warrior') via Mottel; an aff▶Hersel#3589 in the U.S.Hersel is a variant of Hershel or Herschel, a Yiddish name from hirsh, 'deer or stag,' with a d▶Moishe#3739 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Moses — Hebrew Moshe, 'drawn out of the water' — the lawgiver's homiest form▶Yanky#3773 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Yaakov/Yankel — Jacob, 'supplanter, holder of the heel'▶Selig#3957 in the U.S.Selig is a Yiddish and German name from the German selig, 'blessed, happy, blessed in memory.' ▶Naftuli#4027 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Naphtali — Hebrew Naftali, 'my struggle, wrestling' — Jacob's son▶Hymen#4028 in the U.S.Hymen is a variant of Hyman, an Ashkenazi Jewish name from the Hebrew Chaim, 'life'. It was a c▶Shloma#4157 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Solomon/Shlomo — Hebrew, 'peace'▶Meilech#4382 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Melech — Hebrew melech, 'king'▶Nosson#4506 in the U.S.Ashkenazi/Yiddish pronunciation of Nathan — Hebrew Natan, 'he gave; gift'▶Shloime#4528 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Solomon — from Hebrew Shlomo, 'peace, peaceful' (from shalom)▶Zalman#4550 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Solomon — from Hebrew Shlomo, 'peace, peaceful' (via Salomon/Zalman)▶Pinchus#4654 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Phinehas/Pinchas — from Hebrew/Egyptian, possibly 'the Nubian, dark-skinned' or▶Leib#4793 in the U.S.From Yiddish Leib, 'a lion' (from Germanic lowe/lewe) — often paired with the Hebrew Yehuda (Ju▶Michoel#4811 in the U.S.Yiddish/Ashkenazi pronunciation of Michael — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?'▶Mordche#4812 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Mordecai — from Hebrew/Babylonian, possibly 'servant of Marduk' or 'warrior' — ▶Shneur#4841 in the U.S.From Yiddish/Hebrew Shneur, 'two lights' (often read as shnei or, 'two lights; light upon light▶Sruly#4844 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Yisroel (Israel) — from Hebrew Yisrael, 'one who struggles/contends with Go▶Herschel#4929 in the U.S.From Yiddish Hirsch, 'a deer, a stag', plus the diminutive -el — 'little deer' (often paired wi▶Moishy#5166 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Moishe (Moses) — from Hebrew Moshe, 'drawn out (of the water); to draw out'▶Berl#5248 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Ber, 'a bear' (a Yiddish translation of Hebrew Dov, 'bear'); a -l diminutiv▶Burech#5255 in the U.S.Yiddish form of Baruch — from Hebrew Baruch, 'blessed'▶Leiby#5339 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Leib, 'a lion' (a translation of the Hebrew Aryeh/Yehuda, the lion of Judah▶Kalman#6009 in the U.S.From the Hungarian/Yiddish Kálmán — linked to Coloman (St Coloman), variously 'a pilgrim' and '▶Naftoli#6068 in the U.S.The Yiddish form of Naphtali — from Hebrew Naftali, 'my struggle; my wrestling' (a son of Jacob▶Sender#6109 in the U.S.A Yiddish short form of Alexander — from Greek, 'a defender of mankind' (alexo, 'to defend', pl▶Berish#6199 in the U.S.A Yiddish name from Ber, 'a bear' (Germanic), with an affectionate -ish ending; 'a little bear;▶Nochum#6357 in the U.S.The Yiddish form of Nachum (Nahum) — from Hebrew, 'comfort; consolation; comforted'▶Nuchem#6362 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Nachum (Nahum) — from Hebrew, 'comfort; consolation; comforted'▶Yecheskel#6428 in the U.S.The Yiddish form of Ezekiel — from Hebrew Yechezkel, 'God strengthens; God will strengthen'▶Fishel#6557 in the U.S.From Yiddish fish, 'a fish', with the affectionate -el ending; 'a little fish' — traditionally ▶Hirsh#6608 in the U.S.A Yiddish name, 'deer' (related to German 'Hirsch') — traditionally linked to the tribe of Naph▶Leibish#6657 in the U.S.From Yiddish leib, 'a lion', with the diminutive -ish; a Yiddish kinnui (companion name) for Ye▶Avrumi#6855 in the U.S.A Yiddish pet form of Avraham/Abraham — from Hebrew, 'father of multitudes; father of nations'▶Menachemmendel#7084 in the U.S.A traditional Jewish double name — Menachem ('a comforter; a consoler', Hebrew) plus Mendel (a ▶Volvy#7202 in the U.S.A Yiddish pet form of Velvel/Wolf — from Yiddish, 'a wolf' (a kinnui, an everyday pairing, for ▶Eisen#7399 in the U.S.The German word Eisen, 'iron,' also used as a German and Yiddish surname. As a given name it re▶Hurshel#7406 in the U.S.Hurshel is a phonetic American spelling of Herschel/Hershel, a Yiddish name meaning 'deer' (fro▶Mechel#7541 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Michael — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?'▶Zaide#7711 in the U.S.Variously the Yiddish zeyde, 'grandfather', and a spelling of the Arabic Zaid, 'growth; abundan▶Zelig#7720 in the U.S.From Yiddish zelig (German selig), 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy'▶Alter#7770 in the U.S.Alter is a Yiddish name meaning literally 'old one, elder'. It was traditionally given or added▶Berel#7802 in the U.S.A Yiddish diminutive of Ber, 'a bear' (the Yiddish counterpart of the Hebrew Dov, 'bear')▶Nachmen#8109 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Nachman — from the Hebrew, 'comfort; consolation; compassion' (Rabbi Nachman ▶Zisha#8284 in the U.S.From the Yiddish zis, 'sweet', hence Zisha/Zusha, 'sweet one' (a pet/given name)▶Herchel#8694 in the U.S.Herchel is a spelling variant of Herschel, from the Yiddish and German Hirsch meaning deer or h▶Yankiel#8796 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Yaakov (Jacob), a spelling cousin of Yankel, from Hebrew Yaakov, 'holder of t▶Eliyohu#9150 in the U.S.The Yiddish/Ashkenazi pronunciation of Eliyahu (Elijah), from the Hebrew 'my God is the Lord; t▶Eluzer#9214 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Eliezer — from the Hebrew, eli, 'my God', + ezer, 'help', hence 'my God is my▶Haskell#9283 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Ezekiel — from the Hebrew Yehezqel, 'God strengthens' (also read via the Yidd▶Hershell#9353 in the U.S.Hershell is a spelling variant of Hershel/Herschel, from the Yiddish hirsh (German Hirsch), 'de▶Kalmen#9387 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Kalonymus — from the Greek kalos, 'good/beautiful', + onyma, 'name', hence 'a▶Herschell#9821 in the U.S.Herschell is an elaborated spelling of Hershel/Herschel, a Yiddish name meaning 'deer' (from hi▶Binyumin#9872 in the U.S.A Yiddish and Bukharian form of Benjamin (Hebrew Binyamin), 'son of the right hand' (the side o▶Elye#10022 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Elijah (Eliyahu), from the Hebrew for 'the Lord is my God'; also read as an E▶Hyman#10028 in the U.S.A Jewish given name, an anglicization of the Hebrew Chaim (Hayyim), 'life.' It was common among▶Dovber#10136 in the U.S.A traditional Jewish compound of Dov ('a bear', Hebrew) and Ber ('a bear', Yiddish) — 'a bear' ▶Hershal#10447 in the U.S.Hershal is a respelling of Herschel or Hershel, an Ashkenazi Jewish name from the Yiddish hirsh▶Mordchai#10530 in the U.S.A Yiddish/Ashkenazi form of Mordecai, a biblical name (the hero of the Book of Esther) traditio▶Naftula#10549 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Naphtali, from the Hebrew Naftali, 'my struggle; wrestling' — a son of Jacob ▶Nussen#10554 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Nathan (Nosson/Nussen), from the Hebrew Natan, 'he gave; gift'. A traditional▶Shloima#10714 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Solomon (Shlomo), from the Hebrew shalom, 'peace.' Warm and traditional in As▶Shmeil#10715 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Samuel (Shmuel), from the Hebrew for 'God has heard; name of God.' Warm and t▶Yiddy#10847 in the U.S.Yiddy is an affectionate diminutive used in Yiddish-speaking (often Hasidic) communities, typic▶Yonason#10850 in the U.S.Yonason is an Ashkenazi/Yiddish pronunciation-spelling of Jonathan, from Hebrew Yonatan, 'God h▶Bentzy#10990 in the U.S.A warm Yiddish diminutive of Ben-Zion, from the Hebrew for 'son of Zion' - a name cherished in ▶Avrahom#11045 in the U.S.A Yiddish/Hebrew form of Abraham, from the Hebrew Avraham, 'father of a multitude; father of ma▶Mandel#11746 in the U.S.Mandel is a German and Yiddish surname meaning 'almond,' used as an occupational or nickname na▶Schneur#12075 in the U.S.Schneur is a spelling of the Yiddish/Hebrew name Shneur, traditionally understood as 'two light▶Shabsi#12084 in the U.S.Shabsi is a Yiddish affectionate form of Shabbetai (Shabsai), from the Hebrew Shabbat, 'Sabbath▶Shimmy#12093 in the U.S.Shimmy reads as a Yiddish affectionate pet form of Shimon (Simon, 'he has heard') or Simcha ('j▶Shlomie#12096 in the U.S.Shlomie is a Yiddish affectionate form of Shlomo (Solomon), from the Hebrew shalom, 'peace' — s▶Yidel#12254 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form of Yehuda (Judah), from the Hebrew Yehudah, 'praised' or 'thanksgiv▶Yankel#12261 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form of Yaakov (Jacob), from Hebrew Yaakov, 'holder of the heel; supplan▶Aizik#12370 in the U.S.Aizik is a spelling of Isaac, from Hebrew Yitzhak, 'he will laugh' — the biblical patriarch, so▶Benyomin#12536 in the U.S.Benyomin is a Yiddish and traditional Hebrew form of Benjamin, from the Hebrew for 'son of the ▶Chaskel#12618 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Ezekiel (Yechezkel), from the Hebrew Yeḥezqel, 'God will strengthen'. Long us▶Chezky#12627 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form of Yechezkel (Ezekiel), from Hebrew Yeḥezqel, 'God will strengthen'▶Chezkel#12628 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Ezekiel (Hebrew Yechezkel), 'God strengthens' — the name of the biblical prop▶Doniel#12754 in the U.S.Doniel is a Yiddish-influenced form of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel, 'God is my judge.' It is u▶Mordcha#13692 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Mordecai (Mordechai), the hero of the biblical Book of Esther; the name trace▶Motti#13697 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form of Mordecai (Mordechai), hero of the biblical Book of Esther. Warm ▶Nissen#13762 in the U.S.A Yiddish name derived from Nissan, the Hebrew month of spring (when Passover falls), tied to a▶Sandler#13838 in the U.S.From the surname Sandler, an occupational name traced to Yiddish and German sandler, 'sandal-ma▶Shaine#13869 in the U.S.Shaine has two routes. In Yiddish, shayn means 'beautiful; lovely' (from German schon), and Sha▶Shlomy#13880 in the U.S.A Hebrew and Yiddish pet form of Shlomo — the Hebrew name behind Solomon — from shalom, 'peace'▶Shragi#13882 in the U.S.A Yiddish pet form of Shraga, from the Aramaic word for 'candle; lamp; light'. Shraga is tradit▶Shulim#13888 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of the Hebrew name Shalom, 'peace'. Shulim (also Sholom, Shulem) is used in Ashk▶Volvi#13944 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form (in the family of Velvel, 'wolf') and a modern coinage; no single s▶Toivy#14004 in the U.S.Toivy has two plausible routes. It may be a pet form of Finnish Toivo, 'hope.' It may equally b▶Yekusiel#14152 in the U.S.The Ashkenazi Yiddish pronunciation of the Hebrew name Yekutiel, a name in the book of Chronicl▶Yitzy#14157 in the U.S.A warm diminutive of Yitzchak, the Hebrew name of the biblical Isaac, meaning 'he will laugh'. ▶Zanvil#14200 in the U.S.A Yiddish form of Samuel (Hebrew Shmuel), usually read as 'God has heard' or 'name of God'. Zan▶CaplanA Jewish (Ashkenazi) surname, a form of 'Kaplan' — from the word for 'chaplain, priest' (via Yi▶ShmayeA Yiddish and Aramaic form of Shmaya, 'God has heard' — a reverent traditional name carried in ▶ShragyA Yiddish familiar form of Shraga, from the Aramaic for 'light; candle; lamp' — a name of warmt▶YeidelA Yiddish diminutive of Yehuda — Judah in English — from a Hebrew root meaning 'to praise; to g▶
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Frequently Asked
What are common Yiddish boy names?
Dovid, Mendel, Avrohom and Shaya are among the most frequently given. They remain very much in active use in Orthodox and Hasidic communities across the United States.