A World of Charm – Female Yiddish Names

Female Yiddish names have a special charm. These names reflect a unique culture and heritage of the Ashkenazi Jewish diaspora.

These names are usually derived from Hebrew or Germanic roots.

These names have beautiful meanings and unique aesthetics. 

If you are searching for a name for your daughter and curious about Yiddish culture, here is a list of names we compiled for you.

Meaningful Melodies:

Many Yiddish girls’ names boast beautiful meanings.  Freyda (joy),Shayna (beautiful), and Rina (joy, singing) celebrate positive qualities.  

Devora (bee) and Tzippora (bird) evoke nature’s wonders.  Golda (golden) and Liba (dear) offer warmth and affection. 

1. Adina (Hebrew) – Gentle, delicate
2. Alte (Yiddish) – Old woman (used as an amulet name for longevity)
3. Bashe (Yiddish) – Lucky
4. Batsheva (Hebrew) – Daughter of the oath
5. Bina (Hebrew) – Understanding, intelligence, wisdom
6. Bluma (Yiddish) – Flower
7. Bracha (Hebrew) – Blessing
8. Chava (Hebrew) – Eve
9. Chaya (Hebrew) – Life
10. Devorah (Hebrew) – Bee
11. Doba (Yiddish) – Bear
12. Dvoire (Yiddish) – Variation of Devorah
13. Eidel (Yiddish) – Noble
14. Eishet (Hebrew) – Woman
15. Elka (Yiddish) – Abbreviation of Elke, meaning “God is my oath”
16. Estelle (Yiddish) – Star
17. Fayga (Yiddish) – Bird
18. Feiga (Yiddish) – Bird
19. Feigele (Yiddish) – Diminutive of Feiga (little bird)
20. Fela (Yiddish) – Lucky
21. Fern (Yiddish) – Faraway
22. Freyda (Yiddish) – Joy
23. Fruma (Yiddish) – Pious
24. Gittel (Yiddish) – Good
25. Golde (Yiddish) – Golden
26. Goldele (Yiddish) – Diminutive of Golde (little golden one)
27. Hadassah (Hebrew) – Myrtle
28. Hanna (Hebrew) – Grace, favor
29. Hava (Yiddish) – Eve
30. Ita (Hebrew) – With God
31. Judah (Hebrew) – Praised
32. Kama (Yiddish) – Few, little
33. Leah (Hebrew) – Weary
34. Liba (Yiddish) – Dear
35. Malka (Hebrew) – Queen
36. Masha (Yiddish) – Gift of God (variation of Mary)
37. Mirel (Yiddish) – Peaceful, calm (variation of Miriam)
38. Miriam (Hebrew) – Bitterness, rebellion (also interpreted as sea of sorrow)
39. Naomi (Hebrew) – Pleasant
40. Neshama (Hebrew) – Soul, breath
41. Nechama (Hebrew) – Comfort
42. Penina (Hebrew) – Pearl
43. Rahel (Hebrew) – Ewe
44. Rebbetzin (Yiddish) – Wife of a rabbi
45. Rena (Yiddish) – Song
46. Rifka (Yiddish) – Variation of Rebecca (meaning: bound)
47. Rina (Hebrew) – Joy, singing
48. Rivka (Hebrew) – Rebecca (meaning: bound)
49. Rochl (Yiddish) – Variation of Rachel
50. Rokhel (Yiddish) – Variation of Rachel
51. Roza (Yiddish) – Rose
52. Sara (Hebrew) – Princess
53. Shayna (Yiddish) – Beautiful
54. Sheina (Yiddish) – Beautiful
55. Shifra (Hebrew) – Beautiful
56. Shira (Hebrew) – Song
57. Simcha (Hebrew) – Joy
58. Sorele (Yiddish) – Variation of Sarah
59. Sura (Yiddish) – From the Hebrew Sarah (meaning: princess)
60. Talia (Hebrew) – Dew
61. Tana (Yiddish) – Given
62. Tillie (Yiddish) – Abbreviation of Matilda
63. Tova (Hebrew) – Good
64. Tzippora (Hebrew) – Bird

Hebrew Roots, Yiddish Twists:

Yiddish names usually borrow from Hebrew, thus adding a unique twist. 

Rivka (Rebecca) becomes Rifka, Sara becomes Sorele, and Lea becomes Leah. 

These variations add a touch of Yiddish character while honouring tradition.

1. Rivka (Rifka) – Hebrew root: Rebecca (bound) – Yiddish twist: replaces “v” with “f”
2. Sara (Sorele) – Hebrew root: Sarah (princess) – Yiddish twist: adds an “-ele” suffix
3. Lea (Leah) – Hebrew root: Leah (weary) – Yiddish twist: shortens the name
4. Rachel (Rokhel) – Hebrew root: Rachel (ewe) – Yiddish twist: replaces “ch” with a guttural “kh”
5. Devorah (Dvoire) – Hebrew root: Deborah (bee) – Yiddish twist: replaces “ah” with “oi”
6. Miriam (Mirel) – Hebrew root: Miriam (bitterness, rebellion) – Yiddish twist: replaces “am” with “el”
7. Chava (Hava) – Hebrew root: Chava (Eve) – Yiddish twist: drops the “ch”
8. Shira (Shira) – Hebrew root: Shira (song) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
9. Bina (Bina) – Hebrew root: Bina (understanding, intelligence) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
10. Penina (Penina) – Hebrew root: Penina (pearl) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
11. Bracha (Bracha) – Hebrew root: Bracha (blessing) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
12. Adina (Adina) – Hebrew root: Adina (gentle, delicate) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
13. Gittel (Gittel) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name
14. Feiga (Feiga) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name
15. Bluma (Bluma) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name
16. Doba (Doba) – Hebrew root: Deborah (bee) – Yiddish twist: shortens and changes “v” to “b”
17. Elka (Elka) – Hebrew root: Elke (God is my oath) – Yiddish twist: shortens the name
18. Estelle (Estelle) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name
19. Fayga (Fayga) – Yiddish variation of Feiga (bird) – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name with a slight spelling difference
20. Fela (Fela) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name
21. Fern (Fern) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: faraway)
22. Fruma (Fruma) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: pious)
23. Gittel (Gittel) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: good)
24. Golde (Golde) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: golden)
25. Hava (Hava) – Hebrew root: Chava (Eve) – Yiddish twist: drops the “ch”
26. Ita (Ita) – Hebrew root: With God – Yiddish twist: shortens the name
27. Kama (Kama) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: few, little)
28. Liba (Liba) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: dear)
29. Malka (Malka) – Hebrew root: Malka (queen) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
30. Masha (Masha) – Yiddish origin (variation of Mary) – Yiddish twist: shortens and changes the “ry” to “sha”
31. Mirel (Mirel) – Hebrew root: Miriam (bitterness, rebellion) – Yiddish twist: replaces “am” with “el”
32. Naomi (Naomi) – Hebrew root: Naomi (pleasant) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
33. Nechama (Nechama) – Hebrew root: Nechama (comfort) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
34. Penina (Penina) – Hebrew root: Penina (pearl) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
35. Rahel (Rokhel) – Hebrew root: Rachel (ewe) – Yiddish twist: replaces “ch” with a guttural “kh”
36. Rifka (Rifka) – Hebrew root: Rebecca (bound) – Yiddish twist: replaces “v” with “f” (already mentioned)
37. Rochl (Rokhel) – Hebrew root: Rachel (ewe) – Yiddish twist: replaces “ch” with a guttural “kh” (already mentioned)
38. Roza (Roza) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: rose)
39. Shayna (Shayna) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: beautiful)
40. Shifra (Shifra) – Hebrew root: Beautiful – Yiddish twist: shortens the name (variation of Sifra)
41. Simcha (Simcha) – Hebrew root: Simcha (joy) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
42. Sorele (Sorele) – Hebrew root: Sarah (princess) – Yiddish twist: adds an “-ele” suffix (already mentioned)
43. Sura (Sura) – Hebrew root: Sarah (princess) – Yiddish twist: shortens the name (variation of Sarah)
44. Talia (Talia) – Hebrew root: Talia (dew) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form (already mentioned)
45. Tana (Tana) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: given)
46. Tillie (Tillie) – Yiddish origin (abbreviation of Matilda) – Yiddish twist: shortens and changes the “ma” to “lie”
47. Tova (Tova) – Hebrew root: Tova (good) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
48. Tzipporah (Tzipporah) – Hebrew root: Tzipporah (bird) – Yiddish twist: keeps the original Hebrew form
49. Waiva (Waiva) – Yiddish origin – Yiddish twist: maintains the Yiddish name (meaning: pure, holy)

Short and Sweet:

Many Yiddish names are short and sweet, perfect for those seeking a simple elegance.  

Bluma (flower), Chava (Eve), and Zelda (happiness) exemplify this style.

1. Bluma (flower)
2. Chava (Eve)
3. Zelda (happiness)
4. Devorah (bee)
5. Doba (bear
6. Elka (God is my oath) (shortened form)
7. Estelle (star)
8. Fayga (bird)
9. Feiga (bird) (variation)
10. Fela (lucky)
11. Fern (faraway)
12. Freyda (joy)
13. Fruma (pious)
14. Gittel (good)
15. Golde (golden)
16. Hava (Eve) (variation)
17. Ita (with God) (shortened form)
18. Kama (few, little)
19. Liba (dear)
20. Malka (queen) (shortened form)
21. Masha (gift of God) (variation of Mary)
22. Mirel (peaceful) (variation of Miriam)
23. Naomi (pleasant)
24. Nechama (comfort)
25. Penina (pearl)
26. Rena (song)
27. Rifka (Rebecca) (shortened form)
28. Rina (joy, singing)
29. Roza (rose)
30. Shayna (beautiful)
31. Shira (song)
32. Simcha (joy
33. Sura (princess) (shortened form)
34. Tana (given)
35. Tillie (Matilda) (shortened form)
36. Tova (good)
37. Tzipporah (bird)
38. Umrah (peace)
39. Waiva (pure, holy)
40. Yona (dove)
41. Baila (mistress, house) (shortened form)
42. Chaya (life)
43. Devorahle (little bee) (diminutive)
44. Henia (grace)
45. Hinda (hind – female deer)
46. Lillian (lily) (Yiddish/English)
47. Reizel (rose) (variation of Roza)
48. Zipporah (bird) (variation)
49. Tzippy (bird) (diminutive of Tzipporah)
50. Chava (Eve) (repeated for emphasis)

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the best Yiddish name is the one that resonates with you and creates a beautiful melody for the life to come. 

So, choose a beautiful and unique name for your daughter. Female Yiddish names are perfect for you.