Hebrew Names For Boys

Yochanan means "God is gracious." Yochanan appears in the Bible as the son of a Jewish king (2-Kings 25:23), and as an army officer (Jeremiah 40:13). Yochanan was also the High Priest during the Chanukah story, who led the Maccabees in rededicating the Holy Temple.

Yishayahu means "God is salvation." Yishayahu was a prophet during the First Temple era in Jerusalem (8th century BCE), as documented in the biblical Book of Isaiah. (variation: Isaiah, Yeshaya)

Yissachar means "there is a reward." Yissachar appears in the Bible as one of the 12 tribes, the son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 30:18). (variation: Issachar)

Yisrael means "wrestled with God." Yisrael appears in the Bible as the new name given to Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes (Genesis 32:28). (variation: Yisroel, Israel)

Yirmiyahu means "God will uplift." Yirmiyahu was a prophet who warned about the destruction of Jerusalem, as documented in the biblical Book of Jeremiah. (variation: Yirmiya, Jeremy)

Yitzhak means "he will laugh" (Genesis 21:6). Yitzhak appears in the Bible as the second of the three Patriarchs, who was bound on the altar at Mount Moriah (Genesis ch. 22). In kabbalah, the name Yitzhak indicates the ability to transcend and control the physical world. (variation: Yitzchak, Itzik, Itzhak, Isaac)

Yerachmiel means "God will have mercy." Yerachmiel appears in the Bible as the son of a Jewish king (Jeremiah 36:26).

Yigal means "he will redeem." Yigal appears in the Bible as one of the 12 spies sent to scout out the Land of Israel (Numbers 13:7).

Yehuda means "God will be praised." The English word, Jew, is derived from Yehuda (Judah). Yehuda appears in the Bible as one of the 12 tribes, who is blessed with the role of kingship (Genesis 29:35). The royal line of King David, Solomon and the Messiah all descend from Yehuda. The name Yehuda also appears as a leader in the Chanukah story -- Judah the Maccabee.

Yehoshua means "God is salvation." Yehoshua appears in the Bible as Moses' prime disciple, and leader of the Jewish people after Moses' death (Deuteronomy ch. 31). Joshua conquered the Land of Israel from the Canaanites, as documented in the biblical Book of Joshua.

Yedidya means "beloved of God." Yedidya appears in the Bible as the name that God chose to call King Solomon (2-Samuel 12:25). (variation: Yedidia)

Yechiel means "may God live." Yechiel appears in the Bible as a Jewish leader during the Babylonian exile (Ezra 8:9).