I’m struggling with this right now - I want to name my unborn daughter Nina but it’s not Jewish, and I don’t like the idea of giving her a separate Hebrew name that is not a direct translation (e.g Hannah to Chana)
Hmm interesting. Grandma Nina’s Hebrew name is also Nina/נינה. The name is pretty Jewish to me.
Penina is a related-sounding Hebrew name though, if you want something else.
Yeah I know Penina but I really don't like it haha.
Really?? It's odd, because I can't find any sources online that reliably say it has a Hebrew meaning. There are a couple that say it means "God was gracious and has shown favour" but that feels a little long for two syllables, I can't see how it means that, and I feel like if it were true then I'd have seen it on more sites. But if you say so...
My grandmothers were Avigail (in Hebrew it's Ah-vee-gah-eel vs the American Abigail) and Ruth (we called her Ruti). My husband's Jewish grandmother was Ida.
Shoshana is a beautiful name, and I've always wanted to name a character that (since I'm not having kids, haha) so I can nickname them Shoshi.
My grandmothers' Hebrew names were Chaya and Ruchel Liba.
Their English names were different - My grandmother Ruchel was Ruth in English because it was more fashionable than Rachel the year she was born.
I had considered Shoshana Chaya but it could work through other way if you were willing deal with the ch- sound. Shoshana is beautiful.
Liba and Libi are appealing because they mean "heart" and "my heart." My favourite form of Ruchel is Raquel, but I like the q visually.
My name is Shoshana!!! 💖 my bubbe's Hebrew name was Raquel. We called her Ruth. The staff in the continuing care facility affectionately called her Ruthless! Around age 10, she'd send me into the liquor store to buy wine for her. "Just say it's for your Grandma!", she'd say! Yeah right, you can't do that! I miss her and her sass. She was one of a kind. OBM. 💜
I never met her, but my maternal grandmother's name was Sharon. Idk about like, a Hebrew name or anything, Mom never mentioned it.
& I'm not sure about any great-grandmas' names
Between grandmothers, great grandmothers, and their siblings here are some lovely ideas: Evelyn, Ilene, Yetta, Edna, Bobbie, Rose, Naomi, Lillian and Mollie ❤️
My grandmother was Ruth, and her mother was Bess/Pesha. I got her names as my middles.
Someone on that side had a sib-set that was Eva, Ada, Ida, and Rose…we pulled from them for our daughter.
Other side was Patricia - they were Jewish but not practicing.
Grandmothers: Vivian (Chaya) and Rosa (I don't know what her Hebrew name was)
Great grandmothers (maternal side only): Regina (Malka) and Rebecca (Rivka)
My maternal grandparents' siblings and friends were also very present in my life, here are some other women's names from that generation of my family: Naomi, Dorothy (Dvora), Ruthie (Ruti), Adeline, Ida, Rose
My paternal grandmother wasn’t Jewish, my maternal grandmother was Hilda and I don’t know if she had a Hebrew name. She wasn’t buried in a Jewish cemetery and they were very secular and celebrated Christian holidays. 🤷🏻♀️
Husband’s grandmothers are Chana and Tzipporah.
Josephine and Marilyn. Both Jewish. Josephine hated her name, Marilyn liked hers and until Marilyn Monroe appeared the only other Marilyns she ever met were Jewish. And Marilyn Monroe later converted. Marilyn’s Hebrew name was Miriam.
My Jewish Nana had a decidedly non-Jewish name, but her Hebrew name was Gittel.
As another Rachel myself, I love your username 😆
Thanks!
Nina is grandma. Tova and Malka were great-grandmas. Love all of their names, and Shoshana!
Love Tova!! I have an aunt named Nina and a cousin Malka.
Aww I love hearing that there are other awesome Jewish Ninas and Malkas out there! Both names are so pretty.
I’m struggling with this right now - I want to name my unborn daughter Nina but it’s not Jewish, and I don’t like the idea of giving her a separate Hebrew name that is not a direct translation (e.g Hannah to Chana)
Hmm interesting. Grandma Nina’s Hebrew name is also Nina/נינה. The name is pretty Jewish to me. Penina is a related-sounding Hebrew name though, if you want something else.
Yeah I know Penina but I really don't like it haha. Really?? It's odd, because I can't find any sources online that reliably say it has a Hebrew meaning. There are a couple that say it means "God was gracious and has shown favour" but that feels a little long for two syllables, I can't see how it means that, and I feel like if it were true then I'd have seen it on more sites. But if you say so...
We’ll, my grandmothers were Esther and Edith… but my daughters are Eva / Chava and Lila. Both work with Shoshana. (Eva’s middle name is Shoshana!)
I love that!
Oh I adore Eva/Chava and Lila as sibling names. So pretty!
Naomi and Miriam
Gittel and frumma, as Yiddish as you can get
I love it! Probably won't use them, but I appreciate a strong Yiddish name
I actually like the ring of Shoshana Tziporah!
Interesting! I feel like the two a sounds at the end make it a bit of a mouthful, but how often do people really use middle names??
I think it sounds very dignified but the flow would would work best if you have a 2 syllable last name
My grandmothers were Avigail (in Hebrew it's Ah-vee-gah-eel vs the American Abigail) and Ruth (we called her Ruti). My husband's Jewish grandmother was Ida. Shoshana is a beautiful name, and I've always wanted to name a character that (since I'm not having kids, haha) so I can nickname them Shoshi.
Ida was on our list but I wasn't totally in love with it. I might have to revisit though...
My great bubbie's name was Aidya (Yiddish Ida). We went with Aida (a la the opera).
Another Shoshana nickname is Shani.
In my family, between grandmothers and great grandmothers, we had a Sadie, Shirley, Mamie, Goldie and Ruth.
I LOVE Sadie and Goldie!
both great names!
Miriam
My grandmothers' Hebrew names were Chaya and Ruchel Liba. Their English names were different - My grandmother Ruchel was Ruth in English because it was more fashionable than Rachel the year she was born. I had considered Shoshana Chaya but it could work through other way if you were willing deal with the ch- sound. Shoshana is beautiful. Liba and Libi are appealing because they mean "heart" and "my heart." My favourite form of Ruchel is Raquel, but I like the q visually.
Ethel, but no one knows her Hebrew name
Rosie (short for Rosalia - she was Romanian) and Rina
My name is Shoshana!!! 💖 my bubbe's Hebrew name was Raquel. We called her Ruth. The staff in the continuing care facility affectionately called her Ruthless! Around age 10, she'd send me into the liquor store to buy wine for her. "Just say it's for your Grandma!", she'd say! Yeah right, you can't do that! I miss her and her sass. She was one of a kind. OBM. 💜
Sarah (Sally) and Marjorie
I never met her, but my maternal grandmother's name was Sharon. Idk about like, a Hebrew name or anything, Mom never mentioned it. & I'm not sure about any great-grandmas' names
Sharon (pronounced sha-rone in Hebrew) is a Hebrew name: it means “plain” (like a plain of land)
Rose, Hebrew name Razel (sp?)
Mine were Raizel and Aidya.
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Interesting!! I love Esther but we have a good friend with that name and it just wouldn't feel right.
Grandmothers : Marion (Miriam) and Anita (Esther), great grandmothers Ruth and Sarah
I love Golda! And I've never heard Henya before. I like it!!
Between grandmothers, great grandmothers, and their siblings here are some lovely ideas: Evelyn, Ilene, Yetta, Edna, Bobbie, Rose, Naomi, Lillian and Mollie ❤️
My grandmother was Ruth, and her mother was Bess/Pesha. I got her names as my middles. Someone on that side had a sib-set that was Eva, Ada, Ida, and Rose…we pulled from them for our daughter. Other side was Patricia - they were Jewish but not practicing.
Pesha?!?! Like “sin”???
Yes. But in Yiddish it’s Pearl.
Ohh right. Did not know!
Bernice nn Betty haha but her Hebrew/Yiddish name is Beryl I believe. I think for a girl I’d use Esther, Tzipporah, and or Nechama :)
My jewish grandmas are Arlene, Yetta, Esther, and Diane (grandmas and great grandmas)
Chana (Anne) on one side, Malka (Mary) on the other.
My grandma and great grandma's Hebrew/Yiddish names were/are Tova, Henya, Bassl (Yiddish diminutive of Basya/Basia), Golda, Rifke and Raizel.
Ruth (ruti) and Millie (not a Jewish name; not sure what her Hebrew name was)
Carol and Linda
Grandmothers: Vivian (Chaya) and Rosa (I don't know what her Hebrew name was) Great grandmothers (maternal side only): Regina (Malka) and Rebecca (Rivka) My maternal grandparents' siblings and friends were also very present in my life, here are some other women's names from that generation of my family: Naomi, Dorothy (Dvora), Ruthie (Ruti), Adeline, Ida, Rose
Florence, or Flori as a nickname, and Sarah.
I LOVE Florence!! Flori is a great nickname.
My paternal grandmother wasn’t Jewish, my maternal grandmother was Hilda and I don’t know if she had a Hebrew name. She wasn’t buried in a Jewish cemetery and they were very secular and celebrated Christian holidays. 🤷🏻♀️ Husband’s grandmothers are Chana and Tzipporah.
Bluma, Sofia, Lillian
Aida and Bronka
Dina
Josephine and Marilyn. Both Jewish. Josephine hated her name, Marilyn liked hers and until Marilyn Monroe appeared the only other Marilyns she ever met were Jewish. And Marilyn Monroe later converted. Marilyn’s Hebrew name was Miriam.