Adina

Tova

Hebrew · “From the Hebrew "Tovah" meaning good or goodness — the feminine form of "Tov" (good), the very word used in Genesis when God sees each day of creation and declares it "good". The name carries a deep simplicity and the oldest affirmation in the Hebrew tradition: the goodness of created existence.”

Naomi

Biblical Hebrew · “From the Hebrew "Na'omi" meaning pleasantness, sweetness, or delight, derived from the root "n-ʿ-m" meaning pleasant, agreeable. In the Hebrew Bible, Naomi is the mother-in-law of Ruth, whose story of bitter loss (she asks to be called "Mara" meaning bitter after her husband and sons die) and ultimate restoration through Ruth's loyalty is one of scripture's most moving portraits of grief and redemption.”

Hannah

Biblical Hebrew · “From the Hebrew "Ḥannāh" meaning grace, favour, or God's gracious gift, derived from the root "ḥ-n-n" meaning to be gracious. In the Hebrew Bible, Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel, whose moving prayer in the Temple (1 Samuel 1-2) after years of barrenness became a model of faithful, earnest prayer in Jewish and Christian tradition.”

Eden

Amharic · “In Amharic and Ethiopian usage, Eden is a feminine name meaning "pleasure", "delight", or "paradise" — the Amharic pronunciation of the Hebrew "Eden" referring to the Garden of Eden. In Ethiopia it carries a specifically Christian resonance, evoking the paradise lost and the paradise promised.”

Beaulah

“A variant spelling of Beulah, from the Hebrew בְּעוּלָה (be'ulah), meaning "married woman" or "married land," from the root ba'al, "to marry" or "to possess." In the Book of Isaiah (62:4), Beulah is used as a symbolic name for the redeemed land of Israel. It was adopted as a given name in English-speaking Puritan communities during the 17th and 18th centuries.”

Sally

“A pet form of Sarah, from the Hebrew Sarah, meaning "princess" or "noblewoman" — from the root sar, "prince" or "ruler." Sally developed from Sal as a diminutive through the English habit of changing initial S to S and adding -ally (as in Molly from Mary, Polly from Mary). The name was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries and peaked in the mid-20th century, carrying an irrepressible, approachable cheerfulness.”

Jairo

“Jairo is the Spanish form of Jair, from the Hebrew "Yair" meaning "he enlightens" or "he shines". In the Hebrew Bible, Jair was a judge of Israel. In the New Testament, Jairus is the synagogue ruler whose daughter Jesus raises from the dead (Mark 5:22). The name is widely used in Latin America and among Spanish-speaking communities, where it has been popular since the mid-20th century.”

Susan

“An English form of Susanna, from the Hebrew Shoshannah, meaning "lily" or "rose" (the exact flower depends on interpretation of the underlying root shwshan). Susanna appears in the Old Testament Apocrypha as the heroine who is falsely accused and vindicated through Daniel's wisdom. The name has been in English use since the 16th century and peaked in extraordinary popularity in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States and United Kingdom.”

John

“From the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious," via the Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. It is one of the most widely used masculine names in Western history, borne by two major figures in the New Testament — John the Baptist and John the Apostle — which drove its adoption across Christian Europe throughout the medieval period.”

Yael

“A second entry representing Yael as a contemporary Israeli feminine name (distinct from the Biblical entry) — from the Hebrew "Ya'el" meaning mountain goat or ibex, with its connotations of sure-footedness, agility, and the wild strength of highland creatures. Yael is one of the most popular feminine names in modern Israel, combining biblical depth with a contemporary feel.”