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Hanukkah Baby Names: Inspired by Festival of Lights

Written by Michelle Bruns Maffei

Are you looking for a Hanukkah baby name to pay tribute to your culture and beliefs? Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights, celebrating the Eternal Light that continued to burn for eight nights. If your bundle of joy makes his or her arrival during these eight special days, give him or her a moniker that symbolizes the holiday!

Child with menorah From names that mean light to names that honor the miracle that happened more than 2,000 years ago, here are a few labels inspired by Hanukkah:

Traditions of Hanukkah

There is rule stating you cannot give the name Hanukkah (meaning dedication) to your pea in the pod, but if you are looking for a name that symbolizes the traditions, check out names that encompass the Festival of Lights. Names such as Menora (meaning candlestick) or Nera (meaning candle) for girls, or Ner (meaning candle or light) for boys may be just the label you are looking for.

Illuminating Baby Names

Looking for names that will shine brighter than the rest? Then look for a Hebrew baby name that makes reference to the light of God. Orel (meaning the light of God) is a name that can light up the Hanukkah night for both girls and boys, while Uriela (also meaning the light of God), a name for girls of the season, can be used as is, or as variations, which are Uriella and Uriyella.

Other Hebrew names that involve light include Abner (meaning Father of Light), Barak (meaning lightening, spark) Eron (meaning peace, enlightened), Melchior (meaning God is my light), Uriah (meaning God is my light), Uriel (meaning God is my light), Yair (meaning He will enlighten), and Zohar (meaning light, brilliance) for boys, and Arin (meaning enlightened), Eleora (meaning the Lord is my light), Eliora (meaning the Lord is my light), Leora (meaning light), Liora (meaning my light), Meora (meaning light, brightness), Neorah (meaning light), Noga (meaning splendor, light), Orli (meaning you are my light), Urit (meaning light), and Yitta (meaning light) for girls.

Miracles Come in Small Packages

There is no disputing that your son or daughter is the great gift you will receive this season. But, boy names like Nissim (meaning miracles) and Pele (meaning miracle, wonder), along with girl name Nesiah (meaning miracle of God) celebrate the vision of the season.

Born Leaders

Honor the family, lead by Matityahu (meaning gift, present, grant from God) and his five sons, that decided to take a stand against the persecution, with names like Shimon (meaning to heart), Yochanan (meaning God’s grace), Elazar (meaning my God is help), or Yonason (meaning God’s gift). Or, in honor of the most famous son who led the Maccabees against the Syrian army, Judah (meaning praised) would be a boy name worthy of a future leader.

Whether you welcome your child on the first night, the eight night, or anywhere in between, giving him or her a name inspired by Hanukkah now can be easier with this list at your fingertips! From Dreidels to gelt to good food, the addition of a new member to the family is a tradition worth celebrating!

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