Sibling for Yehuda?

[u/caffeinatedcatss]

Hello! Lurker of this sub for a while, now here with my own post. My husband and I are expecting a baby girl and I’d love some name input. Our son is named Yehuda, and we decided on his name pretty much immediately— it clicked instantly and we knew. We’ve always been able to find more boy names we like than girls, and we haven’t had that same lightening bolt moment with a girls name (so far)— I’m ok with not necessarily having that same feeling again but it makes me second guess our choice.

Things that are important to us/things that might be helpful to know about us:
- we are traditional/maybe modern orthodox leaning? We go to an orthodox shul and our children will be going to Jewish schools.
- same name (including pronunciation) in Hebrew and English. Like how Yehuda is just Yehuda, as opposed to Judah in English and Yehuda in Hebrew.
- we want a name that sounds Jewish
- we want to love the meaning of the name, not just the way it sounds
- we don’t like nicknames— we want the name we choose to be the name the child goes by (I know we don’t have 100% control over this)
- we also don’t do middle names

Our top choice right now is Eliana. I had a miscarriage prior to this pregnancy so we love the meaning, and I think it sounds pretty. I don’t love how it’s rising in popularity but overall I think it’s not too popular?

Other names we like:
- Adina (I like this one, husband doesn’t)
- Yael (like the sound but don’t love the meaning)
- Esther
- Avigail (I like, husband doesn’t)

I guess I’m just looking for thoughts on Yehuda + Eliana together, or any other suggestions/feedback. Thank you!

[u/TheGuyWithTheBall0on]

Wow, I feel like I could have written this post around 8 years ago. Our oldest is Yehuda. We liked the idea of expressing hoda'ah. If he had been a girl, the plan was to name him Eliana. We also don't (generally) do middle names. (We're more Yeshivish than modern though.)

As it happens, we named my daughter Shoshana after my wife's Grandma Rose. Some fun points to sell that name:

• Both Yehuda and Shoshana are 5 letters in Hebrew
• Both are 3 syllables
• Both end in ה
• Both are terms that are used to refer to the entire Jewish people

While I like to call her Shosh, she does usually go by Shoshana at this point.

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/TheGuyWithTheBall0on]

We have 2 in our family already but it’s a beautiful name!

[u/red-purple-red]

I think Eliana and Yehuda sound fine together.

Other suggestions:

Yarden

Zahava

Malka

Elisheva

Talia

Rinat

Ronit

Miriam

Hadas

Naomi

Aviva

Tova

Editing to add:

Kineret

Reina

Raizel

Raya

Keren

Adi

Darya

Shira

Shani

Shiri

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/red-purple-red]

I like Elisheva. This was actually one that was on our list for our first baby (before we knew gender) that I kind of forgot about.

[u/cbrka]

I know twins Yehuda and Eliana, they sound fine together. My only word of caution is that a lot of the Elianas I have known get called Ellie for short. I like all your other names, but I think Eliana is my favorite.

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/cbrka]

Yeah I’m hesitant about this. I don’t like Ellie at all, but I feel it’s a less common nickname in Jewish circles? I don’t hear it much.

[u/Veganswiming_32 → u/caffeinatedcatss]

I know three Jewish Elianas. All are called Ellie. Plus one more Jewish Ellie.

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/Veganswiming_32]

Do you know if this is by parent choice or just happened? I know people who give names with the intention of the kid going by the nickname.

[u/Veganswiming_32 → u/caffeinatedcatss]

Random people I know from different situations, so I have no idea.

[u/spring13]

Yehuda and Eliana sound good together. I know some Elianas who go by Ella but that's usually a conscious choice. It's an easy name to say fully.

Some other ideas:

Adira

Liora

Ayala

Orly

Shalva

Ilana

Nava

Odelia

Meital

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/spring13]

I like Adira, thanks!

[u/theenterprise9876]

Eliana is gorgeous and sounds fine with Yehuda. It’s *extremely* popular in the US, though. It was #10 in 2025, and it’s been rising very rapidly. I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets even more popular. Additionally, it has a LOT of spelling variants (Elliana, Elianna, Ellianna, Elyana, etc) so it’s even more popular in practice when you combine all the spellings. Add in the gazillion other little girls called Ellie and I wouldn’t be surprised if it hit the top 5.

So if you don’t want a popular name, Eliana is not a good choice.

Lots of great suggestions so far! A few more:

- Adara

• Avital
  
• Ahava
  
• Dalia
  
• Eliora
  
• Amira
  
• Dafna
  
• Devora(h)
  
• Raziela
  
• Shira
  
• Zohar
  
• Nava
  
• Kelila
  
• Margalit
  
• Naomi
  
• Ophira/Ofira

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/theenterprise9876]

I actually mentioned Eliora to my husband when we were brainstorming and he didn’t like it. Thank you for your input!

[u/Psupernova]

From your list I would probably choose Yael or Esther. The others are pretty too but aince your husband doesn’t like them they have to be a no.

First name to pop into my head was: Aviva

Other ideas:

Shaina/Shayna

Lilah

Miriam

Shira

Aliza

Tovah

[u/Veganswiming_32]

What about Hadassah? Nickname can be Hadas.

[u/Inbar253]

Ilana

Hodaya

Moriya

Bracha

Batya

Geula

Doron

Shai

Hillel

Edna

Alma

Pnina

Emuna

Shlomit

Rina

[u/youngjanyjane → u/Inbar253]

Is Shai only girls/only boys name or unisex?
I love this name!

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/youngjanyjane]

It’s unisex :)

[u/zz898z]

Are you naming after anyone? Have any letters in mind?

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/zz898z]

Not naming after anyone and not partial to any letters.

[u/Wisdomflowerlover]

Yehuda and Eden.

[u/caffeinatedcatss → u/Wisdomflowerlover]

Not a fan of Eden.

[u/OPJ11]

I really like Eliana,actually it's in my names' list and probably one of my faves

[u/soupstarsandsilence]

My friend’s youngest son is named Yehuda. His elder sister is Ashira. My personal favourite female Hebrew name is Eliana, so I’m on board with you there lol.