Names in Hebrew?

[MooMe]

What do you think of these names in Hebrew-

Geffen (means vine)
Kinneret (means Sea of Galilee)

I love the sound of both of them... Just not sure if they're not a bit "harsh on the tongue" in English...

[ComtesseDeSpair]

Hmm. I do agree they both sound a bit harsh. I've only known Geffen as a surname. Kinneret: I quite like the older version 'Chinnereth' (found in Numbers 34:11 and Joshua 13:27) What about Tiberias?! Or is the Hebrew more important to you than the actual place?

Are you Jewish/Israeli? Are enough of your friends and family going to recognise the names and appreciate the origins?

[vitaminC]

I'm assuming you're planning on using Geffen for a boy and Kinneret for a girl?

Kinneret is very pretty, and I've heard it used a few times as a name in recent years in Israel. Besides being the local name for the sea of Galilee, it is also a musical instrument (a harp, I think?)

I haven't come across many Geffens, but the ones I've heard of were all female. It's definitely one of those unisex names that's moving markedly to the feminine side! It's not horrible, but Kinneret is prettier to my ears

I also think English speakers will automatically think of David Geffen!

[Stevie77]

For boy or girl? I'm Israeli and wanted a name that works both in English and Hebrew. Will be happy to share our list of names if you like.

[banterbus]

sorry to hijack thread but I would like to see Stevie's list!

[MooMe]

Thanks all for your input. it's for a girl. and I'm Jewish
Re family etc- they'll manage don't want to share it with them as of yet.
In my ears both sound so lovely and soft, but maybe it's just me... So wanted to know what other people think.

Stevie77- would love to see your list too :) we have a list, all names in Hebrew, but we simply can't agree on any of them!! (some were added by me, some by my DH). The only one we both agree on is Kinneret, but I'm not overly keen (much prefer Geffen tbh).

Other names on our list:
Ayala
Dafna
Talia (or Thalia?)
Daniella
Ori
carmel
Ofri
Yuli

[sweetkitty]

I'm biased towards Talia as I have one love love love it.

We went with the Talia spelling as felt it was the easiest and Thalia would get mispronounced as TH-lee-ah as opposed to Tah-lee-ah.

It means Dew from Heaven

[Stevie77]

Sorry, long meeting with lots of mansplaining!

Our list, for girls was:
Mia
Maya
Eleanor (love it in English but can be dodgy in terms of Israeli reputation)
Leah
Carmel
Lilly
Alma (one of my new faves, now too similar to DD1's name)
Ella

The main issue is the emphasis English speakers put on words vs. emphasis in Hebrew. So a name like Ayala would be pronounced A-yalla which kind of ruins it a little. So it was, still is, important to me to find a name that works well. Not an easy thing to do!

MooMe, of your list I love Talia, Ori and Carmel. Yuli is lovely in Hebrew but may be a bit left field in the UK. Unless, of course, you want a really unusual name.

[Kungfutea]

I've never heard Geffen as a first name, only a last name so I'm not sure.

I know two Kinnerets. One an American reform rabbi in Israel and one an Israeli-born girl in England. I think it's beautiful and softer in English than with a Hebrew accent because the 'r' is softer in English.

If you want harshness, my Israeli husband suggested Tchelet as a name for our dd. That was quickly vetoed!!

What about
Shiloh (one of my faves, ruined by Brangelina!)
Neta
Nofar
Ilana/Ilanit
Moriah
Hadas
Maayan
Yuval
Noa
Shir-Li
Adi (I like this one)

[MooMe]

KungFuTea- lol that's REALLY harsh!
thanks both for your lists and again everyone for your input.
vitaminC- is that a bad thing? :)

[HolofernesesHead]

Talia is a beautiful name. Aviva, to me = buses (sorry!)

[HolofernesesHead]

LOL! Just realised that the bus company is Arriva. What is Aviva; insurance?

[Kungfutea]

Got to say that I also love Talia. I love the ring of it. I wanted it for my dd but my dh said it's old fashioned in Israel, grrrr. I didn't care!

I'd go with Aviv rather than Aviva. It's used for boys and girls these days.

[TheDevilsGherkins]

Cherith

(Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."

[vitaminC]

Not at all, but it does mean that people will assume it's a male name!

[Stevie77]

Remembered one more, how about Tamara?

[Turquoiseblue]

Eli
Sadie

[MummyBurrows]

I like Talia and Carmel best off ur list :) Tamara and Maya as Stevie suggested are also lovely xx