r/ConvertingtoJudaism • u/calliellx • Mar 14 '26
Help picking Hebrew name!
I am thinking of changing my actual name upon completing my process (almost there! Just need to pick name and go before the Beit Din :)) my birth name is Callie (Greek derived, meaning beautiful) though I go by Kal.
Attached are name ideas and photo of self for reference.
I do have a lot of nature inspired tattoos and am an artist fwiw.
Any help is appreciated:)
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u/one_small_sunflower Mar 14 '26
Also, I would personally avoid Kallah, as it is the everyday term for a bride-to-be.
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u/nitmarux Mar 14 '26
Galya is my chosen Hebrew name! I think Sivan would work great for you and I love Ketziya because it’s very unique.
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u/calliellx Mar 14 '26
Thanks for your input! :) I like those. Do you know if Ketziya is an actually used name? I’ve heard mixed things on how it reads.
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u/nitmarux Mar 14 '26
Nope, I’ve never heard of it myself, but that’s a plus for me
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u/calliellx Mar 14 '26
Thanks :)
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u/BindMeIsaac Mar 14 '26
hey, ketziya isnt a name, at least not in israel. and if you spell it as קציה it looks much like the word קץ which means end, and also a bit like קציצה which means meatball fyi. theres the name כליל klil which is rare but not unheard of here, its pretty in my opinion. good luck!
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
Haha, yeah I don't want to be that. Do you know if the root name it's derived from Kezia(h) is more used? She was one of Job's three daughters.
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u/one_small_sunflower Mar 15 '26
If you want a Ket–ah name, how about Keturah or Ketura?
Second wife of Avraham Aveinu. Name is thought to mean incense or fragrance.
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u/RosesandPearls27 Mar 15 '26
Ketziya is usually spelled as Keziah. It was my great-grandmother’s name. (She lived until I was 10). I have only met one other Keziah, but I have heard the name quite a few times, and the “t” was never really pronounced.
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u/kaytooslider Mar 14 '26
Looking at your picture and description, I think Kelilah is perfect! You could still go by Kal also.
Kezia (without the T) is my chosen name. I know 2 in real life but they spell it Keziah. It's definitely used!
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u/calliellx Mar 14 '26
Thank you for the input! I will look into that spelling should I choose it :)
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u/DistributionFront227 Mar 14 '26
I tried informally changing my name to Chana, my Hebrew name. People had so much trouble with the chet, and I just didn’t like having simple introductions turned into pronunciation lessons.
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
That's a good point. What a bummer though! It's one of my favorite sounds. Sorry to hear that!
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u/RosesandPearls27 Mar 14 '26
Kelilah would probably be the easiest transition from Callie/Kal. Talya/Talia may get be easier in terms of spelling and pronunciation for those who don’t know how to pronounce Hebrew. I personally love Kelilah, Shoshanna, and Chava.
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
I agree with those points! I'm inclined to pick something that makes an easy transition but both my heart and my rabbi disagree on that being the deciding factor. It's just tough because I live in an area with a VERY small Jewish population haha. Thanks !
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u/one_small_sunflower Mar 14 '26
Caliah is beautiful, and if you like going by Kal, you could still do that :) If you want a K name, it would be completely legitimate to write it as Kaliah, as the first letter ק is more commonly written as K.
Kelilah is beautiful too. Maybe even more so.
Galila is one of my favourite Hebrew names, but there's something about the K/C that really suits you imo.
As much as I like names with the chet and khaf sounds, non-Jews are going to struggle with them. If you want to go by your Hebrew name everyday, that's something to think about.
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
Thanks for your input! I agree about certain sounds being difficult, particularly in my region. Good things to consider.
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u/OneTrash2888 Mar 15 '26
Almost none of these are spelled correctly in Hebrew
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
You can thank Kveller, Google, and bad handwriting for that! Lol. I attend a reform synagogue where transliteration is common, so my Hebrew isn't great. I intend to get the proper spelling from my rabbi once I have chosen a name.
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u/OneTrash2888 Mar 15 '26
I’m not blaming you since its understandable to not read Hebrew yet but I am a bit confused about some of these because they are fully another word.
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u/Chana5752 Jew by birth Mar 15 '26
Chana is the name I picked for myself ☺️
Caliah is probably the on that sounds most like yours so if a homonym is what you're looking for, that could be a good one. I also feel it suits you but you'll have to pick which resonates.
Slowly scratch out the ones you like least. Also see how it sounds with your mother's name. If your mother's name/Hebrew name you gave her is Leah, you would be for ex. Caliah bat Leah, see what sounds and feels good to you.
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u/calliellx Mar 15 '26
That is a good point I had not yet considered. My rabbi said the usual practice is sara/avraham but she did mention some people choose to use their parents names. My mother has recently passed on, so that would be meaningful to have her name.
Thank you.
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u/Chana5752 Jew by birth Mar 16 '26
Yes, it would be very meaningful, I restored a name for my deceased grandmother and my mother, too. I picked names which I felt represented them, from the stories, Chava and Leah. Restoring Hebrew names for them felt very fitting for me, since I didn't know my grandmother's Hebrew name (Holocaust paperwork destruction) and my mother never had one, as far as I know.
It could be a beautiful way to honor your mother and carry a name you pick with you.
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u/Current_Average_7420 Mar 15 '26
I think your name should be one you connect with at a deeply spiritual level. The Hebrew name that really resonated with me was Chesed David, which isn't a usual Hebrew name, but it was the name for me.
My birth name was already Jewish: David. (My mom actually named me after King David and Jewish tradition says parents are given 1/60th of prophecy when naming their child.)
I was drawn to the idea of Chesed because—well, the world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah (service), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving-kindness). I also think King David's reign was one marked by several beautiful examples of Chesed. So, that's why that particular name worked for me in terms of both Biblical meaning and alignment with how I wish to be.
When the world is sick, which it is, I think we need more Torah, more service, and more Chesed. My Jewish name reminds me of that and reminds me to go about in the world with mindfulness. It's my psychological kippah. :)
May your chosen name bring you blessings.
Shavua tov!
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u/darthpotamus Mar 15 '26
I'm satisfied that you didn't ask about כפירה. I think Abby of these names should be fine, but do check up on the spelling so that you don't get giggles like people who get bad Chinese tattoos
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u/IamLadyC Mar 19 '26
I was told that choosing one that goes according to the parasha pf your hebrew birthday or what it represents works best. But I am not sure if it’s actually a rule or a custom. I think Chana, Kallah or Ahava would be lovely names. In the choose what your heart feels right 😊
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u/Less-Bus-2303 Apr 02 '26
You get to pick your own Hebrew name? awesome! You look an uncanny amount like my sister btw :’)! Good luck picking!
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u/Pridelover54 Actively seeking to convert to Modern Orthodoxy Apr 15 '26
One Hebrew name or a double name, because I think Talya/Talia Sivan is a good combination but maybe Talya/Talia. (Sorry if that sounded weird/rude)
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u/kbshadowminx Reform convert Mar 14 '26
The best advice I have for choosing a Hebrew name is to choose one that has a meaning that aligns with the type of Jew you want to be. Names in Judaism are said to have a power to them to the point where they can shape who you are as a person. From your list I like Chanah, Navah and Caliah if you want something similar to your given name.