We love biblical names. They are classic names, romantic, respectable, rich in history and resonating with meaning. But what meaning, exactly? What do biblical names signify, besides the character traits of the biblical personalities who first used them?

The Kabbalists, of blessed memory, the Sages of Truth, taught that all the supernal worlds were created by combinations of the holy letters. And in this [lower] world, every created thing is kept alive by virtue of its name ... " - Pardes Rimonim, Sha'ar Ha-Ottiot, Chapter 2

"Every entity in the universe draws its vitality from a spiritual root. The channels through which this life force flows to one's soul are the letters of his name." - author of the Arvei Nachal

This web page was created to give readers a glimpse into the way that gematria can reveal deep inner meanings of words, and specifically to provide insights into names as an aid to choosing a name for your child. With the kind permission of renowned gematria scholar Matitiyahu Glazerson of Jerusalem, we have excerpted portions from his book What's In a Name.

If you like what you find here and want learn more, you can order the book "What's In a Name" from this website at a special internet price of only $18.95 and get FREE shipping (in the USA and Canada. International shipping rates will apply to orders outside North America.) I highly recommend Glazerson's books to anyone wishing to learn more about gematria and how it can literally unlock the secrets of our world.

If you are looking for the most complete dictionary of Hebrew names, with very accurate, concise definitions, you cannot do better than Alfred Kolatch's Complete Dictionary of English and Hebrew First Names.

And if you are looking for modest maternity fashions, you will find a great selection at the Biblical Garden Maternity Collection.

What is Gematria?

Briefly, the use of the numerical equivalents of Hebrew letters to gain deeper understanding of words and phrases by means of numerical comparisons. The commentary Midrash Tannaim states that the numerical values of the Hebrew letters were given to Israel on Mount Sinai. The fixed numerical values of the letters may be added together to give the gematria of any Hebrew word. This is known as "primary gematria."

Other methods of calculating gematria include reduced gematria which is basic to the teaching Tikkunei Zohar (one of the basic works of Kabbalah), full gematria, interchangeable letters, Atbash transformation, Albam transformation and Ayak-Bachar transformation. All are outlined in the beginning of each of Matityahu Glazerson's books.

Following are some popular biblical names (all taken from the 50 most popular baby names in America) and their symbolic meanings as understood through gematria:

Jacob - in Hebrew "Yaakov" spelled yud-ayin-kuf-bet Yaakov is called so because he was born holding the heel of Esav. Thus the root of Yaakov is ekev which means "heel" (in Hebrew.) Since the heel is the lowest point on the body it symbolizes humility and submission; Yaakov was submissive to the will of G-d.

In gematria Yaakov equals 182, which is 7 times the name of G-d (yud-heh-vav-heh):

yud-heh-vav-heh: 10+5+6+5 = 26
yud-ayin-kuf-bet: 10+70+10+2 = 182

The number seven represents harmony and completeness. Seven notes make a complete musical scale; seven days, a complete week. Thus Yaakov represents the complete and harmonious expression of G-d's name.

Read more about the kabbalistic meanings and correspondence of the name Yaakov to Harmony, Kindness and Joy by ordering a copy of What's In a Name at the special internet price of $18.95 and get FREE shipping (in the USA and Canada).

Michael - in Hebrew "Michael" spelled mem-yud-chaf-aleph-lamed Michael is connected with the element of water. The name contains the letters of mem-yud-aleph, maya, which is Aramaic for water. (Aramaic and Hebrew are closely related.) According to the Kabbalah, Michael is the archangel in charge of the element of water.

Water represents humility, lovingkindness, a giving personality. Michael's trait of humility is shown in the letters mem-chaf (mach) in his name, meaning "low." The name is actually a phrase - Mi Cha-El: "Who is like G-d?" - which indicates humble reverence towards the divine.

Joseph - in Hebrew "Yosef" spelled yud-vav-samech-fay The name Yosef is related to two Hebrew roots: yasaf (yud-samech-fay), which means "to add;" and asaf (aleph-samech-fay) meaning "to gather." Yosef is characterized by a desire to constantly add knowledge and wisdom. Moreover he has the power of gathering together. These two aspects of his character were revealed in Egypt where he constantly added to his spiritual stature and gathered the tribes of Israel together. He also gathered all the food of Egypt into the storehouses in order to feed the entire world.

Yosef in gematria is 156, which is six times the name of G-d:

yud-heh-vav-heh: 10+5+6+5 = 26
yud-vav-samech-fay: 10+6+60+80 = 156

Six is the numerical value of the Hebrew letter vav, which indicates addition. The letter vav at the beginning of a word usually is translated as "and." In grammar vav is called the letter of connection (chibur), since it joins words and thoughts together. The shape of this letter depicts a hook, which connects (in fact the word for "hook" in Hebrew is vav.)

Daniel/Daniella - in Hebrew "Daniel" spelled daled-nun-yud-aleph-lamed The name Daniel (meaning "G-d is my Judge") alludes to the harmonious combination of two opposite divine powers: Din (Strict Judgement) and Chesed (Kindness). The first three letters of Daniel can be arranged to spell daled-yud-nun, Din. The final two letters spell Aleph-lamed (E-l), a name of G-d that represents His Chesed.

The gematria of Daniel is 95, equal to the gematria of hamelech, the king, and yafeh, handsome.

daled-nun-yud-aleph-lamed 4+50+10+1+30 = 95
heh-mem-lamed-chaf 5+40+30+20 = 95
yud-fey-heh 10+80+5 = 95

These traits fit the Biblical Daniel, who, due to his royal ancestry, wisdom and physical beauty was chosen to become the adviser of the Babylonian King Nevuchadnezzar (see Daniel 1:3-4).

Gabriel/Gabriella - in Hebrew "Gavriel" spelled gimmel-bet-resh-yud-aleph-lamed This is the name of one of the four major archangels (Gavriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel). According to Kabbalah, Gavriel is connected with the element of fire, and with dreams.

The name Gavriel comes from the root gimmel-bet-resh (gavar), which means to be strong, to overcome; and also denotes masculinity. This is also the root of "strength." The name means "G-d gave me strength."

The gematria of Gavriel is 246, which equals that of tzelem Elokim - "the image of G-d." It is also the gematria of nitzutz, meaning "spark" of fire.

gimmel-bet-resh-yud-aleph-lamed 3+2+200+10+1+30 = 246
tzaddi+lamed+mem+aleph+lamed+heh+yud+mem 90+30+40+1+30+5+10+40 = 246
nun+yud+tzaddi+vav+tzaddi 50+10+90+6+90 = 246

If you'd like to learn more about the gematria of the name Gavriel and its relationship to the stars, the planet Mercury, and tremendous creative or destructive potential, order a copy of What's In a Name at the special internet price of $18.95 and get FREE shipping in the USA and Canada.

Sarah - in Hebrew "Sarah" spelled sin-resh heh Sarah is the feminine form of the word sar (sin-resh), which means a prince or royal minister. (Note the similarity to the English "Sir.") Thus the name is connected with the attribute of Din (Judgement), which stands for strength, firmness, control.

The gematria of Sarah is 505.

Sin-resh-heh 300+200+5 = 505

The gematria 505 can be analyzed as (10 x 50)+ 5. The number 50 represents Binah (Understanding), while 5 represents Malchut (Kingdom); for 5 is the numerical value of the letter heh, the final letter in the name of G-d (yud-heh-vav-heh) representing the establishment of his kingdom on earth. Since these numbers are multiplied by ten, this indicates the perfection of these qualities.

Rachel - in Hebrew Rachel spelled resh-chet-lamed The name Rachel means "a sheep." The gematria of this name is 238; its "small gematria," reduced once, is 13, and reduced twice is 4:

resh-chet-lamed 200+8+30 = 238
2+3+8 = 13
1+3 = 4

The number 13 indicates love and unity, as is seen from the gematria of ahavah (love) and echad (one).

Aleph-heh-bet-heh: 1+5+2+5 = 13
Aleph-chet-daled 1+8+4 = 13

The sincerity and wisdom of Rachel is shown by the letters of her name: resh-chaim-lamed. The letter resh stands for the "head" (rosh in Hebrew), the seat of thought and wisdom. The final letter, lamed, stands for the heart (lev in Hebrew). The central letter of her name, chet, stands for "life" (chaim in Hebrew) and "vitality" (chiut in Hebrew.)

If you'd like to learn more about the gematria of the name Rachel and its relationship to royalty, order a copy of What's In a Name at the special internet price of $18.95 and get FREE shipping (in the USA and Canada).

Rebecca - Rivkah in Hebrew spelled resh-bet-kuf-heh The name Rivkah comes from the root resh-bet-kuf, which denotes binding or connecting. The letters of Rivkah can be rearranged to spell boker, "morning" in Hebrew. This indicates Rivkah's quality of Kindness (Chesed), a quality that is associated with light and with the beginning of the day.

The gematria of Rivkah is equal to that of the word ishah (wife in Hebrew) with the kollel (the addition of the number 1 to a gematria for purposes of comparative analysis). This teaches that Rivkah's traits are those of the wife who completes her husband.

Resh-bet-kuf-heh 200+2+100+5 = 307
Aleph-shin-heh 1+300+5 = 306, plus 1 (for the kollel) = 307