From painting and sculpture to furniture craftsmanship and calligraphy, the visual arts have played an important role in the Jewish community throughout history. Dating back as far as the Temple periods and the medieval era, Jewish artists produced stunning illuminated manuscripts, synagogue interiors and ritual items used in prayer and holiday celebrations and services.
For many years, Jewish visual artists typically produced art that was related to Jewish life, traditions and religious events. Some examples include haggadot for Passover, frescoes and mosaics for synagogues that depicted stories from the Torah. In many cases, Jewish art was highly influenced by both the culture and the legal restrictions of the communities the artists lived in. For instance, in many Muslim countries, the depiction of human figures was forbidden or looked down on. In Christian countries, Jewish communities could not necessarily afford to create elaborately decorated synagogues or even want to draw attention to themselves.
Post-Enlightenment, visual art started to be more frequently produced for its own sake and not necessarily for religious purposes. Jewish painters, set designers and sculptors made a name for themselves internationally in any number of famous art movements including Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism, Cubism and countless others. Jewish artists such as Camille Pissarro, Jacob Epstein, Judy Chicago, Amedeo Modigliani, Anni Albers and Louise Nevelson continue to be regarded as some of the most noteworthy and influential visual artists of the modern era.
If you’re a prospective Jewish parent who feels deeply connected to the visual arts, whether as an artist yourself or someone who has always treasured the way an incredible work of art makes you feel, these names can provide some inspiration for transforming that passion into a gorgeous name for your child.
Girls’ names
Baila: “white” in Yiddish
Charna: “black” in Yiddish
Esphyr: after Esphyr Slobodkina, a pioneer in the American Abstract movement and creator of the iconic children’s book “Caps for Sale”
Florine: after Florine Stettheimer, noted painter and theatrical designer
Golda: “gold” in Yiddish
Lenore: after Lenore “Lee” Krasner, Abstract Expressionist visual artist who ranks among one of the most famous American painters in history
Lilach: “lilac” in Hebrew
Mela: after Mela Muter, one of the first successful female painters in Poland
Paz: “gold” in Hebrew
Raizel: “rose” in Yiddish
Sigal: “violet” in Hebrew
Smeralda: “emerald” in Judeo-Italian
Zahara: after Zahara Schatz, influential Israeli sculptor, painter and designer
Boys’ names
Arrigo: after Arrigo Minerbi, noted Italian-Jewish sculptor and ceramicist
Amir: “treetop” in Hebrew
Benno: after Benno Elkan, famous German-Jewish sculptor and medallist
Bezalel: “shadow of God” in Hebrew, associated with the famous Bezalel Academy for art
Faivish: “shining, bright” in Yiddish
Goni: “tone, shade of color” in Hebrew
Leon: after Leon Bakst, Russian painter and scenic designer famed for the “Ballets Russes” sets
Marc: after Marc Chagall, likely the most well known Jewish painter in history
Maurice: after Maurice Sendak, internationally beloved illustrator
Solomon: after Sol LeWitt, one of the leaders of the American minimalist arts movement
Shraga: after Shraga Weil, Slovak-Israeli painter, mosaicist and printmaker
Gender-neutral names
Almog: “coral” in Hebrew
Arad: “copper brown, bronze” in Hebrew
Bareket: “emerald” in Hebrew
Keshet: “rainbow” in Hebrew
Sapir: “sapphire” in Hebrew
Nof: “view” in Hebrew
