Gefen

גֶּפֶן

• Gender: Unisex
• Origin: Modern Hebrew
• Meaning: grapevine

• Gefen means "grapevine" in Hebrew, tying it directly to one of the Seven Species that the Torah describes as the bounty of the land of Israel. The vine holds a sacred place in Jewish life, appearing every Friday night in the Kiddush blessing over wine that ushers in Shabbat. It is a name that manages to be both a lush nature image and a link to one of Judaism's most cherished weekly rituals.

  Close your eyes and the sound alone feels like golden hour in a vineyard. It is gender-neutral in the best modern tradition while being deeply anchored in Jewish ritual and the land of Israel. Aviv Gefen, one of Israel's biggest pop-rock icons, put this name on the cultural map for an entire generation. As nature names continue to dominate nursery walls and birth announcements, Gefen stands out as one that comes with a built-in Shabbat blessing.

• Alternate Spellings: Geffen
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Tamar
  ,
  Aviva
  ,
  Idan
  ,
  Ziv
• Theme: nature