Tanya

תַּנְיָא

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Jew-ish
• Meaning: it was taught

• Tanya leads a fascinating double life. Most people know it as a Russian name — a diminutive of Tatiana — but in Jewish tradition, it is the title of the foundational text of Chabad Hasidic philosophy, written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. The word itself means "it was taught" in Aramaic, referring to the opening word of a Talmudic passage.

  A name that works seamlessly across cultures while holding a secret layer of Jewish significance deserves a top spot on any list. It sounds warm and contemporary, completely at ease in any setting. Fans of the Israeli television series "Srugim" will remember Rebbetzin Tanya, one of the show's most compelling characters — proof that this name carries real depth beneath its approachable surface.

• Alternate Spellings: Tania, Tanja
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Ruth
  ,
  Mara
  ,
  Jeremy
  ,
  Asa