Yitro

יִתְרוֹ

• Gender: Male
• Origin: Biblical / Rabbinic Hebrew
• Meaning: abundance

• Yitro — known in English as Jethro — was the Midianite priest who became Moses's father-in-law and one of his most trusted advisors. When he saw Moses judging the people from morning to night, he stepped in with the practical wisdom to create a system of delegation that still influences leadership thinking today. The Torah even names an entire weekly portion after him, a remarkable honor for someone who came to the Jewish story from the outside.

  There is a reason this name is having a quiet moment among parents who love the sound of Arlo or Milo but want deep Jewish roots to match. The fact that Yitro was technically not born Jewish — he was a convert who saw truth and chose it — gives the name a beautifully inclusive spirit. It is a wonderful pick for interfaith families or anyone who values wisdom earned through open-mindedness.

• English Equivalent:
  Jethro
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Batsheva
  ,
  Gvira
  ,
  Chovav
  ,
  Reuel