With all the recent excitement surrounding the Artemis II mission, it’s hard not to be swept up into the wonders, mystery and scientific amazement that surrounds outer space. If you’re expecting, you might be considering an out-of-this-world name for your future little star. If you’re looking for something both space-related and Jewish, you’re in luck.
Jews have made major contributions to the study of space over the years, whether as physicists, astronauts, astronomers or mathematicians. In fact, Jewish involvement in astronomical research dates back to the medieval period in Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. Throughout the Torah and many other Jewish texts, there are concrete references to astronomical phenomena and celestial bodies.
There’s also a rather staggering number of Jewish sci-fi writers and creative artists who have produced, written or acted in books, films and TV shows relating to outer space: Isaac Asimov, Stanley Kubrick, Natalie Portman, Leonard Nimoy, Jane Yolen and Mel Brooks to name just a handful. (Though it must be said, while “Spaceballs” is still a hilariously awesome film, I cannot in good faith recommend naming one’s child Vespa, Dot Matrix or Lone Starr.)
Outer space is a wonderfully rich resource when it comes to finding the perfect name. Read on for galactic inspiration!
Boys’ names
Arno: Arno Penzias was a German-American Jewish physicist and astronomer who helped confirm the Big Bang theory.
Barkai: Barkai means “morning star” in Hebrew, perfect for your future early riser.
Ilan: Choosing this name could be in remembrance of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli Jewish astronaut who was on the fatal 2003 Columbia mission.
Immanuel: Immanuel Bonfils was a French Jewish astronomer and physician who wrote on celestial phenomena like eclipses and astronomical tables.
Karl/Carl: Karl Schwarzschild, a German Jewish astrophysicist and astronomer, was the first to solve Einstein’s field equations. The C spelling is in honor of Carl Sagan, internationally acclaimed astronomer, planetary scientist and writer who helped found NASA programs and won a Pulitzer Prize.
Koren: Koren means “shining” in Hebrew.
Meir: Meaning “from light” in Hebrew, Meir can also be for Meir Neumark, a German Jewish translator born in 1688 who translated some of the first astronomical texts from Latin and German into Hebrew.
Ofek: Ofek means “horizon” in Hebrew.
Samson: Samson is derived from the Hebrew name Shimshon using the root word “shemesh,” which means “sun.” Both Sammy and Sunny/Sonny could make for adorable nickname options.
Shavit: Shavit means “comet” in Hebrew.
Girls’ names
Esther: You probably know Esther as the queen from the Purim story, but the name derives from an old Person word meaning “star,” which gives this name both royalty and celestial vibes.
Joan : Joan Feynman was an American Jewish astrophysicist and space physicist known for her work on solar winds, sunspot cycles and auroras.
Judith: Honor the legacy of Judith Resnik, the American Jewish astronaut who was also the first Jewish female astronaut in space, lost during the Challenger disaster in 1986.
Leia: You can play off the classic Hebrew name Leah with this spelling as a nod to the legendary outer space fictional character Princess Leia, played by Jewish actress Carrie Fisher.
Levana: We love Levana, meaning “moon” in Hebrew, to the moon and back.
Noga: Noga means “radiance” or sometimes “morning light” in Hebrew.
Reysa: Reysa Bernson was one of the founders of contemporary astronomical studies in France. She was tragically killed in the Holocaust.
Shterna: Meaning “star” in Yiddish, the diminutive version of Shternie is also used.
Sivan: The Jewish lunar month of Sivan corresponds with the Gemini constellation, perfect for those spring babies.
Vera: Vera Rubin was a pioneering American Jewish astronomer who was an expert in galactic rotation rates and dark matter. She was the winner of numerous awards and a staunch advocate for women in science.
Gender neutral names
Kima/Kimah: Kima is used in the Torah to describe a particular star cluster, generally thought to be referring to the Pleiades cluster.
Kochav: Kochav means “star” in Hebrew.
Raz: Meaning “mystery” or “secret” in Hebrew, this name can be a nod to how space continues to fascinate us with its unexplored secrets and depths.
Sahar: Sahar means “moon” in Hebrew.
Shachar: Shachar means “dawn” in Hebrew.
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