1. Shaina / Shaindel

Shaina (שיינא) and Shaindel (שיינדל) come from the Yiddish word “shain,” meaning “beautiful.” The youngest daughter of the Sixth Chabad Rebbe (and sister of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson), was known as Rebbetzin Sheina Horenstein. She and her husband were murdered in the Holocaust. Common spellings include: Shaina, Sheina, Shayna, Shaindel, Sheindel, Shayndel. Nicknames: Shainy, Shaindy.

2. Yaffa / Yaffit

Yaffa (יפה) and Yafit (יפית) are common Hebraizations of Shaina/Shaindel, from the Hebrew word יפה, yaffeh, meaning “beautiful,” popularized in the post-Holocaust years. In Song of Songs,1 G‑d extols the Jewish nation: “How fair (יפית) and how pleasant you are, a love with delights!” Nicknames: Yaffie or Yaffy.

3. Baila / Bella

Baila (ביילא), also spelled Bayla, is derived from the Biblical name Bilhah and phonetically related to the name Bella, which means beautiful in Italian and other Romance languages. Bilhah was a very popular name in pre-expulsion Spain, allowing its bearer to disguise among the Gentiles by using the name Bella (beautiful). Nicknames: Bailey or Baylie.

4. Tiferet

Tiferet (תפארת), meaning beauty, glory, adornment, and harmony, comes from the Hebrew root word פאר, pe’er, “beauty.” Tiferet is also the sixth of the Ten Sefirot, the Divine attributes.

5. Navah

Navah (נאוה) - In Song of Songs, G‑d expresses His Divine love and desire for a relationship with us: “My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the coverture of the steps, show me your appearance, let me hear your voice, for your voice is pleasant and your appearance is comely (“naavah”).2

6. Naamah / Naomi

Naamah (נעמה) and Naomi (נעמי), from the Hebrew word נעים, na’im, meaning “pleasantness” or “beauty.” Naamah was the wife of Noah. Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth, who followed her loyally from Moab to the Land of Israel and supported her, starting a chain of events that led to Ruth marrying Boaz and becoming the ancestress of the Davidic dynasty. Nicknames: Nomi.

7. Shifrah

Shifrah (שפרה), from the Hebrew word שפר, shafer, meaning beautiful or beautify. Shifrah was one of two Hebrew Midwives, along with Pu’ah—identified as Yocheved and Miriam—who defied Pharaoh’s orders to kill all boys born among the Israelites. Rashi explains that Yocheved was called Shifrah because she beautified (משפרת) the newborn infants.3 Also spelled Shifra. Nicknames: Shiffy or Shiffie.