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Jewish Deli Baby Names Are About to Take Pre-School Cubbies By Storm—Here Are 12 I'm Kvelling Over

On rye, please

Jewish Deli baby names
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Move over Olivia W. and H. and Liam T., D. and R.—I've been keeping my finger on the register of a seemingly new trend in town that's adding a flavorful, old-school twist to baby naming: Jewish deli baby names. I'm talking monikers like Reuben, Esther and Levi that have me thinking of pastrami and Purim during pick-up. Or how my own 3-year-old and her bestie could trademark their name and slap it on a jar of pickles: Len & Lou's Dill Pickin's! Some names I've included because I've noticed the names on cubbies at daycare. Others, because they're having true vintage resurgences. So, without further ado, 12 names that you could totally name a sandwich after.

The Best Delis in NYC


A baby eating solids
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1. Levi

I've met a few toddlers named Levi—boys and girls—so I know this one's definitely rising on the charts. In fact, according to Social Security Administration data, Levi has climbed from #18 in 2020 to #12 in 2023!

2. Leo

The 18th most popular boy's name in 2023 (mazel tov!), according to the SSA. I can't help but think of Seinfeld's Uncle Leo, the elderly Jewish New Yorker always causing trouble. Anyways, tot Leo wants to know if you'll be eating your pickle.

3. Len

Another gender-neutral derivation of Leonard, Leonora, Eleanore or even Leni (like Heidi Klum's daughter), Len will take a scoop of tuna on challah, thank you.

4. Ziggy

A diminutive form of the Hebrew name Zechariah or the German Sigmund, I see a future in which Ziggy Freud is an oft-sought-after psychiatrist with his own mommy issues.

5. Bernie

Whether it's from Bernard, Bernadette or Bernice, Bernie is the only pre-schooler in history to bring gefilte fish for lunch. (Jewish and Chinese cookbook author Molly Yeh named her daughter Bernie!)

jewish deli baby names lou
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6. Lou

Whether it's short for Louise (like Emma Stone's daughter) or Louis (like the little Prince of Wales), say this neutral nickname and suddenly I'm transported to a table at Canter's, slurping up matzo ball soup between canasta turns.

5. Ira

Meaning "watchful," Ira would make an ideal hall monitor. (And you thought you'd never meet an Ira under 50 years old. Watch out pre-K. ) And although it seems like I'm stalking Molly Yeh (only a little), the cook's second daughter was given this name since it's, as told to Kveller, "unique but easy to pronounce."

8. Gertie

Short for Gertrude, I absolutely adore this sweet old-school name. In fact, you could take your lil' Gertie to Gertie in Brooklyn, the Jew-ish Diner, for some whitefish salad on an everything bialy.

9. Goldie

In my imagination, Gertie and Goldie are best friends and yentas who run the playground. Psst: Goldie has risen the ranks from #879 in 2020 to #685 in 2023.

10. Irv

Short for Irving, I'm pretty sure my grandparents had about 13 friends named Irv. It was the Liam of its time. So let's bring it back, and serve up some corned beef on rye while we're at it.

jewish deli baby names sy
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11. Sy

Short for Simon, the steadily popular-yet-classic name—hanging in there around the mid-200s—Sy will have the knish and a chocolate egg cream, please.

12. Reuben

Though the "Ruben" spelling is more popular (ranking about 400 spots higher than "Reuben"), we prefer it served up thinly sliced and topped with thousand island, sauerkraut and Swiss! Oy!



DaraKatz

Executive Editor

  • Lifestyle editor and writer with a knack for long-form pieces
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  • Studied English at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor