Israeli women have shaped their country in every field, from Golda Meir, one of the world’s first women to lead a government, to Nobel Prize-winning chemist Ada Yonath. This list brings together leaders, judges, poets, singers, actresses, scientists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, from the early years of the state to stars you know from today’s screens and stages.
It also works as a source of baby name inspiration. Many of these women carry short, meaningful Hebrew names like Yael, Shira, and Noa, which travel well and are easy to say in English. After the list, you will find a table of names with their meanings and the famous women who wore them.
The 100 Most Famous Israeli Women of All Time
The list mixes historical figures and modern names across politics, the arts, science, sports, and more; numbers are for easy reference, not a strict ranking.
| No. | Name | Occupation / Why Famous |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golda Meir | Fourth prime minister of Israel and the first woman to hold the office |
| 2 | Ada Yonath | Nobel Prize-winning chemist known for her research on the ribosome |
| 3 | Gal Gadot | Actress best known for playing Wonder Woman in Hollywood films |
| 4 | Natalie Portman | Jerusalem-born American actress and Academy Award winner for Black Swan |
| 5 | Ofra Haza | Internationally acclaimed singer known for the hit song “Im Nin’alu” |
| 6 | Netta Barzilai | Singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Toy” |
| 7 | Dana International | Singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Diva” |
| 8 | Gali Atari | Singer who won Eurovision with “Hallelujah” alongside the group Milk and Honey |
| 9 | Naomi Shemer | Songwriter famous for “Jerusalem of Gold” and many classic Hebrew songs |
| 10 | Leah Goldberg | Celebrated Hebrew poet, translator, and children’s author |
| 11 | Bar Refaeli | Internationally known fashion model and television host |
| 12 | Shira Haas | Actress acclaimed for her roles in the series Unorthodox and Shtisel |
| 13 | Tzipi Livni | Former foreign minister and justice minister of Israel |
| 14 | Dorit Beinisch | First woman to serve as president of the Supreme Court of Israel |
| 15 | Esther Hayut | Judge who served as president of the Supreme Court of Israel |
| 16 | Dalia Itzik | First woman to serve as speaker of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament |
| 17 | Shulamit Aloni | Civil rights advocate, Knesset member, and government minister |
| 18 | Yael Dayan | Novelist and longtime member of the Knesset |
| 19 | Ruth Dayan | Founder of the Maskit fashion and crafts house |
| 20 | Chava Alberstein | Folk singer-songwriter with a recording career spanning decades |
| 21 | Achinoam Nini (Noa) | Singer-songwriter who has performed on international stages for decades |
| 22 | Rita | Iranian-born singer and one of Israel’s best-known pop stars |
| 23 | Yafa Yarkoni | Beloved folk singer and Israel Prize laureate |
| 24 | Shoshana Damari | Yemen-born singer famous for classic Hebrew folk songs |
| 25 | Ilanit | Pop singer who was Israel’s first Eurovision Song Contest entrant |
| 26 | Esther Ofarim | Singer who placed second at Eurovision while representing Switzerland |
| 27 | Sarit Hadad | Popular Mizrahi pop singer with many hit albums |
| 28 | Noa Kirel | Pop singer who placed third at the Eurovision Song Contest |
| 29 | Shiri Maimon | Pop singer who placed fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest |
| 30 | Ninet Tayeb | Rock singer and first winner of the TV talent show Kokhav Nolad |
| 31 | Yael Naim | French-Israeli singer known for the song “New Soul” |
| 32 | Mira Awad | Arab-Israeli singer and actress who performed at Eurovision |
| 33 | Eden Golan | Singer who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest |
| 34 | Liraz Charhi | Singer and actress known for her Persian-language albums |
| 35 | Ester Rada | Ethiopian-Israeli singer blending soul, jazz, and Ethiopian music |
| 36 | Gila Almagor | Stage and film actress and Israel Prize laureate |
| 37 | Hanna Rovina | Habima Theater actress called the first lady of Hebrew theater |
| 38 | Hanna Maron | Stage actress whose career lasted more than eight decades |
| 39 | Ronit Elkabetz | Actress and filmmaker known for Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem |
| 40 | Hana Laszlo | Actress who won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival |
| 41 | Ayelet Zurer | Actress known for the films Munich and Man of Steel |
| 42 | Moran Atias | Model and actress who has worked in Israel, Italy, and Hollywood |
| 43 | Odeya Rush | Haifa-born actress known for the films Lady Bird and The Giver |
| 44 | Alona Tal | Actress known for the TV series Veronica Mars and Supernatural |
| 45 | Inbar Lavi | Actress known for the TV series Imposters and Lucifer |
| 46 | Yael Grobglas | French-born actress known for the TV series Jane the Virgin |
| 47 | Noa Tishby | Actress, television producer, and author of a book on Israel |
| 48 | Rotem Sela | Actress, model, and host of popular Israeli television shows |
| 49 | Esti Ginzburg | Fashion model and actress who appeared on international magazine covers |
| 50 | Linor Abargil | Miss World winner who later became a lawyer and activist |
| 51 | Yityish Titi Aynaw | First Ethiopian-born woman to be crowned Miss Israel |
| 52 | Linoy Ashram | Olympic gold medalist in individual rhythmic gymnastics |
| 53 | Yarden Gerbi | Judo world champion and Olympic bronze medalist |
| 54 | Raz Hershko | Judo world medalist and Olympic silver medalist |
| 55 | Inbar Lanir | Judoka who won an Olympic silver medal |
| 56 | Shahar Pe’er | Tennis player who reached the top 15 of the women’s world rankings |
| 57 | Anna Smashnova | Minsk-born tennis player who won multiple WTA singles titles |
| 58 | Esther Roth-Shahamorov | Sprinter and hurdler who reached an Olympic final |
| 59 | Lonah Chemtai Salpeter | Kenyan-born long-distance runner and World Championships marathon medalist |
| 60 | Sharon Kantor | Windsurfer who won an Olympic silver medal |
| 61 | Dahlia Ravikovitch | Influential Hebrew poet and translator of modern literature |
| 62 | Yona Wallach | Groundbreaking modern Hebrew poet known for her bold verse |
| 63 | Zelda | Hebrew poet known to readers simply by her first name, Zelda |
| 64 | Esther Raab | Poet often called the first native-born Hebrew woman poet |
| 65 | Zeruya Shalev | Best-selling novelist whose books are translated into many languages |
| 66 | Batya Gur | Crime novelist known for her detective character Michael Ohayon |
| 67 | Dorit Rabinyan | Novelist known for the book All the Rivers |
| 68 | Ayelet Gundar-Goshen | Novelist and screenwriter known for the book Waking Lions |
| 69 | Orly Castel-Bloom | Novelist known for experimental fiction such as Dolly City |
| 70 | Savyon Liebrecht | Short story writer and playwright whose works are widely taught |
| 71 | Dvora Omer | Prolific author of books for children and young adults |
| 72 | Galila Ron-Feder Amit | Children’s author known for the Time Tunnel book series |
| 73 | Miriam Roth | Children’s author known for the picture book A Tale of Five Balloons |
| 74 | Nechama Leibowitz | Renowned Bible scholar and teacher and Israel Prize laureate |
| 75 | Ruth Gavison | Legal scholar and human rights advocate |
| 76 | Shafi Goldwasser | American-born computer scientist and Turing Award winner |
| 77 | Ruth Arnon | Immunologist who co-developed the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone |
| 78 | Eva Illouz | Moroccan-born sociologist who writes about love, emotions, and modern culture |
| 79 | Orit Gadiesh | Longtime chairman of the global consulting firm Bain and Company |
| 80 | Ofra Strauss | Business leader and chair of the Strauss Group food company |
| 81 | Shari Arison | American-born businesswoman and philanthropist based in Israel |
| 82 | Michal Negrin | Jewelry and accessories designer with an international brand |
| 83 | Anna Ticho | Artist known for her drawings of the hills around Jerusalem |
| 84 | Lea Nikel | Abstract painter known for her bold use of color |
| 85 | Michal Rovner | Video and installation artist exhibited at major museums worldwide |
| 86 | Sigalit Landau | Artist who represented Israel at the Venice Biennale |
| 87 | Keren Yedaya | Filmmaker who won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival |
| 88 | Orna Porat | Stage actress and founder of a national children’s theater |
| 89 | Orna Barbivai | First woman to reach the rank of major general in the Israel Defense Forces |
| 90 | Merav Michaeli | Journalist and former leader of the Labor Party |
| 91 | Ayelet Shaked | Former justice minister and interior minister |
| 92 | Limor Livnat | Former education minister and culture and sport minister |
| 93 | Miriam Naor | Judge who served as president of the Supreme Court of Israel |
| 94 | Lucy Aharish | Arab-Israeli journalist and television news presenter |
| 95 | Yonit Levi | Longtime evening news anchor on Israeli television |
| 96 | Ilana Dayan | Investigative journalist and host of the TV program Uvda |
| 97 | Sivan Rahav-Meir | Journalist, author, and popular lecturer on Torah |
| 98 | Keren Peles | Singer-songwriter and pianist with many hit songs |
| 99 | Yardena Arazi | Singer and television host who represented Israel at Eurovision |
| 100 | Margalit Tzan’ani | Singer celebrated as one of the stars of Mizrahi music |
Baby Name Ideas Inspired by Famous Israeli Women
These given names come from women on the list above. Most are Hebrew names, many drawn from the Bible or from nature.
| No. | Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Origin | Famous Namesake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golda | GOHL-duh | From Yiddish, meaning “gold” | Yiddish | Golda Meir |
| 2 | Ada | AH-dah | Often linked to the biblical Adah, meaning “adornment” | Hebrew | Ada Yonath |
| 3 | Gal | GAHL | “Wave” | Hebrew | Gal Gadot |
| 4 | Natalie | NAT-uh-lee | From Latin natale domini, “birthday of the Lord,” referring to Christmas | Latin | Natalie Portman |
| 5 | Ofra | OHF-rah | “Fawn” or “young deer” | Hebrew | Ofra Haza |
| 6 | Netta | NEH-tah | “Plant” or “sapling” | Hebrew | Netta Barzilai |
| 7 | Naomi | nay-OH-mee | “Pleasantness” | Hebrew | Naomi Shemer |
| 8 | Leah | LEE-uh | Of uncertain meaning; often said to mean “weary” or linked to a word for “wild cow” | Hebrew | Leah Goldberg |
| 9 | Shira | SHEER-ah | “Song” or “singing” | Hebrew | Shira Haas |
| 10 | Yael | yah-EL | “Mountain goat” or “ibex” | Hebrew | Yael Dayan |
| 11 | Ayelet | ah-YEH-let | “Doe” or “gazelle” | Hebrew | Ayelet Zurer |
| 12 | Noa | NOH-ah | A biblical name usually said to mean “movement” | Hebrew | Noa Kirel |
| 13 | Dalia | DAH-lee-ah | “Branch” or “bough” | Hebrew | Dalia Itzik |
| 14 | Ruth | ROOTH | Of uncertain meaning; often linked to a word for “friend” or “companion” | Hebrew | Ruth Dayan |
| 15 | Chava | KHAH-vah | “Life”; the Hebrew form of Eve | Hebrew | Chava Alberstein |
| 16 | Esther | ES-ter | Possibly from Persian for “star” | Persian / Hebrew | Esther Hayut |
| 17 | Hanna | HAH-nah | “Grace” or “favor” | Hebrew | Hanna Rovina |
| 18 | Gila | GEE-lah | “Joy” | Hebrew | Gila Almagor |
| 19 | Rotem | ROH-tem | The name of a desert broom shrub | Hebrew | Rotem Sela |
| 20 | Inbar | een-BAR | “Amber” | Hebrew | Inbar Lavi |
| 21 | Ilana | ee-LAH-nah | “Tree” | Hebrew | Ilana Dayan |
| 22 | Yarden | yar-DEN | The Hebrew name of the Jordan River, from a root meaning “to descend” | Hebrew | Yarden Gerbi |
| 23 | Keren | KEH-ren | “Ray” or “horn” | Hebrew | Keren Peles |
| 24 | Eden | EE-den | “Delight”; the biblical garden | Hebrew | Eden Golan |
Israeli Naming Traditions
Most Israeli women carry Hebrew first names, and many parents choose names from the Bible, such as Naomi, Ruth, and Esther. Since the founding of the state, modern Hebrew names inspired by nature have also become very popular. Names like Gal (wave), Rotem (a desert shrub), Inbar (amber), and Ilana (tree) feel fresh and are easy to pronounce.
Short, unisex names are common in Israel. Gal, Tal, Noam, and Shai can belong to girls or boys, and many girls’ names end in -it or -a, such as Ronit, Dorit, Dalia, and Netta.
Many Jewish families follow religious customs when naming a baby. Ashkenazi families often honor a relative who has died, while many Sephardi and Mizrahi families name children after living grandparents. A baby girl is traditionally named in the synagogue, often when her father is called up to the Torah reading.
In the early decades of the state, many immigrants changed their family names to Hebrew ones. Golda Meir, for example, was born Golda Mabovitch, married into the name Meyerson, and later took the Hebrew surname Meir. Israel is also home to Arab, Druze, and other communities, so Arabic names are part of Israeli life too.
How to Use These Names for Your Baby
- Browse our full list of Hebrew baby names to compare these names with other options and meanings.
- Pair a modern Israeli name with a classic from our biblical baby names list, such as Noa Ruth or Shira Naomi.
- Say the name out loud with your last name. Short names like Gal, Noa, and Yael flow well with longer surnames.
- Check how the name is spelled in English. Some Hebrew names have several spellings, such as Hanna and Hannah, or Dalia and Dahlia.
- If you love a name but are not ready to use it as a first name, try it in the middle spot. Our guide to middle names for girls and boys has more ideas.
Finding the Right Name
A name tied to a woman you admire can carry a story your daughter will be proud to share. If you are also looking for boy names, see our list of the most famous Israeli men of all time for more name ideas with history behind them.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.