Ariel and Avigail Top Israeli Baby Name Rankings for 5786

The most popular names given to newborns in Israel for the Hebrew year 5786 have been revealed, showing shifts in parental preferences. The Population and Immigration Authority released data on September 6, 2026, detailing naming trends across the entire population and specifically within the Jewish sector. Muhammad remained the most popular name for boys in the overall national ranking, followed by Ariel, Yosef, Adam, and David. However, within the Jewish community, Ariel surged to the top spot, surpassing David, Raphael, and Lavi. This marks a significant change from the previous year when Lavi led among Jewish boys, with Ariel in second place. Lavi has now dropped to fourth.

Among girls, Avigail maintained its position as the most popular name nationwide and within the Jewish sector for the fifth consecutive year. The national top ten included Miriam, Lia, Libi, Tamar, Yael, Isla, Sarah, Ella, and Naya. In the Jewish-specific ranking, Libi moved up to second place, overtaking Tamar, while Naya entered the top ten, displacing Esther.

The data highlights evolving trends in Israeli baby names, with a notable rise for Ariel among boys and a continued dominance for Avigail among girls. The rankings provide insight into cultural and familial influences on naming conventions within the country.