Hillel
Hillel Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Meaning of Hillel: Hillel is a Hebrew masculine name meaning praise or one who praises. It derives from the Hebrew root h-l-l, the same root that gives the liturgical word hallelujah (praise God). The name expresses devotion and the act of glorifying the divine through word and action.
The name is most closely associated with Hillel the Elder (c. 110 BCE - 10 CE), one of the most important sages in the history of Judaism. He founded the School of Hillel, whose legal interpretations favored more lenient readings of Jewish law compared to the rival School of Shammai.
Hillel the Elder is credited with formulating the Golden Rule: 'What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor — that is the whole Torah.' This summary of Jewish ethics is among the most cited statements in Talmudic literature and central to Jewish moral teaching.
What Does Hillel Mean? Origin & Etymology
The Hillel Foundation, established in 1923 at the University of Illinois, took his name for the largest Jewish campus organization in the world. As of 2024, Hillel International supports Jewish student life at over 850 colleges and universities across North America and beyond.
Hillel ranks occasionally in Israeli naming statistics and appears in Jewish communities worldwide. In the United States, the name is used among Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish families, often honoring the sage's legacy of ethical scholarship and intellectual humility.
Hillel does not rank in US SSA records as a top-1000 name. It is used in Jewish communities globally as a traditional masculine name honoring one of Judaism's most celebrated sages. Reference: etymology records.
Numerology & Symbolism of Hillel
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Hillel – Similar Names & Alternatives
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity
Frequently Asked Questions about Hillel
What does Hillel mean?
Hillel is Hebrew 'praise' meaning praise; This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament as the father of the judge Abdon..
How popular is Hillel?
Hillel is rarely used in the United States but maintains its standing in Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew. SSA records show no significant US ranking for this name.
Is Hillel a boy or girl name?
Hillel is used as both a masculine and feminine given name in its home tradition. The name is most common in Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew communities.
What are variants of Hillel?
Hillel has no widely established international variants and remains primarily used within Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew tradition.