Name of the Day: Hadassah

Millais, John E. Esther. 1865. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Wikimedia Commons. Web. 13 Aug. 2014.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esthermillais.jpg>.

Esther and her less popular sister Hester have been a classic in America, never staying out of the Top 500 but hasn't been in the Top 100 since the 1930s. Her Hebrew cousin Hadassah has yet to be discovered. Ranked at #761 as of 2012, Hadassah is gained a slow popularity, once considered ultra-religious. Hadassah has been popular with the Orthodox Jewish community, but is she ready to take on the rest of America?

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Etymology

While it is speculated whether Esther is derived from the Median word astra "Myrtle" or from the Proto-Semetic root "star/evening star", the etymology of Hadassah is simple. Her name comes from the Hebrew הדס, meaning "myrtle tree."

The first recorded use of Hadassah is in the Book of Esther. In the Talmud, she is called Hadassah because "the righteous are called myrtles." Also, "Just as myrtle has sweet smell and a bitter taste, so too Esther was good and listened to the righteous Mordecai, and was adverse to the wicked Haman." The name Hadassah symbolizes righteousness. She was the daughter of a Benjaminite Abihail. Her cousin Mordecai adopted her as his daughter. As the Queen of Persia, Hadassah changed her name to Esther. (For more information on Esther's story, see Mordecai.) Esther and her story is celebrated during Purim, the Jewish day of celebration for God's deliverence for his People.

Myrtle is the sacred tree of Venus. Because of its assocation with the Roman goddess of love, it has a special connection to lovers. The myrtle tree has long since thought to inspire love. The tree is also thought to bring good luck. 

Namesakes

Currently there are no famous people named Hadassah, which could work in its favor.

Only ranking #761, Hadassah is not an overwhelmingly popular name. She's only been in the Top 1000 in the US since 2008 and unheard of in the rest of the world. 

International variants of Hadassah: Hadasu (Czech), Hadassa (Danish, Dutch, German, French, Icelandic, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish), Hadassan (Finnish), Adasa (Haitian Creole), Hadassának (Hungarian), Hadàssa (Italian), Edessae (Latin), Haraha (Maori), Hadasa (Romanian), Hadasá (Spanish), Hodel (Yiddish)

Nickname Options:

Haddie, sounds similar to Hattie, popular nickname (for Harriet or even Henrietta) and a given name in the early twentieth century but went rapidly in decline during the World War II era and after. Now Hattie is on the revival march, currently at #570. To the American ear, Hattie and Haddie are the same. Another cutified version of Harriet is Hatsy, less of a given name than Hattie but equally as usable. Hatsy is reminiscent of names like Betsy and Patsy. Haddie is also rhymes with Maddie, an ever popular nickname for Madison and Madeline, both names ranked in Top 100 in the US (and Madison is extremely popular, currently ranking #9 in America, #75 in England, #100 in Ireland). So if Maddie and Hattie are can make it, why not Haddie?

Dasha, the spunky Russian diminutive of Dariya or Darya. Sasha, a nickname for Alexander or Alexandra, is currently a favorite in the Anglophone countries, though there is much debat about whether Sasha should be feminine or masculine. In America, it is most commonly seen as a feminine nickname, so if Sasha is working for little girls, so can the energetic Dasha.

Other options include Ada, Addie, Dassa, Dassie, Hadas, Hassie, Sadie, and Sasha.

People who like Mordecai also like...

Ishmael, Gideon, Frederick, Alexei, Shoshannah, Eudora, Louisa, Elspeth


If you are looking for a way to honor your Aunt Esther or your Grandma Myrtle, or a way to honor your Judeo-Christian heritage, the quirky yet zesty Hadassah might be the name for you. What do you think? Would you name your daughter Hadassah?