Fun Facts About the Name Menorah
- 38 babies named Menorah: U.S. records list 38 babies given the name Menorah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Menorah Mean?
Menorah is a Hebrew noun meaning "lampstand." It is the feminine form מְנוֹרָה (menorah), built from the same Semitic root as the Hebrew word נֵר (ner), "lamp" - a root that also underlies Akkadian nūru, "light," and Arabic nār, "fire." Taken literally, the word names the stand that holds the lamps, not the lights themselves.
The customary sense is simply "lampstand." Later religious reading treats the seven lamps as symbols of light, wisdom, or the divine presence, but those are interpretive layers placed on top of the plain meaning, not the word's etymology.
Menorah Name History & Origins
The word is best known from the Hebrew Bible. Exodus 25:31 - 40 gives instructions for a golden lampstand with seven lamps to stand in the Tabernacle, and the same lampstand is described in the Temple in Jerusalem. In Zechariah 4, the prophet sees a vision of a seven-branched lampstand. In Hebrew, the seven-branched Temple lamp is called menorah; the nine-branched lamp lit at Hanukkah is more precisely a חֲנֻכִּיָּה (ḥanukkiyah), though English speakers commonly call that a menorah as well.
After the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 CE, the seven-branched lamp became a widespread Jewish symbol. It is carved among the reliefs on the Arch of Titus in Rome, and it appears in the decoration of ancient synagogues. The State of Israel adopted the seven-branched menorah as the emblem on its coat of arms in 1949.
As a personal name, Menorah is uncommon. It is given occasionally in Hebrew-speaking communities, where the noun's feminine form makes it a girl's name, and it is used rarely in Jewish families elsewhere, generally after the ritual object rather than the other way around. The name of the lampstand is far more familiar than the given name.
How Popular is the Name Menorah?
Menorah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #11,579 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,579 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #11,828 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #14,725 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #16,857 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #16,701 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #15,034 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Menorah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Menorah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Menorah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.