Emunah

Meaning & origin

Emunah is a distinctive virtue name from the Hebrew word for faith, faithfulness, and trust. First recorded in U.S. Social Security data in 2005, it has risen steadily from obscurity, achieving its peak rank of 4265 in 2023. As of 2025, approximately 1 in 48705 newborns are named Emunah, reflecting its niche but growing appeal among families seeking names with strong spiritual resonance. The name is most common in New Jersey and New York, states with significant Jewish populations, though Emunah is used across diverse communities. Its trajectory suggests steady growth as parents continue to explore less common biblical and Hebrew names. Emunah's straightforward meaning and melodic pronunciation make it a serene yet powerful choice, distinct from more familiar names like Naomi or Hannah.

Emunah derives from the Hebrew root אמן (aleph-mem-nun), meaning to trust, confirm, or support. The noun appears in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Habakkuk 2:4 as 'the righteous shall live by his faith.' Emunah is a virtue name that emerged in the 17th-century Puritan tradition among English speakers, though its modern revival as a given name is more recent, influenced by the broader interest in biblical and Hebrew names in the United States.