The fastest way to get a bad Hebrew name is to replace each English letter with a Hebrew-looking symbol. Hebrew names require a decision first: are you looking for an established equivalent, or a spelling that approximates the English sound?
Three checks
Check the tradition. David is דוד and Sarah is שרה because those forms already exist.
Check the sound. A modern name without a traditional equivalent may need a phonetic rendering. Different speakers can make different reasonable choices.
Check the direction. Hebrew is written right to left. Put the first Hebrew character on the right and practise the whole word, not a left-to-right English sequence.
The Hebrew name tool is useful for a first pass and tracing. For a high-stakes use, verify with a fluent speaker. Read the individual examples for David, Sarah, and John.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions.
Check whether your name has a conventional Hebrew form, then use a phonetic spelling for names without one. Write the result right to left and verify important uses with a fluent speaker.
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