Shekhinah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Shekhinah has been for the last 10 years (from 2013 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Shekhinah

A feminine Hebrew name interpreted as the Divine Presence or Spirit of God.

Popularity of Shekhinah by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Shekhinah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Shekhinah.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 0 6
2013 0 5

The history of the first name Shekhinah

The name Shekhinah has its origins in the Hebrew language and Jewish culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "shakan," which means "to dwell" or "to reside." The concept of the Shekhinah is central to Jewish mysticism and refers to the divine presence or manifestation of God's glory.

In the Hebrew Bible, the Shekhinah is often associated with the Tabernacle and the Temple, where God's presence was believed to dwell among the Israelites. The term appears in various rabbinic literature, including the Talmud and Midrashic texts, where it is personified as a feminine aspect of the divine.

One of the earliest references to the Shekhinah can be found in the Book of Exodus, where the Israelites witnessed the divine presence in the form of a cloud or fire during their journey through the wilderness. The Shekhinah is also mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel, where the prophet describes a vision of God's glory departing from the Temple in Jerusalem.

The name Shekhinah has been used by several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shekhinah bat Mordechai, a Jewish woman from the 13th century who was known for her wisdom and knowledge of the Torah.

Another prominent figure was Shekhinah Horovitz (1540-1619), a renowned Jewish scholar and kabbalist who lived in Safed, Israel. She was highly respected for her teachings and contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism.

In the 17th century, Shekhinah Nunes Vaz (1608-1668) was a Jewish woman from Amsterdam who played a significant role in the establishment of the first Jewish community in the Dutch colony of Suriname.

Shekhinah Leoni (1688-1761) was an Italian Jewish writer and scholar who authored several works on Jewish law and philosophy.

More recently, Shekhinah Mountainwater (1942-2022) was an American author and teacher known for her writings on Jewish spirituality and feminism.

While the name Shekhinah has its roots in ancient Jewish tradition, it has also gained popularity in recent times, particularly among those drawn to its spiritual connotations and connection to the divine feminine principle.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shekhinah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shekhinah, please contact us.

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"Shekhinah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/shekhinah-meaning-and-history/.

"Shekhinah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/shekhinah-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 20 July, 2025

Shekhinah first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/shekhinah-meaning-and-history/.

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