Find out how popular the first name Yentl has been for the last 5 years (from 1984 to 1988) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Yentl by gender

Based on the last 5 years of data, Yentl is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1988, there were 8 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Yentl.

The history of the first name Yentl

The name Yentl is of Yiddish origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yechiel, meaning "God lives." This name can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Central and Eastern Europe, where it was commonly used among Ashkenazi Jewish communities.

Yentl is believed to have been popularized by the story of the same name written by Isaac Bashevis Singer in 1962. Singer's short story, and its subsequent adaptation into a film in 1983 starring Barbra Streisand, brought the name to a wider audience and contributed to its recognition beyond the Jewish community.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Yentl can be found in the 16th century, with Yentl ben Moshe Lipman Heller, a renowned Polish-Jewish rabbi and Talmudic scholar who lived from 1579 to 1654. Another notable figure with this name was Yentl Joskowitz, a Polish-Jewish playwright and poet who lived in the late 19th century.

In the early 20th century, Yentl Yoselovich, a prominent Yiddish actress and director, helped to further popularize the name through her performances and productions in the United States and Europe. She lived from 1887 to 1975.

Another significant figure with the name Yentl was Yentl Margulies, a Polish-Jewish writer and activist who fought for women's rights and education in the early 20th century. She lived from 1887 to 1952.

Yentl Katz, a Yiddish writer and journalist who lived from 1910 to 1985, also contributed to the literary and cultural legacy of the name through her works and advocacy for the preservation of Yiddish language and culture.

While the name Yentl has its roots in the Jewish tradition, it has gained wider recognition and popularity in recent decades, transcending its cultural and religious origins. However, it remains closely associated with its Yiddish heritage and the rich literary and cultural legacy of the Ashkenazi Jewish community.

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 Yentl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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