Yochai

Yochai is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. In Hebrew, it is written יוחאי. The name appears in both rabbinic and modern usage, and it is also encountered in the patronymic form bar Yochai, meaning “son of Yochai.” The exact meaning is not universally agreed, but the element commonly associated with life and the divine leads many to interpret Yochai as “God lives” or “the life of God.”

Historically, the best known bearer is Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage and student of Rabbi Akiva who is revered in Jewish tradition. He is traditionally linked with the study of the Torah and with mystical teachings later associated with the Zohar, though modern scholarship questions the Zohar’s authorship. The figure is celebrated in liturgy and by some communities during Lag BaOmer, the anniversary of his supposed tomb at Meron.

In contemporary usage, Yochai remains a common Hebrew given name among Israeli and Jewish communities, with transliterations including Yoḥai, Yohai, Yochay, and Yaḥai. The name forms part of a broader pattern of Hebrew names that incorporate elements associated with God and life.

See also Shimon bar Yochai; Zohar; Lag BaOmer.