tzvi

Tzvi is a male given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the noun צבי meaning gazelle or antelope. The word conveys imagery of grace, speed, and alertness, and it appears in the Hebrew Bible as a common noun for the animal. In Jewish communities, the name is widely used and remains familiar in Israel and the diaspora. Variants include Zvi, which is a common transliteration in English, while the feminine forms Tzvia, Tzivya, or Tzivia exist in some communities.

Usage and cultural context: Tzvi is a traditional name found across Ashkenazi and Sephardi populations. It is often chosen for its biblical associations and its concise, easily pronounced form in Hebrew. The name has contributed to several diminutive or affectionate forms within families, and it is sometimes connected to nicknames such as Zvike in informal speech.

Notable bearers: The name has been borne by several prominent Jewish figures, including Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, a 19th-century Zionist thinker who advocated Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel, and Zvi Yehuda Kook, a leading Religious Zionist rabbi in the 20th century. These figures reflect the name’s historical association with scholarship, religious leadership, and Zionist ideas. Today, Tzvi remains a common choice for boys in Israel and in Jewish communities worldwide, continuing a long-standing naming tradition with biblical roots.