Haim can be a first name or surname originating in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

or derived from the

Old German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

name Haimo.

Etymology

Hebrew

Chayyim ( ', Classical Hebrew: , Israeli Hebrew: ), also transcribed ''Haim, Hayim, Chayim'', or ''Chaim'' (English pronunciations: , , ), is a

name meaning "life". Its first usage can be traced to the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. It is a popular name among Jewish people. The feminine form for this name is Chaya. '' Chai'' is the Hebrew word for "alive". According to

Kabbalah Kabbalah or Qabalah ( ; , ; ) is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It forms the foundation of Mysticism, mystical religious interpretations within Judaism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ...

, the name Hayim helps the person to remain healthy, and people were known to add Hayim as a second name to improve their health. In the United States, Chaim is a common spelling; however, since the

phonemic A phoneme () is any set of similar speech sounds that are perceptually regarded by the speakers of a language as a single basic sound—a smallest possible phonetic unit—that helps distinguish one word from another. All languages con ...

pattern is unusual for English words, Hayim is often used as an alternative spelling. The "ch" spelling comes from transliteration of the

letter " chet", which also starts words like Chanukah, Channa, etc., which can also be spelled as Hanukah and Hannah. It is

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

to the

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

word ('), with the same meaning, deriving from the same

Proto-Semitic Proto-Semitic is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Semitic languages. There is no consensus regarding the location of the linguistic homeland for Proto-Semitic: scholars hypothesize that it may have originated in the Levant, the Sahara, ...

root. Common secular replacements for the name Haim include Heinrich and Harvey. Among

Argentine Jews The history of the Jews in Argentina goes back to the early sixteenth century, following the expulsion of Jews from Spain. Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution immigrated with explorers and colonists to settle in what is now Argentina, in spite o ...

, the Spanish name

Jaime Jaime is a common Spanish and Portuguese male given name for Jacob (name), James (name), Jamie, or Jacques. In Occitania Jacobus became ''Jacome'' and later ''Jacme''. In east Spain, ''Jacme'' became ''Jaime'', in Aragon it became ''Chaime'', and i ...

(, a Spanish cognate of

James James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

) is often chosen for its

phonetic Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds or, in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians ...

similarity to Haim. The names '' Vivian'' and '' Zoe'' have a similar meaning.

Old German

The earliest attested forms of this etymology occur in

, as Haimo. This Old German name was borrowed into

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th Anglo-Norman dialect spoken in England, in forms including Haim. This became one source of the English surname Haim, along with variants like Hame, Haim, Haime, Anglo-Norman language">Anglo-Norman dialect spoken in England, in forms including Haim. This became one source of the English surname Haim, along with variants like Hame, Haim, Haime,

Haines, Hayns, Haynes (surname)">Haynes Haynes may refer to: People *Haynes (surname) Places Australia * Haynes, Western Australia Canada * Haynes, Alberta United Kingdom *Haynes, Bedfordshire **Haynes Church End United States *Haynes, Arkansas *Haynes, North Dakota *Hayne ...

, Hammon and Hammond (surname)">Hammond Hammond may refer to: People * Hammond Innes (1913–1998), English novelist * Hammond (surname) * Justice Hammond (disambiguation) Places Antarctica * Hammond Glacier, Antarctica Australia *Hammond, South Australia, a small settlement in Sout ...

.''The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland'', ed. by Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, and Peter McClure, 4 vols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016), II, pp. 1168–67 [s.vv. ''Haim'', ''Haime'']; . In 1881, three people in Great Britain bore the surname Haim and 67 the surname Haime. Around 2011, the numbers stood at 94 and 173 respectively, with two bearers of the surname Haim in Ireland.

People with the given name

Haim

Haim Arlosoroff Haim Arlosoroff (23 February 1899 – 16 June 1933; also known as Chaim Arlozorov; ) was a Socialist Zionist leader of the Yishuv during the British Mandate for Palestine, prior to the establishment of Israel, and head of the Political D ...

(1899–1933), Zionist politician *

Haim Bar-Lev Haim "Kidoni" Bar-Lev (; 16 November 1924 – 7 May 1994) was a military officer during Israel's pre-state and early statehood eras and later a government minister. Biography Born Haim Brotzlewsky in Vienna and raised in Zagreb, Bar-Lev made al ...

(1924–1994), Israeli military officer and government minister *

Haim Ben-Shahar Haim Ben-Shahar (; born c. 1935) is an Israeli economist, and former President of Tel Aviv University. Biography Ben-Shahar was born in Mandatory Palestine. He earned a Ph.D. in Banking and Finance from New York University in the United States. ...

(born 1935), Israeli economist and president of Tel Aviv University *

Haim Hanegbi Haim Hanegbi (; 1935–2018) was a Palestinian Jewish leftist political activist. He was a journalist and writer and a cofounder of the dissident group Matzpen. Early life and education He was born Haim Nissim Bajayo in Jerusalem in 1935. His ...

(1935–2018), Israeli political activist *

Haim Harari use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , body_discovered = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinates ...

(born 1940), Israeli

theoretical physicist Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain, and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experi ...

; president of the Weizmann Institute of Science *

Haim Hazan Haim Hazan (; born 1947) is a professor of sociology and social anthropology at Tel Aviv University in Israel. His research focuses on old age as a social phenomenon. He is also an active partner at the Herzog Institute for the Study of Aging and ...

(born 1947), Israeli professor of sociology and social anthropology at Tel Aviv University *

Haim Hazan (basketball) Haim Hazan (; January 20, 1937 – February 21, 1994) was an Israeli basketball player. He played the guard position. He played in the Israel Basketball Premier League, and for the Israeli national basketball team. Biography Hazan was born in Jaf ...

(1937–1994), Israeli basketball player *

Haim Hazaz Haim Hazaz (; 16 September 1898 – 24 March 1973) was an Israeli novelist. Biography Haim Hazaz was born in the village of Sidorovichi, Kiev Governorate in the Russian Empire, the same village of future prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's fami ...

(1898–1973), Israeli novelist *

Haim Palachi Haim Palachi ( ; Acronym: MaHaRHaF or HaVIF) (January 28, 1788– February 10, 1868) was a Jewish- Turkish chief rabbi of Smyrna (İzmir) and author in Ladino and Hebrew. His titles included ''Hakham Bashi'' and '' Gaon''. He was the father ...

(or Palagi, 1788–1868), Torah scholar *

Haim Revivo Haim Michael Revivo (; born 22 February 1972) is an Israeli former professional association football, footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder or winger (association football), winger, and a businessman. Early life Revivo is Jews, Jewi ...

(born 1972), Israeli former international footballer *

Haim Saban Haim Saban (; ; born October 15, 1944) is an Israeli and American media proprietor, investor, musical composer and producer of records, film, and television. A businessman with interests in financial services, entertainment, and media, and an ...

(born 1944), Israeli-American media mogul *

Haim Starkman Haim Starkman (; born in Jaffa, Palestine, July 11, 1944) is an Israeli former basketball player. He played the guard position. He played in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and for the Israeli national basketball team. Biography Starkman ...

(born 1944), Israeli basketball player

Hayim or Hayyim

Hayim ben Bezalel Ḥayim ben Beẓalel (also spelled Ḥayyim ben Bezaleel; died 1588) was a History of the Jews in Germany, German rabbi and Talmudist and the elder brother of Judah Loew ben Bezalel of Prague. He was the eldest of the four sons of Beẓalel ben ...

(died 1588), German rabbi *

Hayim Nahman Bialik Hayim Nahman Bialik (; January 9, 1873 – July 4, 1934) was a Jewish poet who wrote primarily in Hebrew language, Hebrew and Yiddish. Bialik is considered a pioneer of modern Hebrew poetry, part of the vanguard of Jewish thinkers who gave voice ...

(1873–1934), Hebrew-language poet * Hayim Katsman (1991–2023), Israeli academic and peace activist * Hayyim Tyrer (died 1813), rabbi

Hyam or Haym

* Hyam Greenbaum, founder of the

BBC Television Orchestra The BBC Television Orchestra (1936–1939) was a broadcast orchestra founded in 1936 by conductor, violinist and composer Hyam Greenbaum and led by Boris Pecker. Greenbaum's wife Sidonie Goossens was the first solo harpist with the Orchestra i ...

Hyam Maccoby Hyam Maccoby (, 1924–2004) was a Jewish-British scholar and dramatist specialising in the study of the Jewish and Christian religious traditions. He was known for his theories of the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity. Life Macc ...

(1924–2004), British scholar *

Hyam Plutzik Hyam Plutzik (July 13, 1911 – January 8, 1962) was an American poet and educator and is best known for ''Horatio'', a long narrative poem that illustrates the elusiveness of memory through a search for the true identity of Shakespeare's Hamlet ...

(1911–1962), English poet and academic * J. Hyam Rubinstein (born 1948), Australian mathematician *

Haym Salomon Haym Salomon (also Solomon; April 7, 1740 – January 6, 1785) was a Polish-born American merchant best known for his actions during the American Revolution, where he was the prime financier to the Continental Congress. Born in Leszno, Polish– ...

(1740–1785), primary financier of the American Revolution

Chaim

Chaim ibn Attar Chaim ibn Attar or Ḥayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar (, ; – 7 July 1743) also known as the Or ha-Ḥayyim after his popular commentary on the Torah, was a Talmudist and Kabbalist. He is arguably considered to be one of the most prominent Rabbis o ...

(1696–1743), the Or Hachaim *

Chaim of Volozhin Chaim of Volozhin (also known as Chaim ben Yitzchok of Volozhin or Chaim Ickovits; 21 January 1749 – 14 June 1821)Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography: Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael, pp. 347–349; idem, Kiryah Ne'emanah, pp. 156–158; L ...

(1749–1821), rabbi, Talmudist and ethicist * Chaim Benveniste (1603-1673), Ottoman rabbi * Chaim Bloom (born 1983), American Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox *

Chaim Buchbinder Chaim Buchbinder (alternate spellings: Haim, Baram, Bar-am, Hebrew: חיים בוכבינדר; born October 11, 1943) is an Israeli former basketball player and coach. During his club career, he scored a total of 6,044 career points, which is the ...

(born 1943), Israeli basketball player *

Chaim Deutsch Chaim M. Deutsch (born April 15, 1969) is an American politician who served as a New York City Council Member for the New York City's 48th City Council district, 48th district from 2014 to 2021. He is a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat. ...

(born 1969), New York City Council member *

Chaim Elata use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , body_discovered = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinates = ...

(born 1929), professor emeritus of mechanical engineering and president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and chairman of the Israel Public Utility Authority for Electricity *

Chaim Hames Chaim (Harvey) J. Hames (; born 8 July 1966) is a professor of history at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), in Beersheba, Beer-Sheva, Israel, and the incumbent of the David Berg and Family Chair in European History. On August 1, 2018, ...

(born 1966), professor of history and rector at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev *

Chaim Herzog Chaim Herzog (; 17 September 1918 – 17 April 1997) was an Israeli politician, military officer, lawyer and author who served as the president of Israel between 1983 and 1993. Born in Belfast and raised primarily in Dublin, the son of Ireland' ...

(1918–1997), Israeli president *

Chaim Kanievsky Shemaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky (; January 8, 1928 – March 18, 2022) was an Israeli Haredi rabbi and ''posek''. He was a leading authority in Haredi Jewish society on legal and ethical practice. Known as the '' Gadol HaDor'' ("greatest of his ...

(1928–2022), Haredi rabbi and leader in Israel *

Chaim Koppelman Chaim Koppelman (November 17, 1920 – December 6, 2009) was an American artist, art education, art educator, and Aesthetic Realism consultant. Best known as a Printmaking, printmaker, he also produced sculpture, paintings, and drawings. A membe ...

(1920–2009), American printmaker * Chaim Hezekiah Medini (1834–1904), the Sdei Chemed – Talmudic scholar and halachist *

Chaim Potok Chaim Potok (February 17, 1929 – July 23, 2002) was an American author, novelist, playwright, editor and rabbi. Of the more than a dozen novels he authored, his first book '' The Chosen'' (1967) was listed on ''The New York Times'' Best ...

(1929–2002), American Jewish author *

Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz Chaim Leib Halevi Shmuelevitz, (; 1902–1979) — also spelled Shmulevitz — was a member of the faculty of the Mir Yeshiva (Poland), Mirrer Yeshiva for more than 40 years, in Poland, Shanghai and Jerusalem, serving as Rosh yeshiva during i ...

(1902–1979), Mirrer Rosh HaYeshiva * Chaim Schreiber (1918–1984), British furniture manufacturer *

Chaim Topol Chaim Topol (; 9 September 1935 – 8 March 2023), mononymously known as Topol, was an Israeli actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Tevye, the lead role in the stage musical ''Fiddler on the Roof'' and the Fiddler on the Roof ...

(1935–2023), Israeli actor *

Chaim Weizmann Chaim Azriel Weizmann ( ; 27 November 1874 – 9 November 1952) was a Russian-born Israeli statesman, biochemist, and Zionist leader who served as president of the World Zionist Organization, Zionist Organization and later as the first pre ...

(1874–1952), Israeli president * Chaim Winant, birth name of H. M. Wynant (born 1927), American actor * Chaim Witz, birth name of

Gene Simmons Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; ; born August 25, 1949) also known by his stage persona "The Demon", is an Israeli-born American musician. He was the bassist and co-lead singer of the hard rock band Kiss (band), Kiss, which he co-founded wit ...

(born 1949), Israeli-American co-founder of the band Kiss * Chaim Zlotikman (born 1957), Israeli basketball player

People with the surname

Haim

* Alana (born 1991),

Danielle Danielle is a modern French female variant of the male name Daniel, meaning "The God(dess)" in the French language. The name "Daniel" originates from the Hebrew Bible and is associated with the prophet Daniel. In Hebrew, the name is composed of ...

(born 1989) and

Este Haim Este Arielle Haim (born March 14, 1986) is an American musician. She is best known as the bassist and a vocalist of the pop-rock trio Haim, which she formed with her younger sisters Alana and Danielle in 2006. She co-writes all of Haim's songs ...

(born 1986), members of the American band

Haim Haim can be a first name or surname originating in Hebrew or derived from the Old German name Haimo. Etymology Hebrew Chayyim ( ', Classical Hebrew: , Israeli Hebrew: ), also transcribed ''Haim, Hayim, Chayim'', or ''Chaim'' (English pronunciat ...

Corey Haim Corey Ian Haim (December 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010) was a Canadian actor who rose to fame in the 1980s as a teen heartthrob. He starred in '' Silver Bullet'' (1985), '' Murphy's Romance'' (1985), '' Lucas'' (1986), '' License to Drive'' (1988 ...

(1971–2010), Canadian actor *

Emmanuelle Haïm Emmanuelle Haïm (; born 11 May 1962) is a French harpsichordist and conductor with a particular interest in early music and Baroque music. Early life, student and assistant years Haïm was born and grew up in Paris, and was raised Catholic alt ...

(born 1962), French harpsichordist and conductor * Karima Mathilda Haim or

Mathilda May Mathilda May (born Karin Haïm; 8 February 1965) is a French film actress and director. Her most well-known roles include portraying Space Girl in '' Lifeforce'' (1985) and Jeanne Gardella in '' Toutes peines confondues'' (1992). Her father is ...

(born 1965), French actress *

Mordechai Haim Mordechai "Moti" Haim () is a former Israeli footballer, musician and actor who played for Maccabi Jaffa and Maccabee Los Angeles. He is the father of all three members from the female music trio Haim. Early life Haim was born in 1954. He gre ...

(born 1954), former Israeli footballer, father of the band members of Haim *

Ofir Haim Ofir Haim (; born 21 April 1975) is an Israeli former Association footballer, footballer and manager who head coaches both the Israel national under-19 football team, Israel national under-19 team and the Israel national under-20 football team, I ...

(born 1975), Israeli football player *

Philippe Haïm Philippe Haïm (born 2 September 1967 in Paris) is a French film director, writer and composer. He sometimes is also actor, as in ''Comme un poisson hors de l'eau'' (1999). Filmography * 1986: '' Maine Océan'' * 1991: '' Les Naufragés'' * 1 ...

(born 1967), French film director, writer and composer * Salim Haim (1919–1983), Iraqi dermatologist * Solayman Haïm (1887–1970), Iranian lexicographer, translator, playwright and essayist *

Werner Haim Werner Haim (born 21 February 1968) is an Austrian former ski jumper. Career In the World Cup he finished 32 times among the top 10, his best result being a victory from Liberec in January 1990. He finished ninth in the overall World Cup that sea ...

(born 1968), Austrian ski jumper * Yehoyada Haim (born 1941), Israeli diplomat

Hyam

* Barry Hyam (born 1975), English cricketer * Dominic Hyam (born 1995), Scottish footballer * Luke Hyam (born 1991), English footballer *

Solomon Hyam Solomon Herbert Hyam (16 May 1837 – 7 November 1901) was an Australian politician. He was born at Sarah's Valley near Jamberoo to landowner and innkeeper Michael Hyam and Charlotte Rebecca Broughton. He was home schooled and became a comm ...

(1837–1901), Australian politician * Stephanie Hyam, British actress

Hayyim

* Aharon Ibn Hayyim (1545–1632), Biblical and Talmudic commentator *

Yosef Hayyim Yosef Hayim (1 September 1835 – 30 August 1909) ( Iraqi Hebrew: Yoseph Ḥayyim; ; or Yosef Chaim) was a leading Baghdadi ''hakham'' ( Sephardi rabbi), authority on ''halakha'' (Jewish law), and Master Kabbalist. He is best known as author of ...

(1832–1909), Sephardic rabbi

References

{{given name, type=both Hebrew masculine given names Jewish given names

Etymology

Hebrew

Old German

People with the given name

Haim

Hayim or Hayyim

Hyam or Haym

Chaim

People with the surname

Haim

Hyam

Hayyim

See also

References