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The Israeli Names Portal

ינאי


Meaning of the name ינאי

The name Yannai is an ancient and distinctive Hebrew name with deep historical roots spanning different periods of Jewish history. The origin of the name is debated among name scholars, but the accepted view is that it is an Aramaic name derived from the root "yana" or "yana," meaning "to oppress," "to suppress," or "to afflict." Another interpretation connects the name to the root "yinon," which appears in the Bible and symbolizes continuity, renewal, and flourishing. The name carries a heavy historical burden and is associated with central figures in Jewish history, from the Hasmonean period to the Talmudic era. The most famous historical figure bearing this name is Alexander Yannai, one of the Hasmonean kings who reigned between 103-76 BCE. Alexander Yannai, whose Hebrew name was Yehonatan, was both king and high priest, and he is known in history as an aggressive military ruler who expanded the borders of Judea to dimensions not seen since the days of David and Solomon. His reign was characterized by numerous wars, extensive conquests, but also intense internal conflicts with the Pharisees. His controversial figure reflects the complexity of that era, when the name Yannai became a symbol of power, leadership, and determination, but also of conflict and power struggles. During the Talmudic period, the name Yannai gained additional significance through the figure of Rabbi Yannai the Priest, one of the great first-generation Amoraim in the Land of Israel in the third century CE. Rabbi Yannai was a student of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, the editor of the Mishnah, and he established an important study house in Akhbara in the Upper Galilee. He served as a judge in the court of Tzippori and was known for his wisdom, righteousness, and dedication to Torah study. Rabbi Yannai is particularly remembered for his famous Talmudic saying: "We cannot understand either the prosperity of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous," which expresses the philosophical and theological depth of his thought. Through this figure, the name Yannai acquired meanings of wisdom, justice, scholarship, and spiritual leadership. Today, the name Yannai is considered a special and rare name, carrying the wealth of the historical and cultural heritage of the Jewish people, and is suitable for parents seeking a name with deep historical significance and unique character.

The name ינאי with vowels

יַנַּאי

The name ינאי in English

Yannai | Yanai | Jannai

ינאי is mainly suitable for

Boy

Is the name ינאי considered international

No

Origin of the name ינאי from Kabbalah

In Kabbalah, the name Yannai expresses the tension between power and wisdom, between action and thought. The letter Yud opens the name and symbolizes a divine point of light, a spiritual beginning, and supreme wisdom. The letters Nun and Aleph represent the descent into physical reality and the ascent back to the source. The name carries the power of balanced leadership, the ability to combine justice with mercy, and the insight that true power comes from connection to the spiritual root. The gematria of the name Yannai is 71, approaching the number 72 which symbolizes the seventy-two holy names and the angels guarding the world.

Gematria value for the name ינאי

71

=

10

י

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50

נ

+

1

א

+

10

י

Numerology value for the name ינאי

8

=

10

י

+

50

נ

+

1

א

+

10

י

=

71

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7

+

1

=

8

Famous people named ינאי

Yannai Frischer-Gutman - Israeli author, playwright and screenwriter | Yannai Ratpan - Israeli actor | Alexander Yannai - King of Judea during the Hasmonean period | Rabbi Yannai - Land of Israel Amora, student of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi

Names similar to ינאי

Total times the name ינאי was registered

5618 times

Graph of the name ינאי

* Source: Central Bureau of Statistics. As of April 2022