Makabi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Makabi

What is the meaning of the name Makabi ?

The baby name Makabi is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced mah-KAH-bee (approx. IPA: /mɑˈkɑbi/).

Makabi is Hebrew in Origin.

Makabi traces to Hebrew Ha-Makabi (המקבי), the epithet of Judah Maccabee, leader of the Maccabean revolt commemorated at Hanukkah. The term is commonly linked to a Semitic word meaning "hammer," a sobriquet for Judah's force; another well-known explanation reads it as an acrostic of the battle-cry Mi Kamocha Ba'elim Adonai ("Who is like You among the gods, O Lord"). As a given name, Makabi is rare but recognizable across Jewish communities and among families inspired by the Maccabean story.

Modern usage appears in Israel and the diaspora, influenced also by the Maccabi sports movement that popularized the name in public life. Variants include Maccabi, Maccabee, Makkabi, Makabe, and the Iberian form Macabeo; informal short forms such as Maka or Kabi occur. The name carries connotations of resilience, zeal, and faith-driven courage, grounded in a storied historical and cultural legacy.

⚙ Makabi is a rare name. It doesn't appear in any of the major national birth registries we track; we found only 17 recorded uses across 6 countries. Expect very few children to share this name.