Hyssop

At a Glance

Meaning

A biblical herb whose English name passed through Greek 'hyssopos' from an earlier Hebrew word for the plant, used in ancient purification rites

Origin

Greek (ultimately Hebrew)

Pronunciation

HISS-uhpListen

Hyssop is a biblical herb, and its English name came through the Greek 'hyssopos' from an earlier Hebrew word for the plant, which was used in ancient purification rites. You may have heard that it literally means 'holy herb,' but that isn't accurate: the word comes from the Hebrew plant name 'ezov,' and the holy association reflects the herb's ceremonial use, not what the word itself translates to. It's pronounced HISS-uhp.

Meaning & Origin of Hyssop

Meaning: A biblical herb whose English name passed through Greek 'hyssopos' from an earlier Hebrew word for the plant, used in ancient purification rites.

Origin: Greek (ultimately Hebrew).

A common claim: Sometimes said to literally mean 'holy herb' Actually: The word doesn't literally translate to 'holy' — it comes from the Hebrew plant name 'ezov'; the holy association reflects hyssop's ceremonial use in biblical purification, not the word's literal meaning.

How to Pronounce Hyssop

Popularity of Hyssop

Hyssop does not appear in U.S. Social Security birth-name records (38,443 names on file, 1880–present) — likely too rare, too new, or recorded under a different spelling. No popularity rank or trend is shown rather than an invented one.

FAQ

What does the name Hyssop mean?

A biblical herb whose English name passed through Greek ‘hyssopos’ from an earlier Hebrew word for the plant, used in ancient purification rites.

How do you pronounce Hyssop?

Hyssop is pronounced HISS-uhp (IPA: /ˈhɪsəp/).

Make Hyssop Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Hyssop, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.