Variant of Hadassah, Hebrew for 'myrtle tree'; the birth name of the biblical Queen Esther.
Hadasah is a variant spelling of Hadassah, one of the most beautiful and significant names in Hebrew tradition. The name means "myrtle tree" — from the Hebrew hadas — a fragrant, evergreen shrub that in Jewish symbolism represents righteousness, peace, and the hidden beauty of the humble. The myrtle is one of the Four Species of Sukkot, bound together in a ritual bundle that represents the unity of the Jewish people, giving the name rich ceremonial resonance.
Hadasah is most famously the Hebrew birth name of Queen Esther, the biblical heroine who concealed her Jewish identity to become queen of Persia, then risked her life to reveal herself and save her people from genocide. The Book of Esther tells us she was known by both names — Hadassah privately, Esther publicly — a duality that has made the name a powerful symbol of the tension between assimilation and authentic identity. This story is celebrated annually at Purim, one of Judaism's most joyful holidays, ensuring that Hadasah's biblical bearer is remembered and beloved across centuries.
In modern usage, Hadassah is perhaps best known as the name of the largest Jewish women's organization in the United States, founded in 1912, which lent the name renewed prominence in the 20th century. The spelling Hadasah offers a slightly simplified alternative that preserves the name's Hebrew authenticity while making it marginally more approachable in English-language contexts. It remains a name charged with beauty, courage, and cultural memory.