Variant of Hadassah, the Hebrew name of Queen Esther, meaning "myrtle tree."
Hadassa, more commonly spelled Hadassah, comes from Hebrew and means “myrtle.” The myrtle plant has long carried symbolic weight in Jewish tradition, associated with beauty, blessing, and ritual life; it is one of the Four Species used during the festival of Sukkot. The name is especially significant because Hadassah is the Hebrew name of Esther in the Bible.
Before becoming queen in the Persian court, Esther is introduced as Hadassah, giving the name a dual identity: botanical and heroic, intimate and historical. Through the Book of Esther, Hadassa became associated with courage, hidden identity, and the protection of a people under threat. Esther’s story made the name resonant across centuries of Jewish memory, even if Esther became the more common public form in many languages.
Hadassah remained especially cherished within Jewish communities, where its Hebrew texture and scriptural depth were preserved. In modern times it is also strongly associated with Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, founded in 1912, which gave the name a further connection to education, medicine, and Jewish public life. As usage evolved, Hadassa and Hadassah retained a dignified, rooted quality rather than becoming fully mainstream outside Jewish contexts.
That relative rarity has helped preserve its distinctiveness. It carries the fragrance of an ancient plant, the bravery of a biblical heroine, and the continuity of communal memory. Unlike names that drift far from their source, Hadassa still feels closely tied to language, ritual, and story. Its beauty is quiet but durable, grounded in both scripture and living tradition.