Old German etymology[edit]

The earliest attested forms of this etymology occur in Old German, as Haimo. This Old German name was borrowed into Old French, including into the Anglo-Norman dialect spoken in England, in forms including Haim. This became one source of the English surname Haim, along with variants like Hame, Haim, Haime, Haimes, Hains, Haines, Hayns, Haynes, Hammon and Hammond.[5]


In 1881, three people in Great Britain bore the surname Haim and 67 the surname Haime. Around 2011, the numbers stood at 94 and 173 respectively, with two bearers of the surname Haim in Ireland.[5]

(1899–1933), Zionist politician

Haim Arlosoroff

(1696–1743), the Or Hachaim

Chaim ibn Attar

(1924–1994), Israeli military officer and government minister

Haim Bar-Lev

Israeli economist and president of Tel Aviv University

Haim Ben-Shahar

(died 1588), German rabbi

Hayim ben Bezalel

(1873–1934), Hebrew-language poet

Hayim Nahman Bialik

(born 1983), American chief baseball officer for the Boston Red Sox

Chaim Bloom

(born 1946), Israeli academic, writer and filmmaker

Haim Bresheeth-Zabner

(born 1943), Israeli basketball player

Chaim Buchbinder

New York City Council member

Chaim Deutsch

professor emeritus of mechanical engineering and president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and chairman of the Israel Public Utility Authority for Electricity

Chaim Elata

Hyam Greenbaum, founder of the

BBC Television Orchestra

(born 1966), professor of history and rector at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Chaim (Harvey) Hames

(1935–2018), Israeli leftist political activist

Haim Hanegbi

(born 1940), Israeli theoretical physicist; president of the Weizmann Institute of Science

Haim Harari

(1937–1994), Israeli basketball player

Haim Hazan

(1898–1973), Israeli novelist

Haim Hazaz

(1918–1997), Israeli president

Chaim Herzog

(1991–2023), Israeli academic and peace activist

Hayim Katsman

(1920–2009), American printmaker

Chaim Koppelman

(1924–2004), British scholar

Hyam Maccoby

(1834–1904), the Sdei Chemed – Talmudic scholar and halachist

Chaim Hezekiah Medini

(or Palagi, 1788–1868), Torah scholar

Haim Palachi

(1911–1962), English poet and academic

Hyam Plutzik

(1929–2002), American Jewish author

Chaim Potok

(born 1972), Israeli former international footballer

Haim Revivo

(born 1948), Australian mathematician

J. Hyam Rubinstein

(born 1944), Israeli-American media mogul

Haim Saban

(1740–1785), primary financier of the American Revolution

Haym Salomon

(born 1944), Israeli basketball player

Haim Starkman

(1902–1979), Mirrer Rosh HaYeshiva

Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz

(1935–2023), Israeli actor

Chaim Topol

(died 1813), rabbi

Hayyim Tyrer

(1874–1952), Israeli president

Chaim Weizmann

(born 1949 as Chaim Witz), Israeli-American co-founder of Kiss

Gene Simmons

(born 1927 as Chaim Winant), American actor

H. M. Wynant

(born 1957), Israeli basketball player

Chaim Zlotikman

Notable people with the name include:

(fl. 1836), Russian exegete

Aaron ben Hayyim

(1545–1632), Biblical and Talmudic commentator

Aharon Ibn Hayyim

(born 1991), Danielle (born 1989) and Este Haim (born 1986), members of the American band Haim

Alana

(1971–2010), Canadian actor

Corey Haim

(born 1960), Israeli rabbi

David Bar-Hayim

(born 1962), French harpsichordist and conductor

Emmanuelle Haïm

Karima Mathilda Haim or (born 1965), French actress

Mathilda May

former Israeli footballer, father of the band members of Haim

Mordechai "Moti" Haim

or Phoenix (born 1971), Australian computer hacker

Nahshon Even-Chaim

(born 1975), Israeli football player

Ofir Haim

(1897–1984), Israeli composer

Paul Ben-Haim

(born 1967), French film director, writer and composer

Philippe Haïm

(1919–1983), Iraqi dermatologist

Salim Haim

(1887–1970), Iranian lexicographer, translator, playwright and essayist

Solayman Haïm

(born 1968), Austrian ski jumper

Werner Haim

(1955–2012), Israeli boxer

Yehuda Ben-Haim

(born 1941), Israeli diplomat

Yehoyada Haim

(1832–1909), Sephardic Rabbi

Yosef Hayyim

(born 1907), Israeli linguist

Ze'ev Ben-Haim

(fl. 889–895), Gaon of Sura

Zemah ben Hayyim

(born 1945), American-Israeli sculptor and painter

Zigi Ben-Haim

for Children with Cancer in Israel

Hayim Association

University of Oxford

L'Chaim Society

The word Haim is common among Jewish and Israeli organisations and institutions.

includes people with the surname Hyam

Higham (surname)

Hyams

Hyman