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Golda Meir's Real Name: Golda Mabovitch
Golda Meir was born Golda Mabovitch.
Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974, was born Golda Mabovitch (also spelled Mabovich) on May 3, 1898, in Kyiv, then part of the Russian Empire. Her family emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1906.
After marrying Morris Meyerson in 1917 she became Golda Meyerson, and the couple moved to Palestine in 1921. In 1956, when she became Israel's foreign minister, she Hebraized her surname to Meir, following Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's encouragement for officials to adopt Hebrew names. "Meir" means "illuminate" in Hebrew.
Meir was Israel's first, and so far only, female prime minister. She led the country during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and resigned in 1974.
FAQ
What was Golda Meir's married name before Meir?
Golda Meyerson, after her husband Morris Meyerson.
Why did Golda Meir change her name?
She Hebraized her surname in 1956 when she became foreign minister, at Ben-Gurion's urging.