The change from Mileikowsky to Netanyahu was part of a broader trend among Zionists to adopt Hebrew names as a way to forge a new Israeli identity and break from the diaspora past. The name "Netanyahu" means "God has given" in Hebrew, which is more resonant with Jewish tradition and the Zionist movement's emphasis on a return to the Hebrew roots and the land of Israel. This name change symbolised a connection to the ancient Jewish homeland and cultural heritage.