The name Tel Aviv comes from... Tel Aviv has probably had more names than any other city in the world. It all began with the House-Builders Association that decided to build a new Jewish neighborhood outside Yafo. Later the association changed its name to Ahuzat Bait. Half a year after the establishment of the new neighborhood at the end of 1909, fierce arguments arose regarding the name of the new Hebrew neighborhood. Various names had been suggested: New Yafo, Neve Yafo, Aviva, Yefefiya, and Sha'anana. Herzliya, in commemoration of Theodor Herzl, was favored by many. Finally, Menachem Sheinkin suggested Tel Aviv. Sheinkin had in mind Nahum Sokolov's Hebrew translation of the title of Herzl's book "Altnueland". Sheinkin was not aware of the fact that there was already a neighborhood of that name in Ness Tziona. The name Tel Aviv was eventually decided on by majority vote, scoring 20 votes compared to 15 that had been cast in favor of Neve Yafo. When the founders of Tel Aviv chose the name, they were not aware that it was mentioned in the Bible. Sokolov once explained that he found Tel Aviv to be a faithful translation from German of "Altneuland". Like the German term, it involves a play of words between "old" and "new". In Hebrew, "tel" means a mound of ancient ruins and "aviv" means spring. Thus "Tel Aviv" balances a sense of the new (renewed) with a sense of heritage (ancient).  The first kiosk In Tel Aviv's early days, shops and kiosks were prohibited. The first request to open a kiosk was submitted to the Tel Aviv Committee a year after the neighborhood was established. The request was turned down. Permission was eventually granted, but only after lengthy discussions and negotiations, and on strict conditions. The kiosk was to be committee property and could sell soft drinks only. Except for special occasions, the kiosk was required to close at 23.00 hours. Of course the sale of alcohol was strictly prohibited. However, when permission was finally granted, it was on condition that the sale had to be conducted discreetly. Photo Album  Gymnasium Herzliya Established in 1905 with only 17 students, Gymnasium Herzliya high school was the most prominent building in the new neighborhood. For years it served as the center of Tel Aviv's social and cultural life, as the "heart" of the city.  Ahuzabet: Tel Aviv's firstborn A few months after Tel Aviv was founded, her first children were born: Aharon Denin, the son of Yehezkel Sokovolsky Denin, and Ahuzabet Weiss, daughter of Akiva Arieh Weiss. Weiss had been instrumental in the establishment of Ahuzat Bait, Tel Aviv's first neighborhood. He wanted to name his daughter Ahuzat Bait, thus formalizing the link between the two historic events, the birth of the first Hebrew city and the birth of his daughter. His wife objected. In the end, the parents compromised on Ahuzabet (similar to Elizabeth).