Gematria assigns a number to each letter and adds them to get a word’s value. In English Ordinal gematria A=1 to Z=26, so “Amsterdam” adds up to 94. The calculator also shows Reduction (digits collapsed to 1–9), Reverse Ordinal, Standard (Jewish-style 1–800) and Hebrew values.
What is gematria?
Gematria is the practice of giving letters numerical values and summing them. It began in Hebrew and Greek, where letters double as numbers, and was used in Jewish mysticism to link words with the same total. For example in Hebrew chai (חי, “life”) adds up to 18, which is why gifts are often given in multiples of 18. Modern English gematria adapted the idea to the Latin alphabet, and today it is mostly a puzzle and a hobby for people who like patterns in words.
The ciphers explained
| Cipher | Rule | “Amsterdam” |
|---|---|---|
| English Ordinal | A=1, B=2 … Z=26 | 94 |
| Reduction (Pythagorean) | Each letter 1–9, repeating (A=1 … I=9, J=1 …) | 31 |
| Reverse Ordinal | A=26 … Z=1 | 149 |
| Standard (Jewish-style) | A–I 1–9, J–R 10–90, S–Z 100–800 | 481 |
English gematria does not have a single standard, which is why the same word can have different values on different sites. Always say which cipher you used.
Hebrew gematria (Mispar Hechrachi)
In the standard Hebrew system alef is 1, bet 2 and so on through the units to tet 9, then yod 10, kaf 20 up to tsadi 90, then qof 100, resh 200, shin 300 and tav 400. Final letter forms count the same as their regular forms in the basic method. If you type Hebrew letters, the calculator adds them with this table.
What gematria is and isn’t
It is an old interpretive tradition and a fun arithmetic game. It is not a method for predicting the future, and number coincidences are expected: with so many words and so many ciphers, matching totals are common by chance. You can compare it with other number-based ideas such as Numerology Calculator, which is based on the Pythagorean scheme, and the angel number calculator.
If you like patterns in numbers, the average calculator and percentage calculator work on lists of values.
Some examples to try
In English Ordinal gematria, “love” adds up to 54 (12 + 15 + 22 + 5) and “peace” to 30. Type your own name and compare the five ciphers above to see how much the totals differ. A well-known Hebrew example is the word echad (אחד, “one”), with a value of 13, which matches ahavah (אהבה, “love”), also 13. In Jewish tradition such matches were used as teaching tools and word play, not as proof. Many online communities collect words that share a total, but with thousands of words and several ciphers, coincidences are guaranteed.
A good way to see this for yourself is to enter a few random words and sentences, then count how often the totals match something “meaningful”. The more words you try, the more matches you find.
How to use this calculator
- Type or paste a word, name or phrase.
- Read the English Ordinal value first, the most common cipher.
- Compare the other four systems, which use different letter values.
- If you enter Hebrew letters, the standard Hebrew value appears too.
Key figures at a glance
| English Ordinal | A=1 … Z=26 |
|---|---|
| Reduction | Digits collapsed to 1–9 |
| Hebrew standard | Alef 1 … Tav 400 |
| Status | Traditional practice, not science |
Frequently asked questions
A system that assigns numerical values to letters and sums them to find the value of a word or phrase.
The simplest cipher, where A=1, B=2 and so on to Z=26.
It is a calculation, not a prediction. Matches between words are interesting patterns, not proof of hidden meaning.
English gematria has many ciphers with different letter values. Always check which one is used.
Yes. Hebrew letters are added with the standard Mispar Hechrachi values.