Biblical Names
Biblical names have outlasted empires. Names like Elizabeth, John and Sarah have been in steady use for two thousand years, while once-obscure figures such as Ezra, Micah, Naomi and Eden now sit comfortably on modern birth certificates. Most come from Hebrew, with a smaller group from Greek and Aramaic, and nearly every one carries a meaning tied to faith, family or the story of the person who first bore it.
Below are 100+ Bible names grouped by testament and by style, each with its meaning and a scripture reference so you can read the story behind it. For longer single-gender lists, see our biblical boy names and biblical girl names, or browse Hebrew names and Christian names for more options rooted in the same tradition.
Biblical Names: browse all lists
Old Testament names for boys
Patriarchs, kings and prophets from the Hebrew Bible. Many of these are among the most enduring boy names in English. Our Hebrew boy names list covers the original forms in more depth.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham | Father of many nations | Genesis 17 |
| Isaac | He will laugh | Genesis 21 |
| Jacob | Supplanter, holder of the heel | Genesis 25 |
| Joseph | He will add | Genesis 37 |
| Benjamin | Son of the right hand | Genesis 35 |
| Moses | Drawn out (of the water) | Exodus 2 |
| Aaron | Possibly “high mountain” or “exalted” | Exodus 4 |
| Joshua | The Lord is salvation | Book of Joshua |
| Caleb | Possibly “dog,” read as “wholehearted, faithful” | Numbers 13–14 |
| Samuel | Heard by God / name of God | 1 Samuel 1 |
| David | Beloved | 1 Samuel 16 |
| Solomon | Peace (from shalom) | 1 Kings 1–11 |
| Nathan | He gave | 2 Samuel 12 |
| Daniel | God is my judge | Book of Daniel |
| Elijah | My God is the Lord (Yahweh) | 1 Kings 17–19 |
| Noah | Rest, comfort | Genesis 6–9 |
| Levi | Joined, attached | Genesis 29:34 |
| Reuben | Behold, a son | Genesis 29:32 |
| Judah | Praise | Genesis 29:35 |
| Ephraim | Fruitful | Genesis 41:52 |
| Jesse | Gift | 1 Samuel 16 |
| Josiah | The Lord supports | 2 Kings 22 |
Old Testament names for girls
Matriarchs, queens and heroines. Several — Sarah, Rebecca, Leah — never really went out of fashion; others, like Tirzah and Keziah, are ready for a revival.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Eve | Life, living | Genesis 3:20 |
| Sarah | Princess | Genesis 17:15 |
| Rebecca | To tie, bind (possibly “captivating”) | Genesis 24 |
| Rachel | Ewe | Genesis 29 |
| Leah | Weary, or possibly “wild cow” | Genesis 29 |
| Miriam | Possibly “bitter” or “beloved”; sister of Moses | Exodus 15:20 |
| Deborah | Bee | Judges 4–5 |
| Ruth | Friend, companion | Book of Ruth |
| Naomi | Pleasantness | Ruth 1 |
| Hannah | Grace, favor | 1 Samuel 1 |
| Abigail | My father’s joy | 1 Samuel 25 |
| Esther | Star (Persian); Hebrew name Hadassah, “myrtle” | Book of Esther |
| Dinah | Judged, vindicated | Genesis 34 |
| Keziah | Cassia (a fragrant spice) | Job 42:14 |
| Jemima | Dove | Job 42:14 |
| Tirzah | Delight, pleasantness | Numbers 27 |
| Zipporah | Bird | Exodus 2:21 |
| Jael | Mountain goat | Judges 4 |
| Huldah | Weasel; a prophetess | 2 Kings 22:14 |
| Orpah | Possibly “back of the neck” | Ruth 1:4 |
| Michal | Who is like God? | 1 Samuel 18 |
New Testament names
Apostles, early church leaders and the women who followed Jesus. Many of these are Greek or Latin in origin, reflecting the Roman world of the first century. See also our list of saint names.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Mary | Hebrew Miriam; possibly “beloved” or “bitter” | Luke 1 |
| John | Hebrew, “God is gracious” | Gospel of John |
| Peter | Greek, “rock” | Matthew 16:18 |
| Andrew | Greek, “manly, strong” | John 1:40 |
| James | From Jacob, “supplanter” | Mark 3:17 |
| Matthew | Hebrew, “gift of God” | Matthew 9:9 |
| Thomas | Aramaic, “twin” | John 20:24 |
| Philip | Greek, “lover of horses” | John 1:43 |
| Paul | Latin, “small, humble” | Acts 13:9 |
| Timothy | Greek, “honoring God” | 1 and 2 Timothy |
| Luke | Greek, “from Lucania” | Colossians 4:14 |
| Mark | Latin, from Mars | Acts 12:12 |
| Stephen | Greek, “crown” | Acts 6–7 |
| Barnabas | Aramaic, “son of encouragement” | Acts 4:36 |
| Elizabeth | Hebrew, “my God is an oath” | Luke 1 |
| Anna | Greek form of Hannah, “grace” | Luke 2:36 |
| Martha | Aramaic, “lady, mistress” | Luke 10:38 |
| Lydia | Greek, “woman from Lydia” | Acts 16:14 |
| Priscilla | Latin, “ancient” | Acts 18 |
| Phoebe | Greek, “bright, radiant” | Romans 16:1 |
| Joanna | Hebrew, “God is gracious” | Luke 8:3 |
| Tabitha | Aramaic, “gazelle” | Acts 9:36 |
| Simeon | Hebrew, “he has heard” | Luke 2:25 |
| Lois | Possibly Greek, “better, more desirable” | 2 Timothy 1:5 |
| Eunice | Greek, “good victory” | 2 Timothy 1:5 |
Prophet and hero names
Short, strong names from the prophetic books and the Book of Judges. These are especially popular right now with parents who want a biblical name that feels fresh.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah | God is salvation | Book of Isaiah |
| Jeremiah | God will exalt | Book of Jeremiah |
| Ezekiel | God strengthens | Book of Ezekiel |
| Ezra | Help | Book of Ezra |
| Micah | Who is like God? | Book of Micah |
| Jonah | Dove | Book of Jonah |
| Amos | Carried, borne by God | Book of Amos |
| Hosea | Salvation | Book of Hosea |
| Joel | The Lord is God | Book of Joel |
| Malachi | My messenger | Book of Malachi |
| Gideon | Hewer, one who cuts down | Judges 6–8 |
| Samson | Of the sun | Judges 13–16 |
| Elisha | God is salvation | 2 Kings 2 |
| Nehemiah | Comforted by God | Book of Nehemiah |
| Zechariah | God remembers | Book of Zechariah |
Unique and rare Bible names
Minor figures with major style. These appear only briefly in scripture, which makes them distinctive without being invented. For more uncommon choices, browse rare names.
| Name | Meaning | Where in the Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Asher | Happy, blessed | Genesis 30:13 |
| Eden | Delight; the garden | Genesis 2 |
| Selah | Pause (a musical term) | Psalms, e.g. Psalm 3 |
| Shiloh | Tranquil; a place name | Joshua 18:1 |
| Zion | Fortress; a hill in Jerusalem | 2 Samuel 5:7 |
| Boaz | Swiftness, or “in him is strength” | Ruth 2 |
| Obadiah | Servant of God | Book of Obadiah |
| Silas | Latin Silvanus, “of the forest” | Acts 15:40 |
| Jethro | Abundance, excellence | Exodus 3:1 |
| Enoch | Dedicated | Genesis 5:24 |
| Abel | Breath | Genesis 4 |
| Seth | Appointed | Genesis 4:25 |
| Adah | Adornment | Genesis 4:19 |
| Damaris | Possibly “calf” or “gentle” | Acts 17:34 |
| Susanna | Lily | Luke 8:3 |
| Mahalath | Lyre, song | Genesis 28:9 |
| Ariel | Lion of God | Isaiah 29:1 |
| Jubal | Possibly “stream” or “ram’s horn” | Genesis 4:21 |
How to choose a biblical name
- Read the story, not just the meaning. Jezebel means something harmless in Hebrew, but her biblical role makes the name a tough sell; always check the passage.
- Decide between the familiar English form and the original: Johanna vs. Joanna, Miriam vs. Mary, Yosef vs. Joseph.
- Short prophet names (Ezra, Amos, Joel, Micah) pair well with longer surnames and feel modern without losing their roots.
- Look at the minor characters. Books like Ruth, Acts and Chronicles hide lovely names that few people use, such as Keziah, Damaris and Tirzah.
- Consider a virtue name from scripture as a middle name, like Grace, Faith or Hope; our middle names list has more pairings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular biblical name?
In the United States, names like Noah, Elijah, James, Benjamin and Elizabeth are consistently among the most popular overall (SSA data), and all come straight from the Bible.
Are biblical names Hebrew or Greek?
Most Old Testament names are Hebrew, some are Aramaic or Persian (Esther), and many New Testament names are Greek or Latin, such as Peter, Phoebe, Paul and Priscilla.
What is a strong biblical name for a boy?
Gideon, Samson, Caleb, Ezekiel and David all carry stories of courage. Ezekiel literally means “God strengthens.”
What are rare biblical girl names?
Keziah, Jemima, Tirzah, Damaris, Zipporah and Adah are all authentic Bible names that are rarely used today.
Which biblical names are unisex?
Eden, Shiloh, Zion, Selah and Jordan (the river) are used for both boys and girls.