Biblical Boy Names
Biblical names have never gone out of style. Noah, Elijah, James, Levi and Ezra are all consistently among the most popular boy names in the US (SSA data), and parents keep reaching past them for strong, lesser-known picks like Asa, Obed and Lemuel. This list gathers more than 110 biblical boy names, each with its meaning and a verse where you can meet the man behind the name.
We’ve grouped them by where they appear: patriarchs, prophets, kings and warriors, apostles and early church leaders, plus rare gems for parents who want something unusual. Looking for a sister name? Browse biblical girl names, or step back to the full biblical names list. Our strong boy names page overlaps with many of these.
Popular biblical boy names
These names sit near the top of US baby name charts year after year. They feel classic without sounding dated.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Noah | “Rest, comfort” | Genesis 5:29 |
| Elijah | “My God is Yahweh” | 1 Kings 17 |
| James | English form of Jacob, “supplanter” | Mark 3:17 |
| Benjamin | “Son of the right hand” | Genesis 35:18 |
| Levi | “Joined, attached” | Genesis 29:34 |
| Ezra | “Help” | Ezra 7:1 |
| Asher | “Happy, blessed” | Genesis 30:13 |
| Josiah | “Yahweh supports” or “Yahweh heals” | 2 Kings 22:1 |
| Daniel | “God is my judge” | Daniel 1:6 |
| Samuel | “Name of God” or “God has heard” | 1 Samuel 1:20 |
| David | “Beloved” | 1 Samuel 16:13 |
| Matthew | “Gift of Yahweh” | Matthew 9:9 |
| Jacob | “Holder of the heel, supplanter” | Genesis 25:26 |
| Isaac | “He will laugh” | Genesis 21:3 |
| Caleb | “Dog” (loyal) or “whole-hearted” | Numbers 13:30 |
| Micah | “Who is like Yahweh?” | Micah 1:1 |
Names of patriarchs and the tribes of Israel
The first families of Genesis and the twelve sons of Jacob gave their names to the tribes of Israel. Many of these names come with the meaning explained right in the verse.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | “Man,” linked to adamah, “earth” | Genesis 2:7 |
| Abel | “Breath” | Genesis 4:2 |
| Seth | “Appointed” | Genesis 4:25 |
| Enoch | “Dedicated” | Genesis 5:24 |
| Jared | “Descent” | Genesis 5:15 |
| Abraham | “Father of many” | Genesis 17:5 |
| Joseph | “He will add” | Genesis 30:24 |
| Judah | “Praised” | Genesis 29:35 |
| Reuben | “Behold, a son” | Genesis 29:32 |
| Simeon | “He has heard” | Genesis 29:33 |
| Gad | “Fortune” | Genesis 30:11 |
| Dan | “He judged” | Genesis 30:6 |
| Naphtali | “My struggle” | Genesis 30:8 |
| Zebulun | “Honor” or “dwelling” | Genesis 30:20 |
| Issachar | “There is reward” | Genesis 30:18 |
| Ephraim | “Fruitful” | Genesis 41:52 |
| Manasseh | “Causing to forget” | Genesis 41:51 |
Names of biblical prophets
Every book of the prophets carries its author’s name, and most include the name of God — -iah (Yahweh) or El — in their meaning. See also our names of God.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Moses | “Drawn out”; possibly Egyptian “son” | Exodus 2:10 |
| Aaron | Uncertain, possibly “exalted” | Exodus 4:14 |
| Elisha | “God is salvation” | 1 Kings 19:16 |
| Isaiah | “Yahweh is salvation” | Isaiah 1:1 |
| Jeremiah | “Yahweh exalts” | Jeremiah 1:1 |
| Ezekiel | “God strengthens” | Ezekiel 1:3 |
| Jonah | “Dove” | Jonah 1:1 |
| Joel | “Yahweh is God” | Joel 1:1 |
| Amos | “Carried” | Amos 1:1 |
| Hosea | “Salvation” | Hosea 1:1 |
| Obadiah | “Servant of Yahweh” | Obadiah 1:1 |
| Nahum | “Comforter” | Nahum 1:1 |
| Habakkuk | Possibly “embrace” | Habakkuk 1:1 |
| Zephaniah | “Yahweh has hidden” | Zephaniah 1:1 |
| Zechariah | “Yahweh remembers” | Zechariah 1:1 |
| Malachi | “My messenger” | Malachi 1:1 |
| Nathan | “He gave” | 2 Samuel 12:1 |
| Eli | “Ascended, high” | 1 Samuel 1:9 |
Names of kings, judges and warriors
Bold names for bold boys: the rulers of Israel and Judah, the judges who led in battle, and David’s mighty men. More fighters live on our names that mean warrior list, and royal picks on royal boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Saul | “Asked for” | 1 Samuel 9:2 |
| Solomon | “Peace” | 2 Samuel 12:24 |
| Hezekiah | “Yahweh strengthens” | 2 Kings 18:1 |
| Jehoshaphat | “Yahweh has judged” | 1 Kings 22:41 |
| Asa | Possibly “healer” | 1 Kings 15:9 |
| Uzziah | “Yahweh is my strength” | 2 Chronicles 26:1 |
| Jotham | “Yahweh is perfect” | 2 Kings 15:32 |
| Joash | “Yahweh has given” | 2 Kings 12:1 |
| Cyrus | Persian, possibly “sun” or “far-sighted” | Isaiah 45:1 |
| Joshua | “Yahweh is salvation” | Joshua 1:1 |
| Gideon | “Hewer, one who cuts down” | Judges 6:11 |
| Samson | “Of the sun” | Judges 13:24 |
| Boaz | Possibly “swiftness” or “in him is strength” | Ruth 2:1 |
| Jonathan | “Yahweh has given” | 1 Samuel 14:1 |
| Abner | “My father is light” | 1 Samuel 14:50 |
| Barak | “Lightning” | Judges 4:6 |
| Othniel | Possibly “strength of God” | Judges 3:9 |
| Eleazar | “God has helped” | 2 Samuel 23:9 |
| Benaiah | “Yahweh has built” | 2 Samuel 23:20 |
| Uriah | “Yahweh is my light” | 2 Samuel 11:3 |
New Testament boy names: apostles and early church
The Twelve and the leaders of the early church mix Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin names, a sign of the Roman world they lived in. For even more, see our saint names.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| John | “Yahweh is gracious” | Matthew 4:21 |
| Peter | “Rock” | Matthew 16:18 |
| Andrew | “Manly, strong” (Greek) | Matthew 4:18 |
| Thomas | “Twin” (Aramaic) | John 20:24 |
| Philip | “Lover of horses” | John 1:43 |
| Bartholomew | “Son of Talmai” | Matthew 10:3 |
| Nathanael | “God has given” | John 1:45 |
| Matthias | “Gift of Yahweh” | Acts 1:26 |
| Jude | “Praised” (from Judah) | Jude 1:1 |
| Simon | “He has heard” | Luke 6:15 |
| Paul | “Small” (Latin) | Acts 13:9 |
| Luke | “From Lucania” (Greek) | Colossians 4:14 |
| Mark | From Latin Marcus, likely linked to Mars | Acts 12:12 |
| Timothy | “Honoring God” | 1 Timothy 1:2 |
| Titus | Latin, meaning uncertain | Titus 1:4 |
| Silas | Possibly from Silvanus, “of the forest” | Acts 15:22 |
| Barnabas | “Son of encouragement” | Acts 4:36 |
| Stephen | “Crown” | Acts 6:5 |
| Lazarus | “God has helped” | John 11:1 |
| Zacchaeus | “Pure, innocent” | Luke 19:2 |
| Apollos | From the Greek god Apollo | Acts 18:24 |
Rare biblical boy names
Hidden gems for parents who want a scriptural name few classmates will share. Several — Obed, Jesse, Asaph — tie into the family tree of King David. Browse rare boy names for more unusual picks.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lemuel | “Devoted to God” | Proverbs 31:1 |
| Jethro | “Abundance, excellence” | Exodus 3:1 |
| Zadok | “Righteous” | 2 Samuel 8:17 |
| Obed | “Servant, worshiper” | Ruth 4:17 |
| Jesse | Possibly “gift” | 1 Samuel 16:1 |
| Elkanah | “God has created” | 1 Samuel 1:1 |
| Jabez | “Sorrow” (he prayed to be blessed) | 1 Chronicles 4:9 |
| Ira | “Watchful” | 2 Samuel 20:26 |
| Asaph | “Collector” | Psalm 50 |
| Tobias | “Yahweh is good” | Tobit 1:1 |
| Hiram | “Exalted brother” | 1 Kings 5:1 |
| Azariah | “Yahweh has helped” | Daniel 1:6 |
| Eliezer | “God is help” | Genesis 15:2 |
| Japheth | “Enlargement” | Genesis 9:27 |
| Mishael | “Who is what God is?” | Daniel 1:6 |
| Emmanuel | “God with us” | Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 |
Greek and Latin boy names from the New Testament
Paul’s letters are full of friends and coworkers with Greek and Roman names. They feel fresh today and pair nicely with Hebrew surnames or middle names — see our boy middle names.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rufus | “Red-haired” | Romans 16:13 |
| Linus | “Flax” | 2 Timothy 4:21 |
| Cornelius | Possibly “horn” | Acts 10:1 |
| Aquila | “Eagle” | Acts 18:2 |
| Felix | “Happy, lucky” | Acts 23:24 |
| Onesimus | “Useful” | Philemon 1:10 |
| Erastus | “Beloved” | Romans 16:23 |
| Justus | “Just, fair” | Acts 1:23 |
| Demetrius | “Follower of Demeter” | 3 John 1:12 |
| Jairus | “He enlightens” | Mark 5:22 |
| Nicodemus | “Victory of the people” | John 3:1 |
How to choose a biblical boy name
- Read the story first. A name’s meaning is only half of it. Ahab and Judas have fine meanings but difficult stories — look up the verse before you decide.
- Watch the “-iah” names. Josiah, Isaiah and Hezekiah all end in a form of God’s name, so they pair beautifully with a short surname.
- Try an alternate form. If Jacob feels too common, James and Jake share its roots; Eli and Elias are gentler takes on Elijah.
- Balance old and new. An unusual first name like Boaz or Lemuel pairs well with a familiar middle name such as James or David.
- Say the full name aloud. Test first, middle and last together — and check the initials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular biblical boy name?
Noah and Elijah are consistently among the most popular boy names in the US (SSA data), and James, Benjamin, Levi, Ezra and Asher also rank very high.
What is a strong biblical name for a boy?
Gideon, Joshua, Samson, Boaz, Barak (“lightning”), Ezekiel (“God strengthens”) and Uzziah (“Yahweh is my strength”) are all strong names with warrior or kingly stories.
What are some rare biblical boy names?
Lemuel, Obed, Jabez, Zadok, Asaph, Ira, Mishael and Onesimus are authentic biblical names that are rarely used today.
What biblical boy name means “gift from God”?
Matthew and Matthias both mean “gift of Yahweh,” Nathanael means “God has given,” and Jonathan means “Yahweh has given.”
What does “-el” or “-iah” mean in biblical names?
“El” is a Hebrew word for God and “-iah” (or “-jah”) is a short form of Yahweh, so names like Daniel (“God is my judge”) and Josiah (“Yahweh supports”) are small statements of faith.