Biblical Baby Names: Meaningful Girl and Boy Names

Biblical baby names carry something modern coinages rarely do: roots that run back thousands of years, and a meaning behind every syllable. This guide gathers biblical girl names and biblical boy names, the people who wore them, plus a set of rarer picks most lists skip. Many still sit near the top of today's charts, so you may know more of them than you expect.

You do not need to be religious to love these names. They are for anyone drawn to their sound, story, or heritage.

Biblical girl names

Each name below lists its origin, a short meaning, and who the figure was.

• Hannah — Hebrew, "grace, favor"; the mother who prayed for a child and gave birth to the prophet Samuel.
• Sarah — Hebrew, "princess"; wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
• Rebecca — Hebrew, "to bind, to join"; wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.
• Naomi — Hebrew, "pleasantness"; Ruth's mother-in-law in the Book of Ruth.
• Ruth — Hebrew, "friend, companion"; the loyal Moabite widow at the heart of her own book.
• Esther — Persian and Hebrew, "star"; the queen who spoke up to save her people.
• Leah — Hebrew, "weary" or "delicate"; the first wife of Jacob and mother of six sons.
• Rachel — Hebrew, "ewe"; the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph.
• Abigail — Hebrew, "my father's joy"; a quick-thinking woman who later married King David.
• Eve — Hebrew, "life, living"; the first woman in Genesis.
• Miriam — Hebrew, "beloved" or "wished-for child"; the prophetess and sister of Moses.
• Elizabeth — Hebrew, "God is my oath"; the mother of John the Baptist.
• Tabitha — Aramaic, "gazelle"; a kind, generous disciple in the Book of Acts.
• Lydia — Greek, "woman from Lydia"; a cloth merchant and one of the first converts in Europe.

Biblical boy names

• Noah — Hebrew, "rest, comfort"; the man who built the ark and outlasted the flood.
• Elijah — Hebrew, "the Lord is my God"; the bold prophet who challenged the priests of Baal.
• Levi — Hebrew, "joined, attached"; a son of Jacob and father of the priestly tribe.
• Caleb — Hebrew, "whole-hearted, faithful"; a scout who trusted the promise of the land.
• Ezra — Hebrew, "help"; the scribe who rebuilt worship after the exile.
• Isaiah — Hebrew, "the Lord is salvation"; the prophet of hope and comfort.
• Micah — Hebrew, "who is like God?"; the prophet who called for justice and mercy.
• Nathan — Hebrew, "he gave"; the honest prophet who advised King David.
• Samuel — Hebrew, "God has heard"; the prophet who anointed Israel's first kings.
• Josiah — Hebrew, "the Lord supports"; the young reforming king of Judah.
• Gideon — Hebrew, "mighty warrior"; the judge who won with a tiny band of men.
• Silas — Latin and Greek, "of the forest"; a steady travel companion of the apostle Paul.
• Jonah — Hebrew, "dove"; the reluctant prophet swallowed by a great fish.
• Asher — Hebrew, "happy, blessed"; a son of Jacob and one of the twelve tribes.

Biblical names that top the charts now

Some biblical baby names never left. Others came roaring back and now crowd the top ten in the United States and beyond. If you want a name that feels rooted yet current, start here.

• Noah — a fixture at or near number one for years.
• Elijah — a top-ten mainstay for boys.
• Isaac — Hebrew, "he laughs"; the promised son of Abraham and Sarah.
• Adam — Hebrew, "man, earth"; the first man in Genesis.
• Levi, Ezra, and Asher — short, warm, and climbing fast.
• Hannah, Naomi, and Abigail — girl names that stay in steady favor.

For a wider view of where these sit today, see our roundup of the most popular baby names.

Rare and underused biblical gems

If the top ten feels crowded, these names stay uncommon while still carrying real weight.

• Boaz — Hebrew, "swiftness" or "in him is strength"; the kind landowner who married Ruth.
• Tobias — Greek form of Tobiah, "the Lord is good"; the young traveler of the Book of Tobit.
• Selah — Hebrew, a musical marker meaning roughly "pause and lift up"; a word woven through the Psalms.
• Keziah — Hebrew, "cassia," a sweet spice; one of Job's daughters, born after his trials.
• Zipporah — Hebrew, "bird"; the wife of Moses.
• Barnabas — Aramaic, "son of encouragement"; the warm, generous companion of Paul.
• Tamar — Hebrew, "date palm"; a bold woman in the family line of King David.
• Jotham — Hebrew, "the Lord is perfect"; a king of Judah remembered for doing right.

How to choose a biblical name

A great name balances a few things at once. Weigh these before you commit, and for a deeper walkthrough see our guide on how to choose a baby name.

• Meaning versus sound. Read the meaning aloud, then say the name aloud. You want both to feel right, not just one.
• Popularity check. Look up the current rank. A top-ten name means your child may share it with classmates; a rarer pick trades that for a fresh feel.
• Nickname test. Elizabeth gives you Eliza, Beth, or Liz. Samuel gives you Sam. Think about the short form your child will actually hear.
• Faith and heritage. If the name honors your family or tradition, note that. A name with a story behind it becomes an easy gift to explain later.
• Surname pairing. Say the full name three times. Watch for clashing sounds, odd rhymes, or initials that spell something you would rather avoid.

FAQ

Are biblical baby names still popular?

Very. Noah, Elijah, Isaac, Levi, and Ezra all sit high on current boy charts, while Hannah, Naomi, and Abigail hold steady for girls. Many parents pick them without thinking of them as "religious" names at all.

What are some rare biblical names?

Boaz, Selah, Keziah, Zipporah, Tobias, Barnabas, and Jotham stay well off the top-100 lists. They give you a biblical root with a sound most people have never heard on a playground.

Do biblical names suit families who are not religious?

Yes. A name belongs to whoever loves it. Plenty of families choose Ruth, Levi, or Micah purely for the sound and the meaning, with no faith attached.

How do I pick between two biblical names?

Say each one with your surname, picture it on a grown adult, and check the nickname it produces. The name that still feels right after a week of living with it is usually the one.

A name is the start of a face

The right name sets a tone before your child ever arrives. Once you have a favorite, it is natural to wonder about the little face that will carry it. Preview your future baby with our AI baby generator and put an image next to the name you love.