40+ Beautiful Biblical Baby Names
When youâre looking for a classic baby name, consider seeking inspiration in one of the oldest, most influential texts on the planet: the Bible. Â
Biblical baby names are traditional and offer deep meaning. They have long stood the test of time, with many biblical names serving as perennial chart-toppers, such as Noah and Jacob for boys and Abigail and Hannah for girls. Not to mention other well-loved biblical names for girls, like Mary, Leah, or Rebecca...and donât forget popular biblical names for boys like Michael, Daniel, Matthew, and Elijah.Â
But if you want a biblical baby name thatâs not so common, you can dig a little deeper into the Good Book and the many stories it has to tell. Weâve unearthed some of the most unique biblical baby names for boys and girls, as well as ten biblical baby names that work for either gender to round out a list full of freshâyet storiedâbiblical name ideas for your baby-to-be. Â
Biblical Baby Names for Boys
Adino: Itâs an Old Testament name that means âadornment.â Adino was one of Davidâs âmighty menâ and you can feminise this one for a girl by changing the âoâ so it reads Adina. The feminine version means âslender, delicateâ in Hebrew.
Azel: A biblical sidestep from the more popular Axel, this Hebrew baby name from the Bible means ânoble.â
Barak: The Old Testament name meaning âlightningâ given to a son of Abinoam. For a more of-the-moment context, itâs a lovely tribute to the 44th U.S. president, Barack Obama.Â
Ephron: Meaning âdoubly fruitful,â itâs one of the more common names from the Bible on this list and can be spelled this way or in the Hebrew versionâEphraim.
Ishmael: This baby name from the Bible means âGod will hear,â making it a poignant choice for a devout family. He was the son of Abraham; his story is in Genesis chapter 16.
Jemuel: It means âday of God,â giving a peaceful and restful quality to this rare biblical name. Itâs also a nice answer if youâre looking to name a child in honor of a James or Samuel in the family.
Joah: Far less popular than its rhyming name (Noah), this one means âbrother of God.â There are four men named Joah in the Old Testament, and itâs a unique twist if you want to name your son after a Joseph or Noah.
Kenan: This biblical name feels modern, as various spellings have cropped up in recent years. Itâs the anglicised version of the Irish name CianĂĄn meaning âlittle ancient one.â
Lael: The name means âbelonging to God.â Though itâs short and simple, it has a unique sound that is both soft and proud.Â
Mordecai: This biblical baby name has a special meaning: In the story of the Purim holiday he helped his cousin Queen Esther save the Jewish people from destruction. The biblical name meaning âfollower of Mardukâ might be a mouthful for a little guy, but Mordi is a cute nickname.Â
Omri: He was a biblical king of Israel, related to the harvest. Fittingly, this strong biblical name for boys translates to âmy sheafâ (or bundle of grain).
Philemon: This is an elegant solution if youâd like to call a son Phil but not Phillip. In the New Testament, Philemon was an epistle of Paul.Â
Silvanus: From the Latin meaning âwood, forest,â he was the Roman god of the forest. As it pertains to the Christian Bible, itâs a New Testament name belonging to one of Saint Paulâs companions. He is also called Silas, which makes for a cool nickname.
Tekoa: A biblical place name meaning âtrumpet;â this phonetic baby name is easy to spell and pronounce despite being so rare.Â
Zaccai: If youâve considered Zachary but want something that stands out, this biblical name for boys is a zippy option. The name means âpure.â
Biblical Baby Names for Girls
Adah: There were two wives in the Bible with this lovely girlsâ name which means âbeautiful.â
Apphia: This biblical girlsâ name appears in the New Testamentâitâs the Greek version of an ancient Hebrew moniker. The translation is âfruitful, increasing,â making it a name with promise. Aphi or Fia are both adorable nicknames.Â
Atara: In the Bible, the wife of Jerahmeel held this striking, royal name which means âcrown,â making it a perfect choice for your little princess.
Galilee: Definitely one of the least-used names on our list of biblical baby names, it has a joyful quality to it and means âthe province.â Alternate meanings are âwheel, revolution.â Galilee is a region of northern Israel where Jesus lived for at least 30 years. It also lends itself to a host of cute nicknames including Gali, Lily, or Leelee!
Hadassah: Itâs a beautiful biblical name meaning âcompassion,â containing the echo of Hadas, the myrtle tree. This is the Hebrew name of Queen Esther in the Bible.Â
Junia: The translation is âborn in June,â making it a perfect choice for your late-spring or early-summer baby girl. Junia is a unique name that appears in the New Testament.
Keturah: The name of Abrahamâs wife, also means âfragrance, sacrifice.â A lovely name for a little baby girl.
Mahala: This biblical name for girls means âtenderâ or âtendernessâ and was seen often in Colonial America but has fallen out of popularity in todayâs world. Mahala was a daughter of Zelophehad in the book of numbers, and its built-in nickname (Hala) is a pretty way to shorten the three-syllable name.Â
Naamah: The name meaning âpleasantâ in Hebrew appears more than once in the Old Testament. Some consider her to be a wife of Noah, while others refute that interpretation. Either way, itâs a beautiful-sounding and unique biblical baby name for girls.Â
Peninah: She was a wife of Elkanah in the Book of Samuel, and the pretty girlsâ name means âpearl.â Modern-day wedding enthusiasts will note the similarity to the globally recognised designer Pnina Tornai.Â
Prisca: Crisper and more modern than Priscilla, the old Roman name means âancientâ and appears in the New Testament.Â
Sapphira: A name with a gem-like quality, it refers to the blue stones lapis lazuli and sapphires. While the original Sapphira didnât have a great reputation with God himself, itâs a beautiful name with biblical roots for a modern baby girl.Â
Sherah: She was a descendent of Ephraim and the name means âflesh, relationship.â Unlike the oft-used Sarah, this simple and sweet biblical girlsâ name is still quite rare.Â
Talitha: Talitha, meaning âlittle girl,â appears briefly in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus Christ resurrects a young girl saying, "Talitha cumi" or âLittle girl, I say to you, rise.â This hopeful and spirited baby girlsâ name is not often used.Â
Vashti:Â The name of Queen of Persia in the Old Testament, this Persian name means âbeautifulâ or âbest.â
Gender-Neutral Biblical NamesÂ
Abiah: The biblical name can be given to a boy or a girl, and means âGod is my father,â making it universally appealing to followers of Jewish and Christian faiths.
Amal: With Arabic roots, this unisex biblical baby name means âhopeâ or âaspiration,â a lovely sentiment to pass on to your little boy or girl. It belonged to an Asherite in the Old Testament.
Aquila: Traditionally a boysâ name of Latin origin meaning âeagle,â this biblical name has been adopted for girls in recent years...likely due to it ending in an âa,â which is more traditional for girlsâ names. Aquila was an early missionary named in the New Testament.
Damaris: There is a woman named Damaris mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. While traditionally a girlâs name, it has crossed over into gender-neutral territory in recent years. The name has multiple meanings from Spanish via the Greek, including âto tame,â or when used for a girl, âdominant woman.â
Elon: This biblical name is still considered quite rare. Its meaning is âoak treeâ from the Hebrew, and Elon was a judge of Israel in the Bible. (Of course, itâs possible that Tesla founder Elon Musk is responsible for its recent popularity!)Â
Jadon: Numerous spellings abound, but the traditional biblical take on this cute baby name is as written here. There are two places a Jadon is mentioned in the Bible, and its meanings are âGod has heard,â and âthankful.âÂ
Jericho: A very cool place name from a battle in the Book of Joshua. Today itâs used as a unisex biblical baby name meaning âcity of the moon.â
Neriah: This beautiful biblical name means âlightâ or âlamp of the Lord,â and can be used as either a baby boy or girl name.Â
Shifrah: From the Hebrew, it means âbeautifulâ or âgood looking,â making this a gorgeous choice for your sweet little girl or boy. Shifrah is a revered midwife in the Old Testament.Â
Urban: The name of Latin origins means âof the city,â and has obvious modern connotations to the same, making it a great unisex name choice for a city kid. It gets biblical cred from a brief mention in the New Testament.Â
Final Thoughts on Biblical Baby Names
The Bible has been a source of inspiration for thousands of years, so its no surprise that itâs also yielded a bunch of beautiful biblical baby names. However, itâs not your only source of inspiration when it comes to picking the perfect baby name. Take a look at our other favorite baby names:
- Spanish Baby Names
- Italian Baby Names
- British Baby Names
- Irish Baby Names
- Southern Baby Names
- Nature Baby Names
- Old-Fashioned Baby Names
Picking the perfect baby name is one of the most important to-dos on your list...but so is figuring out is where Babyâs going to sleep. Find out what makes SNOO Smart Sleeper the safest, smartest baby bed...and learn more about how SNOO adds hours of sleep for babiesâand their tired parentsâevery night!
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