The Bible is the single most influential source in providing first names in the Christian world. It follows the belief that the name will influence the character of the person, as it says in the Book of Samuel, ‘For, as his name is, so is he’.
Most of the biblical names have their origins in Hebrew, but some names, like Mark, Peter and Paul, are pre‐Christian and come from neighbouring cultures. Following the Reformation there was a greater interest in names from the New Testament, but since the ‘80s Old Testament names have become popular once more. Here are some Bible‐based names to inspire your baby naming…
Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning |
Aaron | Boy | Hebrew | high mountain or exalted |
Abel | Boy | Hebrew | breath |
Abidan | Boy | Hebrew | my father is judge |
Abigail | Girl | Hebrew | my father is joy |
Abijah | Boy | Hebrew | the Lord is my father |
Abijah | Girl | Hebrew | the Lord is my father |
Abilene | Girl | Hebrew | a New Testament place name |
Abner | Boy | Hebrew | my father is light |
Abraham | Boy | Hebrew | father of a multitude |
Abram | Boy | Hebrew | high father |
Adalia | Boy | Hebrew | God is just |
Adam | Boy | Hebrew | man or to be red |
Adina | Girl / Boy | Hebrew | slender, delicate |
Amos | Boy | Hebrew | to carry |
Anan | Boy | Hebrew | cloud |
Andrew | Boy | Greek | courageous |
Anna | Girl | Latin | favoured by God, a prophetess |
Ari | Boy | Hebrew | a lion |
Ariel | Girl / Boy | Hebrew | a lion of God |
Asher | Boy | Hebrew | happy or blessed |
Azriel | Boy | Hebrew | help of God |
Baruch | Boy | Hebrew | blessed |
Benjamin | Boy | Hebrew | son of the south |
Barnabas | Boy | Hebrew | son of a prophecy |
Bartholomew | Boy | Hebrew | hill, furrow |
Bernice | Girl | Hebrew | brings victory |
Bethany | Girl | Hebrew | house of figs |
Bethel | Girl | Hebrew | house of God , Old Test |
Boaz | Boy | Hebrew | swiftness |
Candace | Girl | Latin | brilliant clarity |
Chloe | Girl | Greek | fresh green shoot |
Cyrus | Boy | Persian | the king of Persia who freed the Jews |
Daniel | Boy | Hebrew | God is my judge |
Dara | Boy | Hebrew | wisdom or compassion |
Dara | Girl | Dara | wisdom or compassion |
Darius | Boy | Greek | wealthy, name of kings of Persia |
Dinah | Girl | Hebrew | judgement |
David | Boy | Hebrew | beloved |
Deborah | Girl | Hebrew | bee, an industrious woman |
Dinah | Girl | Hebrew | judged |
Ebenezer | Boy | Hebrew | stone of help |
Eden | Girl / Boy | Hebrew | place of pleasure |
Edna | Girl | Hebrew | pleasure, my God is my oath |
Elam | Boy | Hebrew | hidden |
Eli | Boy | Hebrew | height or ascension |
Elijah | Boy | Hebrew | the Lord is God |
Elisha | Boy | Hebrew | God is my salvation |
Elizabeth | Girl | Hebrew | Consecrated to God |
Emmanuel | Boy | Hebrew | God is with us |
Enoch | Boy | Hebrew | dedicated |
Ephraim | Boy | Hebrew | fruitful |
Esther | Girl | Hebrew | a star |
Ethan | Boy | Hebrew | solid, enduring |
Eunice | Girl | Greek | victorious |
Eve | Girl | Hebrew | to breathe |
Ezekiel | Boy | Hebrew | God strengthens |
Ezra | Boy | Hebrew | the helper |
Felix | Boy | Latin | happy and successful |
Freyde | Girl | Hebrew | joy |
Gabriel | Boy | Hebrew | strong man of God |
Gideon | Boy | Hebrew | feller or hewer |
Hanan | Boy | Hebrew | gracious |
Hannah | Girl | Hebrew | favour or grace |
Hillel | Boy | Hebrew | the praised one |
Hosanna | Girl / Boy | Hebrew | a religious expression meaning ‘deliver us’ |
Immanuel | Boy | Hebrew | form of Emmanuel in some trans of OT |
Ira | Boy | Hebrew | watchful, vigilant |
Isaac | Boy | Hebrew | the laughing one |
Isaiah | Boy | Hebrew | God is salvation |
Ishmael | Boy | Hebrew | God will hear |
Jachin | Boy | Hebrew | he establishes |
Jacob | Boy | Hebrew | held by the heel |
James | Boy | Latin | may god protect |
Jamin | Boy | Hebrew | right hand |
Jared | Boy | Hebrew | descent |
Jayden Jadon |
Boy | Hebrew | thankful |
Javan | Boy | Hebrew | angel of Greece |
Jemima | Girl | Hebrew | dove |
Jeremiah | Boy | Hebrew | appointed by God |
Jericho | Boy | Hebrew | town mentioned in the Old Testament |
Jesse | Boy | Hebrew | God’s gift |