Biblical Baby Girl Names With Meaning Gift of God

You will find both classic and unusual baby names in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. They carry a history that can be appealing to have as part of your own child's story. If the meaning behind a name matters to you, be sure to look up the stories associated with these names before bestowing them upon your newborn.

While some of the meanings are quite noble ("great warrior") or lovely ("full of grace"), others are a bit less so ("palm tree"). Because it is thought of as the "Christian Bible," New Testament names tend to be more popular in modern America. But that doesn't mean you won't come across some more unusual options.

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin

Popular Biblical Names for Girls

Consider these popular or unique Biblical baby names for girls, along with their meanings, origins, popularity in the top 1,000 list of girl names, and other interesting information.

Abigail

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: My father's joy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Abbigail, Abigal, Abby, Abbie, Gail
Famous Namesakes: First Lady Abigail Adams, advice columnist Abigail Van Buren, actress Abigail Breslin
Peak Popularity: Abigail began a tremendous rise in popularity in the 1970s. It became a top 100 name in 1998 and was in the top 10 from 2001 to 2017. It was most popular in 2005 when it reached number four.

Fun Fact: Abigail was an educated, wealthy, and beautiful woman who is regarded as one of the few female prophets of the Old Testament. She successfully instigated a plan to prevent bloodshed between her husband, Nabal, and King David.

Ada

Origin: Hebrew, German
Meaning: Noble, happy, adorned (German)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adah, Aada
Famous Namesakes: Scientist Ada Lovelace, religious figure St. Ada
Peak Popularity: Ada was a top 100 name in the 1800s and early 1900s before falling out of favor. It had a resurgence in the 2000s and ranked 184 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Adah is seen as a name twice in Genesis. In the 1800s, Ada, Countess of Lovelace, is considered to be the first computer programmer. The Ada computer programming language is named in her honor.

Anna

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Favor, grace
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ana, Ann, Anne, Annika, Annette, Hannah, Ona
Famous Namesakes: Actress Anna Kendrick, dancer Anna Pavlova
Peak Popularity: Anna was the second most popular girl's name in the 1800s. It dipped in popularity, but remains in the top 100. The variation Hannah made the top 100 in 1986. It was the number two name for girls in 1998, 1999, and 2000. and was number 39 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Hannah appears in the Old Testament as the wife of Elkanah. In the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, Anna is a prophetess in the Temple who preaches to everyone there that the child Jesus will redeem Jerusalem.

Bethany

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: House of figs, house of affliction
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Betheny, Bethenny
Famous Namesakes: TV personality Bethenny Frankel, surfer Bethany Hamilton
Peak Popularity: Bethany was a top 100 name for girls in the 1980s, reaching its peak of 87 in 1987. It has since dropped and sat at 603 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Bethany was a town at the foot of the Mount of Olives where Jesus stayed the week prior to his crucifixion with Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus who was raised from the dead.

Candace

Origin: Latin, Ethiopian
Meaning: Queen, pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Candy, Candice
Famous Namesakes: Actress Candace Cameron-Bure, commentator Candace Owens, basketball player Candace Parker
Peak Popularity: Candace was a top 1,000 girl name from 1942 to 2005. It hit its highest rank of 101 in 1984.

Fun Fact: Candace makes an appearance as the queen of the Ethiopians in Acts. The apostle Philip converts and baptizes her chief of the treasury.

Chloe

Origin: Greek
Meaning: New growth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cloe, Chloë, Cloie, Cloey, Chloie, Kloe, Khloe, Khloé, Khloey
Famous Namesakes: Actress Chloë Grace Moretz, media personality Khloé Kardashian
Peak Popularity: Chloe was number 390 in 1900, but dropped in popularity and fell out of the top 1,000 in 1944. It reappeared in 1982 and shot up in popularity to number nine in 2009 and 2010. It dropped a bit since and was at 27 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Chloe is mentioned in 1 Corinthians as a leading early Christian woman in Corinth, Greece, where the name was popular in ancient times as well as today.

Damaris

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Calf or tame and gentle
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Damaras, Demaris
Famous Namesakes: TV chef Damaris Phillips, model Damaris Lewis
Peak Popularity: Damaris was most popular in 2006 with a rank of 603.

Fun Fact: Damaris is mentioned in Acts of the Apostles as being a Christian convert in Athens.

Deborah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bee
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Debra, Debbora, Debora, Devora, Devorah, Debbi, Debby, Deb
Famous Namesakes: Actress Deborah Ann Woll, singer Deborah "Debbie" Harry, journalist Deborah Norville
Peak Popularity: Deborah was very trendy in the 1950s reaching number two 1955. It has fallen sharply and was at number 907 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Two Deborahs make an appearance in the Bible. In Genesis, Deborah is the nurse of Rebecca. In the Book of Judges, Deborah is a heroic prophetess who forms an army to combat the Canaanites.

Delilah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Delicate
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Delila, Dalilah
Famous Namesakes: Actress Delilah Cotto, celebrity child Delilah Belle Hamlin
Peak Popularity: Delilah was number 808 in 1900 and ranked from 500 to over 1,000 until 2006. In 2007, it jumped up in popularity and rose to 69 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Delilah is a villain in the Book of Judges, where she gets mighty Samson to tell her that the source of his strength is his hair. Then she has his hair cut and he is turned over to the Philistines.

Dinah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Judged
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dina, Dyna, Dynah
Famous Namesakes: Singer and TV host Dinah Shore, singer Dinah Jane
Peak Popularity: Dinah was most popular in 1955 with a rank of 488. It disappeared from the top 1,000 in 1967 and has yet to return.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Dinah is the daughter of Jacob and Leah.

Elizabeth

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: My God is an oath
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alizabeth, Elisabeth, Elysabeth, Elyse, Elyssa, Elyza, Lilabet, Lilibet, Lizbeth, Liz, Betty, Betsy, Bessy, Libby
Famous Namesakes: Queen Elizabeth I and II, actress Elizabeth Taylor, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, pioneering physician Elizabeth Blackwell
Peak Popularity: Elizabeth is a traditionally popular name that has been in the top 30 for over 100 years. It was number 6 in 1900 and number 16 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The name Elizabeth appears in the Gospel of Luke. In the 1800s, Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. She overcame many obstacles and, along with her sister who was also a physician, opened a medical college in New York City.

Esther

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Star
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ester, Estée, Ester, Ettie, Hester, Hettie
Famous Namesakes: Swimmer Esther Williams, actress Esther Rolle, journalist and philanthropist Esther Dyson
Peak Popularity: Esther is a classic name that ranked 39 in 1900 and 153 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Queen Esther of Persia has an entire book of the Hebrew Bible named after her, and the annual feast of Purim is in memory of how she was able to prevent the slaughter of Jews in Persia.

Eunice

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Good victory
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Unice, Eunike, Eunika
Famous Namesakes: Philanthropist Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Peak Popularity: Eunice was last popular in the early 1900s when it ranked as high as 106. It dropped significantly after the 1950s eventually falling out of the top 1,000 in 1996.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Eunice was the mother of Timothy, who evangelized with Paul.

Eve

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Giver of life
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eva, Eave, Evie, Ava
Famous Namesakes: Actress Eve Arden, rapper Eve (Eve Jihan Jeffers-Cooper)
Peak Popularity: Eve ranked 414 in 1907. It fell out to the top 1,000 briefly from 1985-1997 then returned. It ranked 471 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Eve is the first woman, and therefore the first female name mentioned in the Bible.

Hagar

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Flight
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hagir, Hajar, Agar, Haggar, Hagur
Famous Namesakes: Spokesperson Hagar Chemali, Olympic swimmer Hagar Badran, writer Hagar Wilde
Peak Popularity: Hagar has not appeared as a top 1,000 name in the U.S. in the last 120 years.

Fun Fact: Hagar was the servant of Sarah and was given to Abraham so he could have a child. Her son, Ishmael, is honored in Islam as an ancestor of Muhammad. Her search for water when abandoned by Abraham is reenacted as part of the Hajj pilgrimage. An angel caused water to spring out at what is now the Zamzam Well, next to the Kaaba in Mecca.

Jael

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Mountain goat
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Iael, Yael, Jaelle, Jayel, Jayil
Famous Namesakes: Actress Yael Grobglas, model Jael Strauss
Peak Popularity: Jael and Yael are rare names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, after Deborah defeats the Canaanite army, its captain takes refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite, whose wife Jael kills the captain with a tent peg.

Jemimah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Dove
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jemima, Yemimah, Gemima, Jamima, Jemma, Gemma
Famous Namesakes: Model Gemma Ward, actress Jemima Abey, artist Jemima Kirke
Peak Popularity: Jemimah is not among the top 1,000 names, but Gemma rose to 207 in 2020 and Jemma was at 583.

Fun Fact: Jemimah was one of the three daughters of Job. The name is not commonly given in the U.S. possibly due to the association with Aunt Jemima, as it is may be considered racially offensive. The diminutives are used instead.

Joanna

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joan, Joann, Joanne, Johanna, Jane, Jean, Jeanne
Famous Namesakes: Actress Joanne Woodward, comedian Joan Rivers, St. Joan of Arc
Peak Popularity: Joanna was most popular in 1984 when it reached number 88. It was number 214 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Gospel of Luke, Joanna is one of the women who discovers that Jesus' tomb is empty when she and Mary Magdalene come to anoint the body.

Judith

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Woman from Judea
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Judithe, Judyth, Judy, Judi, Jodi, Jodie, Giulia
Famous Namesakes: Actress Judith Light, astronaut Judith Resnik, author Judy Blume
Peak Popularity: Judith was the fourth most common name for girls in 1940. Since then, it has slowly declined in popularity and ranked 903 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Judith is the heroine of the Book of Judith, which is included in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Old Testament, but not in the Protestant Bible. She is a daring widow who infiltrates the camp of Assyrian general Holofernes and decapitates him, saving Israel.

Kezia

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Cinnamon
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Keziah, Kasia, Ketziah, Keshia, Keisha, Keshea
Famous Namesakes: Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, actress Kezia Burrows
Peak Popularity: Kezia remains a rare name in the U.S.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Kezia was the second of the three daughters of Job born after the end of his suffering.

Leah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Weary
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lee, Leigh, Lia, Lea, Leea, Leeah, Liah
Famous Namesakes: Actress Lea Thompson, actress Leah Remini, singer Lea Salonga
Peak Popularity: Leah has maintained consistent popularity over the years. It has recently seen a spike reaching number 24 in 2010.

Fun Fact: Leah was the first wife of Jacob and six of her sons became leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Lois

Origin: Greek
Meaning: The best or superior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Louise, Loisa, Loise, Loisse, Loyce, Loys
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Lois Lane, actress Lois Chiles, writer Lois Lowry
Peak Popularity: Lois was a top 100 name from 1902 to 1953. It has dropped steadily since falling out of the top 1,000 in 1984.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Lois was the grandmother of Timothy, who evangelized with Paul.

Lydia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Woman from Lydia, an area in Asia Minor
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lidia, Lydea, Lyda, Lidiya
Famous Namesakes: Model Lydia Hearst, writer Lydia Child, actress Lydia Hull
Peak Popularity: Lydia is a well-established name for girls. It ranked 104 in 1900 and 96 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Lydia was a woman who Paul converted to Christianity.

Maria

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitterness, rebellion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marea, Mariah, Marian, Marianne, Malia (same root as Mary)
Famous Namesakes: Journalist Maria Shriver, educator Maria Montessori, Queen Maria Theresa
Peak Popularity: Maria is a classic name for girls. It was number 31 from 1973 to 1975 and number 109 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Maria is the usual form of the name Mary, and is used in most European languages.

Martha

Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: The lady
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marta
Famous Namesakes: TV personality Martha Stewart, First Lady Martha Washington
Peak Popularity: Martha was a top 50 name from before 1900 through 1955. It has since become less common falling to 772 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Martha and her sister, Mary, hosted Jesus at their home in Bethany. She kept busy cooking and cleaning while Mary sat and was taught by Jesus. She has since been associated with the helping professions.

Mary

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitterness, rebellion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maria, Marie, Maree, Marea, Mariah, Mariam, Mari, Merri, Merrie, Merry, Maryam, Miryam, Miriam, Mia, Mara, Marah
Famous Namesakes: Queen Mary, actress Mary Tyler Moore, author Mary Shelley, gymnast Mary Lou Retton
Peak Popularity: Mary is a traditional name for girls. It ranked number one from before 1900 through 1946 and was a top 100 name until 2009.

Fun Fact: Mary is an English form of Maria. In the New Testament, it is the name of the mother of Jesus, follower Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Bethany who hosted Jesus in her home.

Mia

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitterness, rebellion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mia is from the same root as Mary and Maria.
Famous Namesakes: Actress Mia Farrow, actress Mia Goth
Peak Popularity: Mia has skyrocketed from nowhere in the 1960s to be the sixth most popular name from 2013 to 2017.

Fun Fact: Mia is the diminutive for Maria in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages.

Michal

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Brook
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mychal, Mikhal
Famous Namesakes: Fashion designer Michal Negrin
Peak Popularity: Michal is not found in the top 1,000 girl baby names in the U.S., but it is a popular name in modern-day Israel.

Fun Fact: Pronounced mee CHAL, Michal is the name of Saul's daughter given in marriage to David. She saved him when Saul tried to have him killed.

Miriam

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitterness, rebellion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Miryam, Maryam, Myriam (same root as Mary and Maria)
Famous Namesakes: Singer Miriam Makeba, actress Miriam McDonald
Peak Popularity: Miriam is an established girl name that ranked 214 in 1900 and 280 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron and was a teacher and prophetess.

Naomi

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Pleasant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noemie, Noemi, Naomie
Famous Namesakes: Singer Naomi Judd, model Naomi Campbell, actress Naomi Watts
Peak Popularity: Naomi is a classic name that has been surging in popularity. It broke into the top 100 in 2010 and was 52 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Naomi appears as the mother-in-law of Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David. The devotion of Ruth to Naomi is exemplary. Naomi changed her name to Mara (bitter) when her husband and sons died.

Noa

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Movement
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noah, Knoa, Nowa, Nowah
Famous Namesakes: Rapper Noa James, actress Noa Lindberg
Peak Popularity: Noa entered the top 1,000 in 2014 and ranked 466 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Noa was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad who successfully argued that they should be able to inherit their father's holdings, even though that was against tradition. Moses ruled that they could do so if they married within their tribe, which was also not customary.

Orpah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Back of the neck or a fawn
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oprah, Orpha, Ophrah
Famous Namesakes: TV host Oprah Winfrey
Peak Popularity: Orpah and Oprah are uncommon names that have not been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Orpah was a daughter-in-law of Naomi in the Book of Ruth. Oprah is a variant considered to be a misspelling.

Phoebe

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Shining
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Febe, Phebe, Pheebe, Phoebee, Phoeby, Phoebie, Pheobe
Famous Namesakes: Actress Phoebe Cates, illustrator Phoebe Wahl
Peak Popularity: Phoebe ranked 395 in 1900. It was less common from the 1950s through the 1990s, but is gaining popularity once again. It ranked 256 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Phoebe was a deaconess in the early Christian church, mentioned by Paul in Romans.

Priscilla

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ancient
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Prisca, Priska, Priscille, Cece, Cissy, Scilla
Famous Namesakes: Actress Priscilla Presley, author and speaker Priscilla Shirer
Peak Popularity: Priscilla has always been in the top 1,000 names, but peaked at 127 in 1940. It ranked 562 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Priscilla was one of the female leaders of the early Christian church.

Rachel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Ewe
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rachael, Racheal, Rachelle, Rachele, Rahel, Rae
Famous Namesakes: Author Rachel Carson, actress Rachel Weisz, political commentator Rachel Maddow
Peak Popularity: Rachel is a traditionally popular name. It was number 153 in 1900 and a top 20 name from 1983 to 1999 reaching a high of nine in 1996. It was 227 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob and the mother to Joseph and Benjamin.

Rebecca

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: To join or tie
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rebeccah, Rebeckah, Rebekah, Rebekka, Becca, Becky, Reba
Famous Namesakes: Actress Rebecca Romijn, writer Rebecca Walker, pioneering African-American physician Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Peak Popularity: Rebecca was most popular when it reached a rank of 10 in 1973 and 1974. It dropped to number 250 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Rebecca was the wife of Isaac and the mother of the twins Esau and Jacob.

Rhoda

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rose
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rhode, Rhodah, Rodah
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Rhoda Morgenstern, actress Rhoda Griffis, actress Rhoda Gemignani
Peak Popularity: Rhoda is a traditional girl name that was number 266 in 1900. It has since become less common and fell out of the top 1,000 in 1976.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, a humorous story is related about a servant girl named Rhoda who was living in the house of the mother of John Mark (the evangelist). When Peter is unexpectedly released from prison, he goes to that house and knocks on the door. Rhoda is so startled to hear he is at the door that she runs to tell her mistress without opening the door.

Ruth

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Friend
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rut, Ruta, Ruthe
Famous Namesakes: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, TV personality Dr. Ruth Westheimer, chef and food writer Ruth Reichl
Peak Popularity: Ruth is a classic name. It was a top 5 name until in 1922 and in the top 50 until 1951. It has fallen a little, ranking 220 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Heroine of the Book of Ruth, Ruth is loyal to her mother-in-law after her husband's death. She is an ancestor of King David.

Salome

Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Peace
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Salomea, Salomee
Famous Namesakes: Actress Salome Jens
Peak Popularity: Salome is a rare name, however it was in the top 1,000 in the early 1900s ranking as high as 703 in 1903.

Fun Fact: There are two Salomes in the New Testament. One is the mother of apostles James and John, who was also one of the three women who discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead. The other was the step-daughter of King Herod who requested that John the Baptist be beheaded.

Sarah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Princess
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sara, Sarai, Sadie, Sally, Sallie, Sarita, Kala, Zaria
Famous Namesakes: English royal Sarah Ferguson, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, comedian Sarah Silverman, political influencer Duchess of Marlborough Sarah Churchill
Peak Popularity: Sarah is an ever popular name for girls. It was number 37 in 1900, number three in 1993, and number 67 in 2017.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. God promised they would have children, which made her laugh as she was past menopause and childless. The Bible says she didn't conceive until she was 90 years old.

Selah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Unknown, possibly a musical term meaning to pause
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sela, Seela, Seelah
Famous Namesakes: Musician Selah Sue, model Selah Marley, actress Sela Ward
Peak Popularity: Selah is rising in popularity after being unknown in the top 1,000 until 2005. It was at 428 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Selah was not used as a name in the Bible, but it appears dozens of times at the end of verses in Psalms.

Shiloh

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Peaceful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shilo, Shilow, Shyloh
Famous Namesakes: Actress and celebrity child Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, singer Shiloh Hoganson
Peak Popularity: Shiloh made the top 1,000 list of girl names in 2007 and the top 1,000 list of boy names in 2015. In 2018, Shiloh ranked 454 for girls and 618 for boys.

Fun Fact: Shiloh was a place name in the Bible and might refer to the Messiah. In the U.S. it was the site of a major battle of the Civil War.

Susanna

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Lily
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Susanne, Susannah, Susan, Sue, Susanne, Suzanne, Suzanna, Sanna, Susann, Sukie, Suzie, Zanna, Zuzana
Famous Namesakes: Activist Susan B. Anthony, author Sue Grafton, actress Suzanne Pleshette, author Susanna Clarke
Peak Popularity: Susanna is a vintage name. It was number 479 in 1904 and dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1998. Susan is the more popular version of the 20th century reaching number two from 1957 to 1960. However, it has also fallen out of favor dropping out of the top 1,000 in 2018.

Fun Fact: In the Book of Daniel, Susanna is falsely accused of adultery by two men who wished to blackmail her into having sex with them. Before she can be put to death, the prophet Daniel comes to her defense and turns the tables on the accusers.

Tabitha

Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Gazelle
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tabatha, Tabby, Tibby
Famous Namesakes: Inventor Tabitha Babbitt, author Tabitha King, photographer and reporter Tabitha Soren
Peak Popularity: Tabitha was most popular in 1978 with a rank of 126. It dropped off the top 1,000 list in 2017.

Fun Fact: In Acts, Peter restores a woman named Tabitha to life. In Greek, her name is Dorcas. The name had a resurgence due to being used as a character name in the television series Bewitched.

Talitha

Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Little girl
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Talita, Thalita
Famous Namesakes: Actress Talitha Bateman, actress Talitha Getty
Peak Popularity: Talitha is a rare name that does not appear in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Jesus raises a child from the dead, who he calls Talitha.

Tamar

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Palm tree
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tamara, Thamar, Tamra, Tamera, Tammi, Tammie, Tammy
Famous Namesakes: Singer Tamar Braxton, director Tamar Simon Hoffs, reporter Tamara Keith
Peak Popularity: Tamar is an uncommon name, but Tamara was in the top 1,000 from 1939 to 2009 with a high rank of 64 in 1974.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah and an ancestor of Jesus. She had to concoct a plan to have a child after her first husband died, or the line of Judah would have ended there.

Vashti

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Unknown, possibly beautiful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Astin, Vashtie, Vashtee, Vashty, Washti
Famous Namesakes: Athlete Vashti Cunningham, writer Vashti Harrison
Peak Popularity: Vashti is uncommon, but it was a top 1,000 girl name four times between 1902 and 1907.

Fun Fact: Vashti was the queen of Persia. Esther replaced her as the wife of King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther. She is a figure in the Purim story. Astin is the Greek version of her name.

Zillah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Shade or shadow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zilla, Zilah, Zila
Famous Namesakes: Celebrity child Zillah Jade Amey, activist and author Zillah R. Eisenstein
Peak Popularity: Zillah is unique and not in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Zillah was one of the two wives in the first listed polygamist relationship.

Zilpah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Unknown, possibly frailty
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zilpa, Zilpha, Zylpah, Silpa
Famous Namesakes: Famous poet's mother Ziplah Wadsworth Longfellow
Peak Popularity: Zilpah has never been in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: Zilpah was a slave in the household of Jacob and bore him sons Gad and Asher. She is believed to be buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias.

Zipporah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bird
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zippora, Ziporah, Zipora, Tzipora, Sepphora, Seffora, Sephora
Peak Popularity: Zipporah is a unique name.

Fun Fact: Zipporah was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro.

Popular Biblical Names for Boys

These are some of the most popular and unique biblical names for boys, along with their meanings, origins, popularity in the top 1,000 list of boy names, and other interesting information.

Aaron

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: High mountain or exhalted
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aron, Arron, Arin
Famous Namesakes: Vice President Aaron Burr, football player Aaron Rodgers
Peak Popularity: Aaron is a popular name for boys. It was 193 in 1900, reached number 28 in 1994, and was number 63 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Exodus, Aaron was the brother of Moses and acted as his spokesman. He was the first high priest of the Israelites and the priesthood would descend through his line.

Abram

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: High father
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Abraham, Abe, Bram, Avram, Avraham
Famous Namesakes: Athlete Abram Elam, President Abraham Lincoln, psychologist Abraham Maslow
Peak Popularity: Abram reached 376 in 2013 and Abraham was 555 in 2020.

Fun Fact: God changed Abram's name to Abraham in Genesis. He is regarded as the founder of both the Hebrews through his son Isaac and the Muslims through his son Ishmael.

Adam

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Man, red man, man from the red earth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adamo, Adham, Adem
Famous Namesakes: Singer Adam Levine, comedian Adam Sandler, actor Adam Driver
Peak Popularity: Adam is a traditionally popular boy name. It was number 187 in 1900, it reached number 18 in 1983 and 1984, and was 96 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Adam is the first human created in Genesis.

Alexander

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Defender of men
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Al, Alec, Alex, Aleksander, Lex, Xander, Zander
Famous Namesakes: King Alexander the Great, politician Alexander Hamilton, baseball player Alex Rodriguez, television host Alex Trebec
Peak Popularity: Alexander was the fourth most popular name in 2009.

Fun Fact: Although Alexander is a Greek name, there are several men of that name in the New Testament.

Amos

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Strong, carry a heavy load or burden
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ames, Aymos, Amoss
Famous Namesakes: Cognitive and mathematical psychologist Amos Tversky, mechanical engineer Amos Whitney
Peak Popularity: Amos ranked 168 in 1900. It fell out of the top 500 in 1962 and briefly dropped out of the top 1,000 in the 2000s. However, it seems to be making a comeback with a slow rise in rank since 2011. It reached 703 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Amos was a minor prophet who merited the Old Testament Book of Amos. He spoke out for social justice, especially decrying greed and oppression of the poor.

Andrew

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Manly
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Andreas, Andre, Andres, Andy, Drew
Famous Namesakes: Saint Andrew, Prince Andrew, actor Andrew Garfield, President Andrew Jackson, comedian Drew Carey
Peak Popularity: Andrew ranked fifth in 2005 at its peak. Andrew is a classic boy name. It has been a top 100 name for well over a hundred years. It reached number five in 1988, 1991, 1992, and 2003. In 2020, Andrew was number 52.

Fun Fact: The apostle Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. He evangelized in the Black Sea region. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is today called the Saltire of St. Andrew and is used on the Scottish flag and the flag of the United Kingdom.

Asher

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Happy, blessed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aser, Ashir, Ashyr, Ashor
Famous Namesakes: Actor Asher Angel, rapper Asher Roth
Peak Popularity: Asher didn't break into the top 1,000 until the 1990s, but it has been skyrocketing. It was at 32 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Asher is the son of Jacob by Zilpah and his tribe is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Bartholomew

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Son of the furrow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bartolomeo, Bartolo, Bartol, Bart, Bartlett, Mees, Mies
Famous Namesakes: Saint Bartholomew, fictional character Bart Simpson, football player Bart Starr, pirate Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts
Peak Popularity: Bartholomew appeared as a top 1,000 name 11 times between 1902 and 1971 with a peak rank of 800. Bart was most popular in 1959 when it reached 249, but it dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1988.

Fun Fact: Bartholomew was one of the 12 apostles in the New Testament. He is said to have evangelized in India and Armenia before being martyred.

Benjamin

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Son of the right hand or son of the south
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ben, Benji, Bennie, Benny
Famous Namesakes: Inventor, politician, and author Benjamin Franklin, President Benjamin Harrison, actor Ben Affleck
Peak Popularity: Benjamin has been a popular name for decades. It was the sixth most post popular name for boys in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Fun Fact: Benjamin was the youngest of the 12 sons of Jacob, being a full brother to Joseph (by Rachel) and half brother to the others.

Caleb

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Faithful and whole hearted
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kaleb, Cal
Famous Namesakes: Pepsi inventor and pharmacist Caleb Bradham, singer Caleb Johnson
Peak Popularity: Caleb has seen a steady rise in popularity since the 1970s. It reached the top 100 in 1989 and was most popular in 2009 at a rank of 31. It ranked 56 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Caleb was sent by Moses to find the land of Canaan.

Daniel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danilo, Dan, Dannie, Danny
Famous Namesakes: Pioneer Daniel Boone, actor Daniel Craig, football player Dan Marino
Peak Popularity: Daniel is a time-honored name for boys. It was number 44 in 1900 and a top 20 name since 1952. It was number five in 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008. It ranked 14 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The Book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. Daniel serves in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar and interprets his dreams. An angel helped him survive being thrown into a den of lions.

David

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dave, Davey, Davie, Davy
Famous Namesakes: Soccer player David Beckham, singer David Bowie, frontiersman Davy Crockett
Peak Popularity: David is a traditionally popular name. It has been a top 25 name for over a century, and it was the number one name in 1960. It ranked 28 in 2020.

Fun Fact: David was the second king of Israel and established Jerusalem as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel, after which it was called the City of David.

Elijah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: My God is Yahweh
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eliya, Elias, Ilias, Eli
Famous Namesakes: Inventor Eli Whitney, actor Elijah Wood, religious leader Elijah Muhammad
Peak Popularity: Elijah is a vintage name that has become trendy. It made the top 100 in 1995 and rose to the fourth most popular boy name in 2020.

Fun Fact: Elijah was one of the main prophets of the Old Testament. Rather than dying, he was carried to heaven on a chariot of fire and later appeared to Jesus (along with Moses) during the transfiguration.

Ethan

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Solid, enduring
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eithan, Etan, Eitan, Eytan
Famous Namesakes: Patriot Ethan Allen, actor Ethan Hawke, filmmaker Ethan Coen
Peak Popularity: Ethan was a top 10 name from 2002 to 2016 reaching number two in 2009 and 2010. It ranked 13 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Ethan refers to a few minor characters in the Old Testament. Ethan the Ezrahite was noted for his wisdom and is said to be the author of Psalm 89.

Ezekiel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God will strengthen
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ezequiel, Zeke
Famous Namesakes: Football players Ezekiel Elliott and Ezekiel Ansah
Peak Popularity: Ezekiel is a vintage name that is finding new popularity. It ranked 562 in 1900 but started to gain ground in the 1990s. It became a top 100 name in 2016 and was number 65 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Ezekiel was a prophet in Jerusalem when it was conquered and the nobility was taken into captivity in Babylon. He foresaw the restoration of Israel.

Ezra

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Help
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Esdras, Ezras, Ezri
Famous Namesakes: Poet Ezra Pound, actor Ezra Miller
Peak Popularity: Ezra has a long history of use as boy name. It began a surge in popularity in 2010, making the top 100 in 2015, and reaching number 44 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, the Book of Ezra tells of Ezra the Scribe who led a group home from the Babylonian exile and was instrumental in reintroducing and enforcing the Torah in Jerusalem.

Felix

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fortunate
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Feliks, Felics, Phelix, Felice
Famous Namesakes: Composter Felix Mendelssohn, daredevil Felix Baumgartner, Nobel laureate physicist Felix Bloch
Peak Popularity: Felix is a classic name that has consistently ranked in the top 400 for over 120 years. It ranked 170 in 1900 and 225 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Felix was the Roman procurator of Judea. He served at the trial of the apostle Paul and often sent for Paul to talk with him. However, he left Paul in prison when he left office.

Gabriel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my strong man
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriele, Gabe, Gabi, Gavril
Famous Namesakes: Actor Gabriel Byrne, author Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Peak Popularity: The name Gabriel is centuries old. It has been a top 110 name in the U.S. since 1975. It reached number 21 in 2010 and was number 38 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Gabriel appears in both the Old and New Testaments as an archangel who was sent with messages from God to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary.

Gideon

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Hewer, one who cuts tress or wood
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gideone, Gedeon, Gidon, Gidion
Famous Namesakes: U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, actor Gideon Emery
Peak Popularity: Gideon was on the U.S. top 1,000 list of boy names four times between 1900 and 1995. Since its return in 2000, it has seen a steady rise in popularity. It ranked 323 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Gideon was a military leader chosen by God. He devised a clever plan to overcome a superior Midianite force by tricking them into thinking they had far more troops.

Isaac

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: He will laugh and rejoice
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ike, Isaak, Issac, Itzhak, Yitzhak
Famous Namesakes: Natural philosopher Isaac Newton, musician Isaac Stern, author Isaac Asimov, politician Yitzhak Rabin
Peak Popularity: Isaac is traditionally popular. In 1900, it was number 116. It became a top 100 name in 1995 and reached number 28 in 2013.

Fun Fact: Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah when she was 90 years old. God then tested Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac but stayed his hand at the last moment.

Isaiah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: The salvation of the Lord
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Isiah, Isaias, Esaias, Isaija
Famous Namesakes: Basketball player Isaiah Thomas, actor Isaiah Washington, football player and actor Isaiah Mustafa
Peak Popularity: Isaiah is well-established boy name. It ranked 396 in 1900, but had a spike in popularity since the 1990s. It reached number 39 in 2006 and was at number 51 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Isaiah was one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament and was ascribed the authorship of the Book of Isaiah.

Jacob

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter, the one who comes after
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jaycob, Jaceb, Jakob, Jake, Jeb, Jacques, Coby, Kobe, Koby
Famous Namesakes: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, boxer Jake LaMotta, politician Jacob K. Javits
Peak Popularity: Jacob is an extremely popular name. It was ranked 101 in 1900, and was a top 10 name from 1993 to 2017. It was the number one name for boys in the U.S. from 1999 to 2012.

Fun Fact: Jacob came to be called Israel and his 12 sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel.

James

Origin: English
Meaning: Supplanter, the one who comes after
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jaymes, Jay, Jim, Jae, Jimmie, Jimmy
Famous Namesakes: King James, President James A. Garfield, singer James Brown
Peak Popularity: James has been a top 20 name in the U.S. for over 120 years. It was the number one name for boys from 1940 to 1952. It ranked 6 in 2020.

Fun Fact: James is the English form of Jacob derived from Latin and Greek. Two of the 12 apostles were named James.

Jason

Origin: Greek
Meaning: He that cures
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jayceon, Jayson, Jay, Jayce, Jae, Jaxon, Jaxson
Famous Namesakes: Actor Jason Statham, actor Jason Momoa, singer Jason Mraz
Peak Popularity: Jason was most popular in the 1970s when it was the number two name for boys from 1974 to 1978.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Jason was an early Jewish convert to Christianity.

Jeremiah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh will exalt or raise up
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jeremias, Jeremy, Jerry
Famous Namesakes: Philosopher Jeremy Bentham, pastor Jeremiah Wright, actor Jeremiah Bitsui
Peak Popularity: Jeremiah is a long-established name. It was number 327 in 1900, and it's found an increase in popularity in the 2000s reaching number 51 in 2010 and 2011. Jeremy reached number 14 in 1976.

Fun Fact: Jeremiah was one of the major prophets of the Old Testament. He was the author of the Book of Jeremiah, the Books of Kings, and the Book of Lamentations. He lived to see the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple of Solomon.

Jesse

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jessie, Jess
Famous Namesakes: Outlaw Jesse James, athlete Jesse Owens
Peak Popularity: Jesse is a popular name for boys and has been in the top 200 for well over 120 years. It reached number 37 in 1981 and was number 203 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Jesse was the father of David, who became the second king of Israel.

John

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: The grace of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ian, John, Johan, Johannes, Jonathan, Jonathon
Famous Namesakes: President John Adams, King John, President John F. Kennedy
Peak Popularity: John has been one of the most popular names for centuries. It was number one in 1900 and continued at number one through 1923. It was in the top 10 until 1987 and ranked 27 in 2020.

Fun Fact: John can trace back to Jonathan in the Old Testament, but also to John the Baptist and John the apostle in the New Testament.

Jonah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Dove
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jonas, Ionas, Yonah
Famous Namesakes: Actor Jonah Hill, medical researcher Jonas Salk
Peak Popularity: Since 1900, Jonah was most popular in 2012 when it reached a rank of 128.

Fun Fact: Jonah was a prophet who tried to get out of preaching by boarding a boat, but when a storm came up he was tossed overboard and then swallowed by a large fish. Deposited alive, he finally did as he had been commanded by God.

Joseph

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: He will add
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jose, Yousef, Yosef, Josef, Giuseppe, Jo, Joe, Joey
Famous Namesakes: Chief Joseph, Vice President Joe Biden, author Joseph Conrad, boxer Joe Frazier
Peak Popularity: Joseph is a classic boy name. It ranked 7th in 1900 and remained in the top 10 until 1935. It hit number six in 2003, but dropped a bit to 26 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob. In the New Testament, Joseph was the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Joshua

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is salvation
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Josh, Jesus, Yshua
Famous Namesakes: Actor Josh Hutcherson, Civil War general and politician Joshua Chamberlain
Peak Popularity: Joshua is a time-honored name that surged in popularity in the U.S. in the 1970s. It was a top 10 name from 1979 to 2009 reaching number three from 2002 to 2006. It was number 54 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites when Moses died.

Levi

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Joined together
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lev, Levy
Famous Namesakes: Inventor Levi Strauss, cyclist Levi Leipheimer, businessman Levi Ziegler Leiter, football player Levi Wallace
Peak Popularity: Levi was number 199 in 1900 but became less common in the 1950s and 1960s. It started to rise again in the 1980s and became a top 100 name in 2009. It ranked 18 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Levi was the third son of Jacob and his tribe became the priestly class of the Israelites.

Luke

Origin: English, Greek
Meaning: From Lucania, Italy or light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucas, Luc
Famous Namesakes: Singer Luke Combs, actor Luke Wilson
Peak Popularity: Luke held a rank of 243 in 1900. It slowly declined to 601 in 1942 before gaining in popularity again. It reached number 28 in 2014 and 2015.

Fun Fact: Luke was a doctor who traveled with the apostle Paul. Traditionally, he is said to have written the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

Mark

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dedicated to Mars, warlike
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marc, Marcus, Marko, Markus
Famous Namesakes: Author Mark Twain, actor Mark Hamill, entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg
Peak Popularity: Mark is a traditional boy name. It reached a rank of six from 1959 to 1964. It has since fallen to 235 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Mark is ascribed as the author of the second gospel and is the patron saint of Venice.

Matthew

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mathew, Matt, Matthias, Matteo
Famous Namesakes: Commodore Matthew C. Perry, actor Matthew McConaughey, football player Matthew Stafford
Peak Popularity: Matthew is a time-honored name for boys. It held the rank of 162 in 1900 and was a top 10 name from 1972 to 2008. It reached number two in 1995 and 1996. In 2020, Matthew ranked 30.

Fun Fact: Matthew was a tax collector called to be one of the apostles and is ascribed the authorship of the first gospel. The variation Matthias is the name of another apostle.

Michael

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Who is like God?
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Micheal, Mikael, Michal, Mike, Mick, Mickey, Miguel, Mikhail
Famous Namesakes: Basketball player Michael Jordan, singer Mick Jagger, actor Michael Caine
Peak Popularity: Michael is a traditionally popular name. It was number 51 in 1900 and a top 10 name from 1943 to 2016. It was number one from 1954 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1998. It was number 12 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Archangel Michael appears in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament and as the leader of the heavenly army in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.

Nathan

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: He gave
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natan, Nate, Nathaniel, Nathanael
Famous Namesakes: Actor Nathan Lane, figure skater Nathan Chen
Peak Popularity: Nathan is another classic boy name. It was number 126 in 1900, and entered the top 100 in the U.S. in 1972. It was most popular in 2004 and 2005 when it reached number 20. Nathan ranked 55th in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Nathan was a prophet in King David's court. He reprimanded David for committing adultery with Bathsheba.

Noah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Rest, repose
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noe, Noa, Noeh
Famous Namesakes: Author Noah Webster, actor Noah Wyle
Peak Popularity: Noah is a old name that is new again. It began to gain in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s reaching the top 100 in 1995. It was the number one name for boys from 2013 to 2016 and the second most popular name from 2017 to 2020.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Noah builds an ark to rescue his family and two animals of each species from the Great Flood. He made a covenant with God that this would never happen again, and the rainbow is the sign of that deal.

Paul

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Small or humble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pauwel, Paulus, Pavel, Paulo, Pablo
Famous Namesakes: Artist Pablo Picasso, economist Paul Krugman, actor Paul Newman, singer Paul McCartney
Peak Popularity: Paul was a top 20 name from before 1900 through 1968. It fell out of the top 100 in 2001 and ranked 252 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Paul was the name given to Saul of Tarsus when he converted to Christianity. He wrote many of the epistles or letters that form books of the New Testament.

Peter

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Piers, Petrus, Pete, Piet, Pedro, Pietro, Pierre
Famous Namesakes: Basketball player Pete Maravich, journalist Peter Jennings, singer Peter Gabriel, artist Peter Paul Rubens, actor Peter Dinklage
Peak Popularity: Peter has been a boy name for centuries. It ranked in the top 100 in the U.S. from before 1900 through 1996. It was number 35 in 1955 but has dropped to 214 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Jesus gave his apostle Simon the name Peter, which means rock, and said he would build his church upon that rock. From this, Peter was considered the first leader (or pope) of the Christian church.

Philip

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Lover of horses
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Phillip, Filip, Phil, Felipe, Filippo
Famous Namesakes: Author Philip K. Dick, Prince Philip, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman
Peak Popularity: Philip is a traditional name. It ranked 94 in 1900, reached number 52 in 1941 and fell to 451 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Philip was one of the 12 apostles in the New Testament.

Reuben

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Behold a son
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ruben, Reuven
Famous Namesakes: Author and chess grandmaster Reuben Fine, labor organizer Reuben G. Soderstrom
Peak Popularity: Reuben was more common at the beginning of the 20th century then at the beginning the 21st century. It ranked 212 in 1900 but has slowly declined over the years to a rank of 919 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob and the patriarch of one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Samuel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God has heard
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sam, Sammy, Sami, Ismaiel, Ismael, Ismail, Ishmael
Famous Namesakes: Politician Sam Houston, actor Sam Shepard, writer Samuel Beckett, singer Sam Cooke
Peak Popularity: A consistent top 100 name, Samuel ranked 33 in 1900 and 25 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Samuel was the last of the judges who ruled Israel, anointing Saul as the first king and David as the second king.

Seth

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Appointed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shet, Sethe, Seath, Set
Famous Namesakes: Actor Seth Rogen, basketball player Seth Curry
Peak Popularity: Since 1900, Seth was most popular in 2000 when it was number 63. It has fallen a bit ranking 434 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Genesis, Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve and was the ancestor of Noah.

Silas

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the wood
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Silvanus, Silvano, Si
Famous Namesakes: Actor Silas Weir Mitchell, author Silas House, celebrity child Silas Timberlake
Peak Popularity: Silas ranked 249 in 1900 but slowly declined in use to a rank of 975 in 1970. However, its popularity began to rise in the 2000s, and by 2020 it ranked 100.

Fun Fact: Silas was an early Christian leader who accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys. He is a co-author of the letters to the Thessalonians.

Simon

Origin: Greek
Meaning: He heard
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Simeon, Shimon
Famous Namesakes: TV personality Simon Cowell, actor Simon Pegg, political leader Simon Bolivar
Peak Popularity: Simon has been a consistent top 600 name in the U.S. since 1900. It held the rank of 236 in 1900 and 254 in 2018. Its highest rank was 198 in 1910.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Simon (spelled Simeon) was the second son of Jacob. In the New Testament, it was the name of the leading apostle of Jesus, to whom Jesus gave the name Peter.

Solomon

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Peaceful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sol, Salomon, Shalom, Slomo, Sulaiman, Suleiman
Famous Namesakes: Author Solomon Northup, singer Solomon Burke, art collector Solomon R. Guggenheim, Suleiman the Magnificent
Peak Popularity: Solomon ranked 221 in 1911, but it became less common from the 1940s through the 1990s. It has seen a slight resurgence since the 2000s and ranked 406 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Old Testament, Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. As king of Israel, Solomon was known for his wisdom and he is ascribed authorship of the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.

Stephen

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Crown
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Steven, Stefan, Steffan, Esteban, Steve
Famous Namesakes: Comedian Stephen Fry, composer Stephen Sondheim, physicist Stephen Hawking, author Stephen King, wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Peak Popularity: Stephen is another classic boy name. It was most popular in 1949, 1950, and 1951 with a rank of 19. It dropped to 324 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Saint Stephen was Christianity's first martyr. In Acts, he was stoned to death.

Thomas

Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Twin
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tomas, Thom, Tommy, Toma
Famous Namesakes: Inventor Thomas Edison, President Thomas Jefferson, theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, football player Tom Brady, baseball player Tom Seaver, actor Tom Hanks, singer Tom Petty
Peak Popularity: Thomas has been a popular boy name for centuries. It ranked 11th in 1900 and was number eight from 1940 to 1955. It held a rank of 45 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Thomas was one of the apostles. He doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead and required proof when Jesus appeared. Tradition says that he evangelized in India, where he was martyred.

Timothy

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Honoring God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tim, Timoteo
Famous Namesakes: Actor Timothy Olyphant, football player Tim Tebow, filmmaker Tim Burton, singer Tim McGraw, business leader Tim Cook, computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee
Peak Popularity: Timothy was a top 100 name in the U.S. from 1943 to 2007. It reached a high rank of 11 in 1960, 1966, and 1967. Timothy was 193 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In the New Testament, Timothy accompanied Paul in his journeys, and two of Paul's epistles (letters) were written to him. He was martyred at Ephesus.

Zechariah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God remembers
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zachariah, Zachary, Zachery, Zach, Zac, Zak, Zacharias
Famous Namesakes: President Zachary Taylor, actor Zachary Quinto
Peak Popularity: Zechariah is not common, but it has been on the U.S. top 1,000 list of boy names since 1986 with a rank of 924 in 2020. Zachary is a much more popular version of the name. Zachary reached number 12 in 1994.

Fun Fact: Zechariah is a prophet and book of the Old Testament and the name appears as that of the father of John the Baptist in the New Testament. Zachary is the English form.

Biblical Baby Girl Names With Meaning Gift of God

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/biblical-baby-names-2757967