For centuries, names inspired by the bible have been a favorite choice for parents no matter their faith. These beautiful, storied names bestow a sense of divine splendor. Names from the bible are time-tested classics that never go out of style. We’re living through uncertain times and these names bring hope, brightness, and inspiration.
Many parents choose a name because it has a significant meaning and names from the bible are all associated with a story. The act of searching for a biblical name can be meditative, in that you’re relearning some of the bible stories and allegories you might have forgotten over the years. Reacquainting oneself with the nuances of the holy book is definitely not going to hurt anyone. These 25 gorgeous baby names from the bible are perfect monikers for your little angel.
25. Sarah
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. Which is, uh, okay! Sarah means “princess.”
24. Aaron
In Exodus, Aaron was the brother of Moses and acted as his spokesman. You know, his biblical PR stunt man. He was the first high priest of the Israelites and the priesthood would descend through his line. The name Aaron means “high mountain” or “exalted.”
23. Ruth
The 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. The name Ruth was hugely popular in the US until the 1950s when its popularity began to decline. We love the name and hope it comes back! It means “friend.”
22. Benjamin
Benjamin was the youngest of the 12 sons of Jacob, being a full brother to Joseph via Rachel and half brother to the others. Benjamin is an extremely popular name for boys and has been in the top 20 for decades. The name means “son of the right hand.”
21. Rebecca
In Genesis, Rebecca was the wife of Isaac and the mother of the twins Esau and Jacob. The US hit peak Rebecca in the 1970s and it has since fallen from fashion, but only slightly. The name Rebecca means “to join” or “to tie.”
20. Daniel
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. Daniel was the 15th most popular name for boys in 2018 (the most current year the Social Security Administration has names tallied). The name means “God is my judge.”
19. Phoebe
Unlike most names on this list that have origins in Hebrew, Phoebe comes from Greek. Phoebe was a deaconess in the early Christian church, mentioned by Paul in Romans. This dazzling name means “shining.”
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18. Jonah
Jonah was a prophet who tried to get out of doctrine by boarding a boat, but when a storm came up he was tossed overboard and then swallowed by a large whale. Deposited alive, he finally did as he had been commanded by God. Jonah is a handsome name that means “dove.”
17. Susanna
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. The name Susanna means “lily.”
16. Adam
Adam is the first human created by God in the book of Genesis. The name has Hebrew origins and means “man from the red earth” or simply “man.” The name peaked in popularity in the 1980s but has been making a comeback.
15. Mia
Mia is another form of Maria in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages. 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. Any of the forms of this name are beautiful and mean “bitterness.”
14. Luke
Luke was a physician who traveled with the apostle Paul. Traditionally, he is said to have written the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke has origins in Greek and means “man from Lucania.” Historically, Lucania is a region of southern Italy.
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13. Leah
Another beautiful L name, Leah has maintained its popularity over the last 100 years. The name means “weary.” In the bible, Leah was the first wife of Jacob. Six of her sons became leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel.
12. Mark
Mark is ascribed as the author of the second gospel and is the patron saint of Venice. Mark comes from the Latin name, Marcus and means “dedicated.” The name enjoyed immense popularity in the 1950s and 60s but has since fallen out of the top 200 names for boys.
11. Esther
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 a massacre of Jews in Persia. The name Esther has roots in both Persian and Hebrew and means “star.”
10. Noah
In the book of 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 contract. The name Noah has been the most popular name for boys for the last couple of years. It means “rest.”
9. Bethany
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. The name last enjoyed popularity in the US in the 1980s and it has since fallen off the charts. This beautiful name means “house of figs” deserves to make a comeback.
8. Seth
In Genesis, Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve and was one of Noah’s ancestors. The name Seth means “appointed.”
7. Chloe
Chloe is mentioned in Corinthians as a leading early Christian woman in Corinth, Greece, where the name was popular in ancient times as well as today. Chloe is a Greek name that means “growth” or “blooming.”
6. Gabriel
Gabriel arrives in both the Old and New Testaments as an archangel who was sent with messages from God to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary. The name Gabriel means “God is my strength.” This angelic name was the 35th most popular name for boys in 2018.
5. Abigail
Abigail was an educated, wealthy woman who is regarded as one of the few female prophets of the Old Testament. She successfully orchestrated a plan to prevent bloodshed between her husband, Nabal, and King David. Abigail means “my father’s joy.” It enjoyed its most popular year in the US in 2005.
4. Caleb
In the Old Testament, Caleb was sent by Moses to find the land of Canaan. The name Caleb has been in the top 50 names for boys for decades. The name means “faithful” and “whole hearted.”
3. Elizabeth
The name Elizabeth appears in the Gospel of Luke. Elizabeth has been a popular name in English speaking countries for centuries. The name means “my God is an oath.”
2. Simon
Simon has been a common name for a very long time but hasn’t enjoyed broad popularity like other biblical names such as Stephen or Samuel. In the Old Testament, 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. The name means “he heard.”
1. Eve
Eve was the first woman and the first female name mentioned in the Bible. The name Eve means “giver of life.” Despite the fact that we all know the name, Eve, it hasn’t ranked in the top 200 US names since records have been kept. Let’s give some love to the name Eve!
These 25 glorious, biblical baby names should inspire you to find a name for your little angel. These classic names are timeless and even if you’re not after a biblical meaning or story, the names carry gravitas and strength.