Biblical baby names for both girls and boys are some of the most enduring of all time. Whether you’re looking for a name with a religious or spiritual association or simply appreciate the classics, biblical names can be a great source of inspiration. We’ve collected 50 of the most popular and unique names from the Bible, including those for girls and boy, plus unisex options.
If you’re looking for a baby name with meaning, history, and timeless appeal, biblical names are a wonderful place to start. We’ve gathered 50 beautiful options for girls, boys, and unisex use—from well-known classics to more unique and distinctive picks—to help inspire your choice.
Abigail. This classically stylish name has stood the test of time, remaining particularly popular in English-speaking countries and in Europe, where spellings tend to vary. Derived from Hebrew, Abigail means “the father’s joy,” which is sure to appeal to many dads-to-be out there. Charming nicknames include Abby and Gail—a pair of sweet options for your little Abigail.
Anna. As one of the top girls’ names, Anna is a derivative of Hannah and means “grace” in Hebrew. There are many variations of Anna to choose from, including Ann, Anne, Ana, or even Annie. This classic name is short and sweet, and it’s a favorite in both Europe and the United States.
Candace. This name appears in the New Testament and is derived from a hereditary title meaning “queen mother.” Some Bible versions spell the name as Kandake.
Chloe. Looking for a biblical girl name that sounds like springtime? You’re in luck! This exquisite name evokes blossoms and new life, as it means “young green shoot” in ancient Greek. It’s also another name for Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest and fertility.
Delilah. This name means “delicate” in Hebrew and can be shortened to the fresh and whimsical Lila. In the Old Testament, Delilah was the lover of the great Samson. Today, this recognizable name is popular due to its connotation of women’s strength.
Elizabeth. The name Elizabeth means “God is my oath” and comes from both Greek and Hebrew origins. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew form appears as Elisheba, Aaron’s wife. And in the New Testament, you can find the Greek form Elizabeth as the mother of John the Baptist.
Esther. The name Esther comes from the biblical story of an ordinary girl who became queen of Persia and, ultimately, saved her people. The name is thought to mean “star” in Persian. Some charming nickname options include Essie, Ettie, and Estée.
Eve. You can’t have a list of biblical names for baby girls and not include Eve! In the Bible, Eve, along with Adam, were the first two humans. Fittingly, the name in Hebrew means “to breathe” or “to live.” You can find Eve or Eva in many countries around the world.
Hannah. Hannah is the original version of the name Anna, which means “grace” in Hebrew. This is a timeless name with global appeal—it's known and loved from Europe to Asia, as well as in Middle Eastern cultures.
Mary. The familiar name Mary is actually the English version of the Latin name María and the Hebrew name Myriam. In the Bible, the name has a long and interesting history that goes back to Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and other biblical Marys. The variations Maria and Maya may be slightly trendier, but Mary has enjoyed a solid run, making it the most-used female name in history. Impressive!
Abraham. This ancient name has had a long run of popularity throughout history. Abraham, originally Abram, means “father of multitudes” in Hebrew. The name gets its connotation of strength and leadership from its Old Testament namesake and the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Popular nicknames for Abraham include Abram, Abe, and Bram.
Adam. Along with Eve, Adam was one of the first two humans on Earth, according to the Old Testament. In the Book of Genesis, Adam was created from the earth, and in Hebrew, the name can be a play on words, as adamah means “earth.” However, most experts recognize the meaning simply as “man.”
Benjamin. If a timeless biblical boys’ name is what you’re looking for, Benjamin may already be on your radar. The name comes from the Hebrew word meaning “son of the right hand” and can be found in the Old Testament. Famous bearers of this name include Benjamin Franklin, one of Founding Fathers, and actors Ben Affleck and Ben Stiller. If you love the name but are interested in a shorter version, you could choose Ben, Benny, or Benji.
Caleb. Although many believe the name relates to the Hebrew word kelev meaning “dog,” Caleb can also mean “whole of heart.” In the Bible, Caleb was an Israelite who saw the Promised Land alongside Joshua.
Elijah. This Hebrew name has a lovely musical quality, thanks to that long, lilting second syllable. Even though Elijah is an ancient name going back to the Old Testament prophet, it still feels fresh and youthful. It’s often considered a natural, wholesome-sounding name with a contemporary edge. As if all that weren’t enough, the name Elijah crops up in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim texts, giving it a more universal appeal. It also shortens to the irresistible Eli.
Gabriel. Gabriel, which means “God is my strength” in Hebrew, appears in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim holy books. In both the Old and New Testaments, Gabriel serves as God’s messenger. This popular boys’ biblical name is often shortened to Gabe. Notable Gabriels include novelist Gabriel García Márquez and actor Gabriel Byrne.
Isaac. This name has quite a joyous meaning. In Hebrew, it means “laugh” and “rejoice.” And, if you like science or mathematics, what better namesake than Sir Isaac Newton himself! Some Isaacs go by Ike or Zac for short, or even Izzy, if the mood strikes.
Jacob. As one of the most commonly recognized and used names in the Bible, Jacob has interesting origins. In the Old Testament, he was the son of Issac and Rebecca but was later called “Israel.” Many believe his name means “may God protect.”
James. Because the name James comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob), it also means “may God protect.” The New Testament features two prophets named James, plus James the Just, who was the brother of Jesus.
Jesse. This is another well-known biblical boys’ name! Meaning “gift” in Hebrew, Jesse was King David’s father, but the moniker is also a common nickname for James. The great American athlete Jesse Owens’s birth name was James Cleveland Owens.
Anah. Though similar to the girls’ biblical name Anna from above, the unisex name Anah isn’t related. Anah means “the answer” in Hebrew and was used for multiple characters in the Bible, both male and female.
Ariel. Also meaning “lion of God” in Hebrew, Ariel was used as an alternative name for Jerusalem in the Old Testament. As an English name, though, it’s more commonly used for girls, especially after The Little Mermaid film, which uses the name Ariel for its main character, was released in the late 1980s.
Carmi. Cute, unique, and sweet, this biblical girls’ name comes with an interesting meaning: “vine.” Carmi was the son of Reuben in the Old Testament.
Gomer. Pronounced GO-mehr, this name means “complete” in Hebrew. Two characters of the Old Testament share this name, the grandson of Noah and the wife of Hosea.
Micaiah. You may recognize this name by its more common short form, Micah, which is often used for boys. Pronounced my-KAY-eh, the name means “who is like Yahweh” and is shared by the prophet in the Book of Judges and the mother of King Abijah from 2 Chronicles.
Joseph. The English name Joseph comes from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means “he will add.” In the Bible’s New Testament, the name is born by the husband of Mary. In the Old Testament, Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob and an advisor to the Egyptian pharaoh.
Noah. This ancient Hebrew name means “rest, response” and is still one of the most popular baby boy names in the United States. In the Bible, Noah, as you may already know, was the builder of the Ark that helped animals of each species survive the Great Flood.
Peter. From the Greek word meaning “rock,” Peter is a classic English name that’s been popular for generations. There are many international variations of this timeless moniker, including Pierce (popular in the United Kingdom) and Pedro and Pierre (popular in Spanish- and French-speaking countries). The name conveys unwavering strength. It also appears frequently in literature, popping up in everything from Shakespeare to children’s stories like Peter Rabbit, plus, of course, the Bible.
Seth. In the Old Testament, Seth, Hebrew for the “appointed one,” was the third son of Adam and Eve. It was first used in England in the Middle Ages and later became popular among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. In ancient Egypt, Seth was the god of the desert.
Simon. This classic name has both Greek and Biblical Hebrew origins. It means “the listener” or “he has heard.” There are a few interesting variants and nicknames for Simon, like Si and Sim. The name Simon has a large number of international variations ranging from the Bulgarian Simeon to the Finnish Simo.
Zacharias. The more modern Zachary has become popular recently, but Zacharias has strong biblical roots. It means “God remembered” in Hebrew. The name Zacharias comes with a variety of options for spellings and nicknames, such as Zac, Zack, Zach, and even Zeke.
Apphia. Apphia, pronounced AF-ee-ah, is both a biblical and ancient Greek name for girls. In Hebrew, it’s known to mean “increasing” and was used by Paul in his epistle to Philemon in the New Testament.
Dinah. Meaning “judged” in ancient Hebrew, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah. This unique name had a short stint of popularity in the United States between 1940 and 1970.
Drusilla. This unique biblical girls’ name hasn’t been around since the turn of the twentieth century and is sometimes associated with the Celtic element meaning “strong.” However, it’s more well known as an ancient Roman family name and comes with the popular nicknames of Dru and Drew.
Jemima. Meaning “dove,” Jemima was the eldest daughter of Job in the Old Testament. Although the name is still somewhat popular in England and Wales, it hasn’t been used in the United States since the nineteenth century.
Jewel. Although not a biblical name in the traditional sense, Jewel is a Christian girls’ name with a unique meaning. Of course, the name can refer to precious stones frequently referred to in the Bible, but it also means “precious one,” so it’s perfect for a sweet baby! The singer Jewel might come to mind when thinking of this name.
Junia. As an ancient Roman and biblical name, Junia is the feminine form of Junius, but there’s still a debate about Junia’s gender in the New Testament. Junia comes from the name Juno, which means “youth.” In Roman mythology, Juno was Jupiter’s wife and queen of the heavens.
Asa. Pronounced AY-seh, this unique biblical boys’ name comes with the memorable meaning of “healer.” In the Old Testament, Asa was the third king of Judah.
Barak. With such a strong meaning (“lightning”) in Hebrew, this biblical name could be an excellent choice for your baby boy! President Barack Obama uses a variant spelling and is probably the most famous bearer of this name.
Boaz. Pronounced BO-az, this name means “swiftness” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Boaz married Ruth, but the name was also used for one of the pillars of Solomon’s temple.
Elon. Meaning “oak tree” in Hebrew, this rare name is a unique variation of the more common names Ethan and Ian. Elon, one of the earliest judges of Israel, is remembered today for his conviction and wisdom. Tesla founder Elon Musk and North Carolina’s Elon University carry this name.
Lazarus. The biblical boys’ name Lazarus comes from the ancient Hebrew name ‘El'azar. It means “my God has helped.” In the Bible, Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Malachi. This minor prophet in the Old Testament is considered to be the traditional author of Book of Malachi, which foretells the coming of Christ. The Hebrew name means “my messenger” or “my angel.”
Magdalene. If you like the popular biblical name Mary but want a unique spin on it for your daughter, you could opt for Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was from Magdala, a place name that means “tower.” A more common English version of this name is Madeline, but you can also give your little one a nickname like Magda or Lena.
Myra. This name could simply be a different arrangement of the letters in the name Mary, or it could be a nod to myrrh, a fragrant tree resin often referenced in the Bible. Either way, it takes its place among unique biblical names for girls with an interesting meaning.
Neriah. This name is a great option for the little light of your life! Neriah means “light of Yahweh” in reference to the Hebrew god, Yahweh. The name was absent in the United States for quite some time but appeared again in 2013.
Prisca. You may think that the name Prisca comes from Priscilla, but it’s actually the other way around! Prisca is the feminine version of Priscus, a family name meaning “ancient.” But, in the Bible, it’s used to refer to Priscilla, the wife of Aquila.
Rhoda. Derived from the Greek word rhodon, meaning “rose,” Rhoda was a maid’s daughter in the New Testament. Although it was once quite a common biblical name for girls, it started to lose steam in the early 1900s and hasn’t been regularly used in the United States since the 1970s.
Salome. Pronounced seh-LO-mee, this rare name relates to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace.” In the New Testament, Salome was the daughter of Herodias and was simply known as “the dancer.”
Tirzah. Meaning “delightful” or “favorable” in Hebrew, Tirzah doesn’t have any near-American equivalents, except possibly Theresa, which is itself derived from the Greek and Latin Thersa. Tirzah is mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the five daughters of Zelophehad.
Still searching for the one? Dive into even more baby name ideas by theme, meaning, origin, style, popularity, and beyond. This is where you’ll discover fresh inspiration from every corner of our baby name lists.
As you’ve discovered, biblical names offer plenty of appealing options for boy, girl, and unisex monikers with classic sounds and unique meanings. Even if you don’t choose a traditional biblical name for your baby boy or girl, these names may still offer inspiration!
