Biblical Boy Names: 66 Names From the Bible, and Who They Were
The Bible names far more men than women, so the list of biblical boys' names is long, and the range is wide: patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), judges and kings (Gideon, David, Josiah), prophets (Isaiah, Hosea, Micah), apostles (Peter, Andrew, Thomas) and companions of Paul (Silas, Timothy, Titus). Each name below has a scripture reference, so you can read about the person before you decide.
Reviewed
Meanings are the standard scholarly readings, and where they are uncertain, as with Aaron, Moses and Cyrus, we say so. Names are given in the form most used in English, with the Hebrew or Greek form noted where it differs.
Our top picks
Boy names (66)
- AaronHebrewuncertain; often read as 'exalted' or 'mountain of strength'Moses' older brother and Israel's first high priest (Exodus 4–40).
- AbelHebrewbreath, vapour (from hevel)The second son of Adam and Eve, killed by his brother Cain (Genesis 4).
- AbrahamHebrewfather of many nations (originally Abram, 'exalted father')The ancestor of Israel, whom God renames in Genesis 17.
- AdamHebrewearth, ground (from adamah)The first man, formed from the ground (Genesis 2).
- AmosHebrewcarried, borneA shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa who becomes a prophet of social justice (the Book of Amos).
- AndrewGreekmanly, braveA fisherman, Peter's brother and the first apostle Jesus calls (John 1:40).
- AsherHebrewhappy, blessedJacob's eighth son, whose descendants become one of the twelve tribes (Genesis 30:13).
- BarnabasAramaicson of encouragementA Levite from Cyprus who sponsors Paul and travels with him (Acts 4:36, 13).
- BenjaminHebrewson of the right handJacob's youngest son, born as Rachel dies (Genesis 35).
- BoazHebrewin him is strengthThe landowner who marries Ruth and becomes David's great-grandfather (the Book of Ruth).
- CalebHebrewwhole-hearted, faithful (the Hebrew word also means 'dog')One of the twelve spies sent into Canaan; he and Joshua alone trust God's promise (Numbers 13–14).
- CyrusPersianuncertainThe Persian king whom Isaiah calls God's anointed for letting the exiles return (Isaiah 45; Ezra 1).
- DanielHebrewGod is my judgeAn exile in Babylon known for interpreting dreams and for surviving the lions' den (the Book of Daniel).
- DavidHebrewbelovedThe shepherd boy who kills Goliath and becomes Israel's second king (1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2).
- EliHebrewascended, highThe priest at Shiloh who raises the young Samuel (1 Samuel 1–4).
- ElijahHebrewmy God is YahwehA prophet who confronts the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and is taken up in a whirlwind (1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2).
- ElishaHebrewGod is salvationElijah's successor, who performs miracles including raising a boy from the dead (2 Kings 2–13).
- EnochHebrewdedicated, trainedHe 'walked with God' and was taken without dying (Genesis 5:24).
- EthanHebrewenduring, firmA wise man praised in 1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89 is attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite.
- EzekielHebrewGod strengthensA priest and prophet among the Babylonian exiles, famous for the vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37).
- EzraHebrewhelpThe scribe who leads exiles home and reads the Law to the people (the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
- GabrielHebrewGod is my strengthThe angel who delivers messages to Daniel and to Mary (Daniel 8–9; Luke 1).
- GideonHebrewhewer, one who cuts downA judge who defeats the Midianites with only 300 men (Judges 6–8).
- HoseaHebrewsalvationA prophet whose marriage to Gomer is an image of God's faithfulness to Israel (the Book of Hosea).
- IsaacHebrewhe will laughThe son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age (Genesis 21).
- IsaiahHebrewYahweh is salvationThe prophet of Jerusalem whose book is quoted frequently in the New Testament.
- JacobHebrewsupplanter, one who grabs the heelIsaac's son, renamed Israel after wrestling with a stranger (Genesis 25–35).
- JamesHebrewsupplanter (the English form of Jacob)The name of two apostles and the author of the Letter of James.
- JedidiahHebrewbeloved of YahwehThe name the prophet Nathan gives the infant Solomon (2 Samuel 12:25).
- JeremiahHebrewYahweh exaltsA prophet of Judah's last decades, traditionally called the 'weeping prophet' (the Book of Jeremiah and Lamentations).
- JesseHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'gift' or 'Yahweh exists'The father of David, from Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16).
- JoelHebrewYahweh is GodA prophet whose book describes a plague of locusts (the Book of Joel).
- JohnHebrewGod is graciousThe name of John the Baptist and of the apostle credited with the fourth gospel.
- JonahHebrewdoveThe prophet sent to Nineveh who is swallowed by a great fish (the Book of Jonah).
- JonathanHebrewYahweh has givenKing Saul's son and David's closest friend (1 Samuel 18–20).
- JosephHebrewhe will addJacob's son sold into Egypt who rises to be its governor (Genesis 37–50); also the husband of Mary.
- JoshuaHebrewYahweh is salvationMoses' successor, who leads Israel into Canaan (the Book of Joshua).
- JosiahHebrewYahweh supportsHe becomes king of Judah at age eight and leads a religious reform (2 Kings 22–23).
- JudeGreekpraised (a form of Judah)The author of the Letter of Jude, who calls himself a brother of James.
- LeviHebrewattached, joinedJacob's third son and ancestor of the priestly tribe of Levites (Genesis 29:34).
- LukeGreekman from LucaniaA physician and companion of Paul, traditionally the author of the third gospel and Acts (Colossians 4:14).
- MalachiHebrewmy messengerThe prophet whose book closes the Protestant Old Testament.
- MarkLatindedicated to MarsJohn Mark, associate of Peter and Paul and traditional author of the second gospel (Acts 12).
- MatthewHebrewgift of GodA tax collector who becomes an apostle, traditionally credited with the first gospel (Matthew 9:9).
- MicahHebrewwho is like Yahweh?The prophet who names Bethlehem as the birthplace of a ruler (Micah 5:2).
- MichaelHebrewwho is like God?An archangel who leads heaven's armies in Daniel and Revelation.
- MosesHebrew / Egyptianuncertain; the Bible links it to Hebrew 'drew out', but it resembles the Egyptian 'son'The man who leads Israel out of Egypt and receives the Law at Sinai (Exodus to Deuteronomy).
- NathanHebrewhe gaveThe prophet who confronts David over Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12).
- NehemiahHebrewcomforted by YahwehThe cupbearer to the Persian king who returns to rebuild Jerusalem's walls (the Book of Nehemiah).
- NoahHebrewrest, comfortThe man who builds the ark and survives the flood (Genesis 6–9).
- PaulLatinsmallThe apostle formerly known as Saul, who writes much of the New Testament (Acts 13:9).
- PeterGreekrockSimon, renamed Cephas ('rock') by Jesus (John 1:42).
- PhilipGreeklover of horsesAn apostle from Bethsaida (John 1:43); a different Philip is the evangelist of Acts 8.
- ReubenHebrewbehold, a sonJacob's firstborn, who tries to save Joseph from his brothers (Genesis 37).
- SamuelHebrewGod has heard (debated)The last judge, who anoints both Saul and David (1 Samuel).
- SethHebrewappointedThe third son of Adam and Eve, born after Abel's death (Genesis 4:25).
- SilasGreekof the forest (a short form of Silvanus)A leader in the Jerusalem church who travels with Paul and is jailed with him in Philippi (Acts 15–18).
- SimeonHebrewhe has heardJacob's second son; also the old man who blesses the infant Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:25).
- SolomonHebrewpeacefulDavid's son, who builds the first Temple and is famed for his wisdom (1 Kings 3–11).
- StephenGreekcrownThe first Christian martyr, stoned in Jerusalem (Acts 6–7).
- ThaddeusAramaicuncertain; sometimes read as 'courageous' or 'heart'One of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3).
- ThomasAramaictwinThe apostle who wants to touch Jesus' wounds before he believes (John 20:24–29).
- TimothyGreekhonouring GodPaul's younger companion, who receives two New Testament letters (Acts 16; 1 and 2 Timothy).
- TitusLatinuncertainA Greek companion of Paul sent to organise the churches on Crete (the Letter to Titus).
- TobiasHebrewGod is goodThe hero of the Book of Tobit, which appears in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
- ZechariahHebrewYahweh remembersThe name of a prophet, and of John the Baptist's father (Luke 1).
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How to choose
Biblical names run from very common to very rare
Noah, Elijah, James, Daniel and Samuel are among the most-used names in the US. Amos, Seth, Hosea, Enoch, Barnabas and Jedidiah are genuine scripture names that few children have. If you want a biblical name that is not on every playground, look at the second group.
Look at the prophets
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel are the four major prophets. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Micah, Malachi and Zechariah are among the twelve minor ones. The minor prophets are short, easy to say and less used, which makes them a good place to look for something distinctive.
Choose the form you want
James and Jacob, Joshua and Jesus, Elijah and Elias, Zechariah and Zachary, Jude and Judah are pairs. Pick the form that fits your language and your family, and make sure you know which one appears in the translation you read.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular biblical boy names?
Noah, Elijah, James, Daniel, Samuel, Benjamin, Matthew and David are the most-used biblical boys' names in the US.
What are rare biblical boy names?
Amos, Seth, Enoch, Jedidiah, Hosea, Barnabas, Nehemiah and Thaddeus are all genuine scripture names that are uncommon today.
What is a strong biblical boy name?
Gideon, who defeats an army with 300 men; Joshua, who leads Israel into Canaan; Ezekiel ('God strengthens'); and Caleb, the faithful spy, are four the Bible presents as strong.
What are biblical boy names with a short, modern feel?
Asher, Micah, Levi, Ezra, Silas, Jude and Eli are all short and sound current, even though they are among the oldest names in use.
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