Biblical Girl Names: 46 Names From the Bible, and Who They Were
Women are named less often than men in the Bible, so the list of biblical girl names is shorter and more specific. Each name below belongs to a woman you can find in scripture: a judge, a prophetess, a widow, a seller of purple cloth. We list who she was and where she appears, so you can read the story before you choose the name.
Reviewed
Meanings are the standard scholarly readings. Where the original meaning is uncertain, as with Hagar, Leah and Bathsheba, 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
Girl names (46)
- AbigailHebrewmy father is joyDavid's wife, who calms his anger and prevents a massacre of her household (1 Samuel 25).
- AdahHebrewornament, or adornmentOne of the wives of Lamech in Genesis 4, and the mother of Jabal, ancestor of those who live in tents and keep livestock.
- AnnaHebrewgrace, favour (the Greek form of Hannah)A prophetess who is at the Temple when Jesus is presented as an infant (Luke 2:36).
- BathshebaHebrewuncertain; read as 'daughter of the oath' or 'daughter of seven'King David's wife and the mother of Solomon (2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 1).
- ChloeGreekyoung green shootPaul mentions people of Chloe's household who told him of divisions in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11).
- ClaudiaLatinfrom the Roman family name ClaudiusA Roman woman who sends greetings to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:21.
- DamarisGreekuncertain; possibly 'heifer' or 'gentle'An Athenian woman who believes after Paul's speech at the Areopagus (Acts 17:34).
- DeborahHebrewbeeThe only female judge of Israel, a prophetess who leads the army with Barak (Judges 4–5).
- DelilahHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'delicate' or 'languishing'The woman Samson loves, who betrays him to the Philistines (Judges 16). A controversial story.
- DinahHebrewjudged, vindicatedJacob and Leah's daughter, whose story ends in violence between her brothers and the men of Shechem (Genesis 34).
- DorcasGreekgazelle (the Greek form of Tabitha)A disciple in Joppa known for making clothes for the poor, restored to life by Peter (Acts 9:36–42).
- ElizabethHebrewmy God is an oathMary's relative and the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1).
- EstherPersian / Hebrewstar (Persian); her Hebrew name was Hadassah, 'myrtle'A Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people (Esther 2–9).
- EuniceGreekgood victoryTimothy's mother, praised for her sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 16:1).
- EveHebrewlife (from Chavah)The first woman, called 'the mother of all living' (Genesis 3:20).
- HagarHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'flight' or 'stranger'Sarah's Egyptian servant and the mother of Ishmael (Genesis 16 and 21).
- HannahHebrewgrace, favourThe mother of the prophet Samuel, whose prayer in 1 Samuel 2 is often compared with Mary's Magnificat.
- HuldahHebrewweasel, or moleA prophetess whom King Josiah consults after the Book of the Law is found (2 Kings 22).
- JaelHebrewibex, mountain goatThe woman who kills the enemy commander Sisera in her tent (Judges 4–5).
- JemimaHebrewdoveThe first of Job's three new daughters, named after his restoration (Job 42:14).
- JochebedHebrewYahweh is gloryThe mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam (Exodus 6:20).
- JoannaHebrewGod is graciousA follower of Jesus who helps fund his ministry and is among the women at the empty tomb (Luke 8:3, 24:10).
- JudithHebrewpraised, from JudahThe heroine of the Book of Judith, who beheads the general Holofernes. It appears in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, not Protestant ones.
- JuliaLatinyouthfulA Christian in Rome greeted by Paul (Romans 16:15).
- KeziahHebrewcassia, a fragrant barkThe second of Job's new daughters (Job 42:14).
- LeahHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'weary' or 'wild cow'Jacob's first wife and the mother of six of the twelve tribes (Genesis 29–30).
- LoisGreekuncertainTimothy's grandmother, named with Eunice as a source of his faith (2 Timothy 1:5).
- LydiaGreekfrom Lydia, a region of Asia MinorA seller of purple cloth in Philippi and the first recorded European convert (Acts 16:14).
- MarthaAramaiclady, mistressSister of Mary and Lazarus, who hosts Jesus and is told that Mary has chosen better (Luke 10:38–42).
- MaryHebrewuncertain; Mary is the Greek and Latin form of MiriamThe mother of Jesus. Several other Marys are named in the gospels, including Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany.
- MiriamHebrewuncertain; the meaning is debatedMoses' sister, a prophetess who leads the women in song after the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 15).
- NaomiHebrewpleasantnessRuth's mother-in-law, who asks to be called Mara, 'bitter', after her losses (Ruth 1:20).
- PhoebeGreekbright, radiantA deacon of the church at Cenchreae whom Paul commends to the church in Rome (Romans 16:1–2).
- PriscillaLatinancient, venerableA tentmaker who, with her husband Aquila, teaches the preacher Apollos (Acts 18).
- RachelHebreweweJacob's beloved wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 29–35).
- RahabHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'broad' or 'spacious'The woman of Jericho who hides Joshua's spies and is spared (Joshua 2, 6).
- RebekahHebrewuncertain; sometimes read as 'to bind' or 'captivating'Isaac's wife and the mother of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 24–27).
- RhodaGreekroseThe servant girl in Acts 12:13 who is so happy to hear Peter's voice at the door that she forgets to open it.
- RuthHebrewcompassion, friendA Moabite widow who stays with Naomi and becomes the great-grandmother of David (the Book of Ruth).
- SalomeHebrew / Greekpeace (from shalom)A follower of Jesus, traditionally identified as the mother of the apostles James and John (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56).
- SarahHebrewprincessAbraham's wife and the mother of Isaac, born when she was very old (Genesis 17–21).
- SusannaHebrewlilyA follower who helps fund Jesus' ministry (Luke 8:3). A separate Susanna is the heroine of an addition to the Book of Daniel in Catholic Bibles.
- TabithaAramaicgazelleThe Aramaic name of Dorcas, the Joppa disciple raised by Peter (Acts 9).
- TamarHebrewdate palmThe name of three women: Judah's daughter-in-law (Genesis 38), David's daughter (2 Samuel 13) and Absalom's daughter.
- TirzahHebrewpleasant, delightfulOne of the five daughters of Zelophehad who win the right to inherit land (Numbers 27).
- ZipporahHebrewbirdMoses' wife, who circumcises their son and saves his life (Exodus 2–4).
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How to choose
Old Testament and New Testament names feel different
Old Testament women (Sarah, Rachel, Leah, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth) have Hebrew names that are short and often have a clear meaning. New Testament women (Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, Eunice, Chloe, Julia, Claudia) mostly have Greek or Latin names, so they sound more European and less obviously biblical.
Look for the women the Bible gives a job
Deborah is a judge who leads Israel (Judges 4 and 5). Huldah is a prophetess consulted by King Josiah. Priscilla teaches the preacher Apollos alongside her husband (Acts 18). Phoebe is a deacon whom Paul asks the church in Rome to welcome (Romans 16). Names with a story like these are good ones to choose if you want the meaning to have substance.
Check the spelling you want
Rebekah and Rebecca, Elisabeth and Elizabeth, Susannah and Susanna, Hannah and Hanna all have standard variants. The Bible spellings differ between translations, so pick one and use it consistently on forms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular biblical girl names?
Abigail, Hannah, Eve, Naomi, Elizabeth and Sarah are the most commonly used biblical girls' names in the US.
What are rare biblical girl names?
Keziah, Huldah, Tirzah, Zipporah, Jochebed, Damaris and Rhoda are all genuine scripture names that are uncommon today.
What is a strong biblical girl name?
Deborah, who judges Israel; Jael, who defeats Sisera; Esther, who saves her people; and Ruth, who stays with Naomi, are four women the Bible presents as strong.
What are biblical girl names from the New Testament?
Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, Eunice, Lois, Chloe, Claudia, Julia, Damaris, Rhoda, Martha and Mary all appear in the New Testament.
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