Baby Names That Mean Gift From God: 16 Names
A name that means gift from God is a natural fit for a long-awaited or deeply wanted child. This list brings together 16 such names from Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and Sanskrit, from classics like Matthew, Theodore and Dorothy to rarer picks like Atiyah and Matan.
Reviewed
Many of these names are really two roots joined together, 'God' plus 'gift', and some reverse the order. We spell out the roots where it helps, and flag the few cases where scholars disagree.
Our top picks
Girl names (6)
- TheodoraGreekgift of God (theos + doron)Regal and rare; the nickname Teddy is endlessly charming.
- DorothyGreekgift of God (doron + theos)A storybook classic, thanks to The Wizard of Oz.
- DorotheaGreekgift of GodThe more elaborate form of Dorothy.
- DoraGreekgiftShort, sweet and vintage; also a short form of Dorothea.
- HibaArabicgiftOften paired with a divine name, as in Hibatullah, 'gift of Allah'.
- AtiyahArabicgift, presentAlso a boy's name; the meaning is the same.
Boy names (9)
- NathanielHebrewGod has givenGentle and scholarly, with the nickname Nate.
- NathanHebrewhe gaveShort, friendly and easy to spell.
- JonathanHebrewYahweh has givenTimeless, with options like Jon, Jonny and Nate.
- MatthewHebrewgift of YahwehA perennial top-100 name with endless nicknames.
- MateoSpanishgift of God (Spanish form of Matthew)A fast-rising favourite in the US.
- TheodoreGreekgift of God (theos + doron)Vintage and cuddly: Theo, Teddy, Ted.
- TheoGreekGod (a short form of Theodore)Strictly 'God' rather than 'gift', but chosen for Theodore.
- DevadattaSanskritgiven by GodA traditional Indian name; Dev is the everyday short form.
- HibatullahArabicgift of AllahA devotional name used across the Muslim world.
Unisex names (1)
- MatanHebrewgiftThe Hebrew word for 'gift'; used for boys and girls in Israel.
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How to choose
Theodore and Dorothy are the same name reversed
Both come from the Greek words theos ('God') and doron ('gift'). Theodore puts God first, Dorothy puts the gift first. Theodora and Dorothea are the longer feminine forms, and Theo and Dora are the short forms.
Hebrew has several gift names
Matthew (Mattityahu), Nathaniel, Nathan and Jonathan all contain the Hebrew roots for 'gift' or 'give' plus a form of God's name. Matan is the plain Hebrew word for 'gift'.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular name that means gift from God?
Matthew is the most widely used in English-speaking countries. Theodore has been rising fast, and Mateo is popular in Spanish-speaking families.
What are girl names that mean gift from God?
Dorothy, Dorothea, Theodora and Dora, all from the Greek, plus the Arabic names Hiba and Atiyah.
Does Theo mean gift from God?
Strictly, Theo is Greek for 'God'. It is a short form of Theodore, which does mean 'gift of God', so people choose it for that meaning.
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