One of the most common places for expectant parents to find baby name inspiration is the Bible. Some are looking for a name that expresses their faith, and others want a name with history or roots. Some parents simply love the sound of names such as Eva, Ezra, Gideon, and Jordan. "There's a paradox happening with Biblical names in America right now," said Laura Wattenberg of Baby Name Wizard. "Parents are reaching deeper and deeper into the Bible and giving kids names like Ezekial and Malachi. But overall, parents are naming kids Bible names at the all-time lowest rate."
So today, parents who choose names from the Bible aren't often picking classics like John and Mary. Instead, names like Noah, Elijah, Abigail, and Hannah are topping the charts. And some more offbeat and surprising Biblical names are gaining steam as well.
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"There's a reason certain names were popular in the past, why kids were named John [a loyal Apostle] and not Judas [a betrayer]," Wattenberg said. "Today's parents are increasingly looking at different name options in the Bible, but some are looking at undesirable Biblical characters. Leviathan, Jezebel or Caine, for example. That's fine, of course, but if [parents are] looking for a name of someone who's sort of a role model, know that not everybody in the Bible was a great role model."
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Looking for more names inspired by the Bible? We've got 50! Yep, here are 25 boy names and 25 girl names (including some that can be used regardless of gender) that come from both the New and Old Testaments. (Note: some of the girls' names are a little more loosely Bible-related, because there are many fewer women included in Scripture.) These aren't all names we hear every day; they're mostly lesser-known Bible names we hope expectant parents can use as inspiration to find the perfect name for their little angel.
Abel
Abel was Adam and Eve's second son, known for sacrificing a lamb for God and being killed by his jealous brother, Cain. So, yes, the name has a slightly complicated history — we don't recommend Cain as a choice for twins!– but we think it sounds strong and fresh.
Abram
Abram was the given name of Abraham, who's well-known for his deep faith. It means "exalted father." We love the name "Abe" as a nickname option!
Adina
In the Old Testament, Adina was the name of a male soldier. Today, it works well as a girl's name, especially given that it means "slender or delicate." Dina is a cute nickname choice.
Ariel
In modern times, Ariel is a beautiful girl's name more likely to make people think of The Little Mermaid than the Bible. But in the Old Testament, it's an alternative name for Jerusalem and means "lion of God."
Asher
Asher means "happy" or "blessed" and was the name given to one of Jacob's sons. Asher has been gaining in popularity and is in the top 100 boy names in the United States. Ash is a great nickname option.
Bartholomew
Bartholomew was one of Jesus' apostles who was sometimes known as Nathanael. The name is sophisticated but comes with a super cute nickname built right in: Bart.
Caleb
In the Bible, Caleb was sent by Moses to explore, and became one of the only two adults to see the Promised Land. The name means "a dog" or "faithful" in Hebrew. The name is a popular option, having been on the top 100 name list for the last three decades.
Carmel
Here's a sweet name choice! Carmel means "garden" in Hebrew and is the name of a mountain in the Old Testament. Mary was known as Our Lady of Carmel.
Charity
Today, charity means doing things for others. In Latin, it means "dear." And in the Bible, it means love of God or love of humankind. There is a long history of virtue names (think Faith, Hope, and even Prudence) and Charity is a unique choice.
Chloe
Chloe means "green shoot" in Greek. A woman named Chloe was mentioned just once in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 1:10; not much is known about her, except that she was a Christian woman. The name is most associated with Khloe Kardashian, but the "C" spelling makes it less reality star, more historical.
Claudius
In Acts 21-24, Claudius was a Roman tribune who protected Paul from an angry mob. The name Claude derives from this old school name.
Delilah
Hey there, Delilah! In the Bible, Delilah was the lover of Samson, and she later betrayed him. The name means "delicate" in Hebrew. Nickname options include Lila or even Dee.
Demetrius
This name's origin is Demetrios, which means "of Demeter" in Greek. In the Bible, there are at least two Demetriuses: one who starts a riot against the disciple Paul, and another who's known as a good Christian.
Dinah
This name comes from the Hebrew for "God will judge." Dinah was the beautiful daughter of Jacob and Leah in the Bible. This name is underused and peaked in popularity in 1955, so your daughter could be the only Dinah in her class!
Eden
How about a name that makes you think of paradise? Eden, of course, is for the Garden of Eden, the slice of perfection where Adam and Eve lived … well, at least for a little while! Eden works well for parents who like a nice short name that starts with "E" but one that isn't quite as popular as Eva.
Eli
Eli is Hebrew for "ascension." In the Bible, Eli was a judge and a priest. Famous Elis include Eli Whitney and Eli Manning. This name is popular, ranking in the top 50 boy names in the United States.
Eva
Eva is a form of Eve — we all know who she was in the Bible. It comes from the Hebrew word chava, meaning "life" or "living one." If you like an classic old name, it doesn't get much older than this!
Ezra
We love this name! Ezra, which is Hebrew for "helper," was the name of a prophet in the Bible. This is another popular choice — currently in the top 40 for boys names.
Faith
Faith isn't anyone's name in the Bible, but it certainly is a Biblical concept as well as a popular virtue name. Present-day parents commonly choose the name to express their own trust in God.
Gideon
This name comes from the Hebrew for "one who cuts down." Gideon was the name of a heroic judge and military leader in the Old Testament, which makes it a strong choice as a child's name.
Grace
Commonly, grace is a beautiful way of moving. In the Bible, it's used to describe the goodness and generosity of God. The Puritans started using Grace as a girl's name in the 17th century.
Hadassah
Meaning "myrtle tree," Hadassah is the Hebrew name for Queen Esther in the Old Testament. This name might be a bit of a mouthful, but the nickname "Haddie" is an awfully cute option.
Hannah
Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Bible. It's Hebrew for "full of grace" or "mercy." Hannah is one of the most popular Biblical name choices for a girl, following only Elizabeth and Sarah in usage.
Hope
An apropos choice for expectant parents full of hope for their child's future, Hope may also refer to Psalm 25:21: "May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you."
Ira
Ira was the name of King David's priest in the Old Testament. It's Hebrew for "watchful one." This name was popular in the US through the 1930s but has fallen off in popularity since then. Maybe it's due for a comeback?
Jewel
A jewel is precious and beautiful. In the Bible, jewels are mentioned several times, though not as names. One example is Proverbs 20:15: "Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."
Jordan
In the Bible, the Jordan River was where Jesus was baptized. It also works as a baby name for a girl or a boy, though using Jordan for a girl is more common these days.
Joy
Joy means happiness, of course. In the Bible, Hebrews 1:9 says, "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
Jude
Hey Jude! In the Bible, Jude (not to be confused with Judas) was said to be the author of The Epistle of Jude. This is the obvious choice for Bible-loving Beatles fans.
Levi
Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah in the Old Testament. The name means "joined" or "attached." This name has been getting increasingly popular and is in the top 50 for boys names.
Lily
A lily is, of course, a delicate white flower and a symbol of purity. Song of Solomon 2:1 says, "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." Lily is one of our favorite flower names!
Luke
Luke was an author of several parts of the New Testament. The name may have originated from the Latin lux, meaning "light," or Greek Loukas, meaning "from Lucania."
Mara
Meaning "bitterness," Mara is the name Naomi gave herself after the death of her husband and sons, according to the Bible. This name might not be sweet, but it is strong.
Mercy
Mercy means "compassion" or "forgiveness." It can signify the mercy of God. This is a name on the rise, with popularity increasing every year since 2010.
Micah
Micah was an Old Testament prophet who wrote The Book of Micah. The name means "who is like the Lord" and has traditionally been a boys name but is becoming increasingly unisex.
Olive
Genesis 8:11 says, "When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth." Plus, an olive branch is a symbol of peace, lending tranquility to the name Olive.
Oprah
Fun fact: Oprah Winfrey's given name was Orpah and everyone pronounced it wrong, so she changed it! Orpah was mentioned in the Bible's Book of Ruth. The name means "back of the neck." But we suggest the better known and correctly pronounced version.
Phineas
In the Old Testament, Phineas is spelled "Phinehas." He's a grandson of Aaron. We love the nickname "Finn" for a little guy!
Reuben
Reubens aren't just a kind of sandwich! The meaning of this name is "behold a son," which is fitting seeing how Reuben is introduced in the Bible as the first son of Jacob and Leah.
Rufus
Rufus means "red" or "red-haired." It's the name of a saint mentioned in the New Testament. Famous usage includes Rufus Sewell and Rufus Wainwright.
Sarai
Sarai is an unexpected twist to the name Sarah. In the Bible, God changed the couple Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah. The name means "princess" in Hebrew.
Seth
Adam and Eve's third son was named Seth. The name means "appointed." We think Seth is a great name for a funny baby — think Seth Rogan or Seth Meyers!
Shiloh
Sometimes, things get lost in translation. Shiloh means "tranquil" in Hebrew. Some people believe it also was used as another name for the Messiah, but that could be a misinterpretation.
Silas
It's believed that Silas is a short version of Silvanus, who was missionary companion to Paul in the Bible. The name has a nature vibe, with its meaning coming from the Latin for "wood" or "forest."
Solomon
Solomon means "peaceful." Solomon was said to have written the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon in the Bible.
Tamar
In the Bible, there are two Tamars; one was Judah's daughter in-law who later became his wife. The name means "palm tree." Tamar is pronounced "TAY-mar."
Titus
In the New Testament, Titus is a companion of Paul and became a bishop. The name is thought to have Greek roots, meaning "to honor."
Tobias
This adorable name has a pretty interesting Biblical context: Tobias — along with the angel Gabriel — helped rid Sarah of a demon. Later, they were married. On top of that, Tobias means "God is good."
Zachariah
In Hebrew, Zachariah means "memory of the Lord." Nickname options are the snappy Zach or the more grown-up sounding Zachary.
Zina
Meaning "shining" or "going back," Zina was one of the four sons of Shimeai (though some translations spell it as Ziza). This name is not widely used, so this is a fitting choice for someone looking for a unique option.
