10 Unexpected & Beautiful Christian Baby Names

It’s often said that our names describe and define us and affect how we view and treat ourselves. Who will they be? What will they do? How will they treat others? Baby names can carry a lot of weight, so no pressure or anything. It’s no wonder so many names exist to choose from when bringing a new person into the world. There are common names, traditional names, family names, preppy names and even names inspired by colors, weather and flowers.

Those who have a strong faith might be inspired to choose a biblical name for their baby. Choosing names from the Bible has been common in the past, but a current trend is parents digging a bit deeper into the Bible for more unusual choices, such as Old Testament names like Caleb or Leah. Parents are also being inspired by the Christian meaning of names, such as those that mean “faithful” or “beloved.”

These are Christian baby names that also have beautiful meanings. Some may seem familiar and some may be totally new, which may make them an even more special choice. Take a look at some of these gorgeous and timeless Christian baby names to determine if any serve as inspiration for the family's next baby.

BEVAN

Little baby boy sitting up on a blanket in the park looking to camera, close up
iStock

Bevan literally means “son of Evan” in Welsh, so naming a son this would be a sweet homage to a dad named Evan. Bevan is also known to mean “youthful warrior” and “son of God”. It’s a proud name for a baby boy.

KIAN

Portrait of cute adorable little african american baby sleep in a white bedroom
iStock

Kian is a name that has been gaining popularity over the past decade, but it’s still fairly rare. Actress and TV personality La La Anthony’s son is named Kiyan (with an added "y" in the middle), which means “royal, a majestic king”. Kian is definitely the name for a baby boy with big dreams.

BREA

happy excited infant baby girl crawling on the bed
iStock

Brea is such a beautiful-sounding name. Pronounced BRAY-uh, its origin is Irish for “hill,” but it also carries the meaning “noble, strong, virtuous”. It's similar to Bria and Breana, as well as the Old Testament name Leah. We can just picture this fierce little girl taking over the world.

ELORA

Head shot close up portrait of adorable african american toddler.
iStock

Elora is a modern blend of El and Lora meaning “My god is my light.” It’s a rare and powerful name for a baby girl that has its origins in England. Elora was the name of the baby princess in the movie Willow.

SACHIEL

Close up portrait of a curly-haired baby boy crawling on bed
iStock

We love the unique sound of the name Sachiel, pronounced SAECH-iy-L. In kabbalistic angelology, Sachiel is an archangel from the order of cherubim. The name means "the covering of God" and is associated with the Zodiacal sign Sagittarius, the weekday Thursday, wealth, and charity. Spelled a little differently, it becomes the name of a legendary baseball player: Satchel Paige.

SENA

Baby in a Carseat
iStock

How beautiful is the name Sena? Pronounced SAY-nuh or SEE-nuh, this name is of Arabic, Hindi, and African origin and means "this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth". Similar to Ina, Ena is a Japanese name meaning “gift from God.” The similar Cinna from The Hunger Games is another variation of this name. We’re sure she’ll be a blessed goddess in everyone’s eyes!

PHELAN

Mother throwing up her Son with Down Syndrome at home
iStock

Phelan (pronounced FAY-lan or FEE-lan) is just right for a happy baby boy. Meaning “ever good,” “joyful” and “little wolf,” it’s of Irish origin. It can also be spelled Felan. Does Phelan sound familiar? It’s a common last name.

INA

Close Up Of Father Holding Baby Daughter In Nursery
iStock

Those who are interested in a name that's short and sweet should consider the lovely Ina, which has Irish roots. Ina means “queen” (from Regina) or “pure” (from Katharina) so it can also be a nickname. Food Network fans or other amateur cooks may have copied a few recipes from Ina Garten. Fun fact: In Hindi, Ina means “mother.”

ZANE

Little baby crawling, close-up
iStock

Zane is a name that means “God is gracious”. It is the Hebrew version of the name John. Spelled Zain and Zayn in Arabic, it carries the meaning "beauty, grace.” This is an ideal name for a strong and handsome boy, just like singer and new dad Zayn Malik.

ZARIAH

Laughing blue eyed baby with pink hat
iStock

The spelling of the name Zariah makes this name even more unusual for a baby girl who is most certainly a shining star. This name is of Arabic origin, and means "radiance". With just one letter difference this name, of course, reminds of us of songstress Mariah Carey. Zariah is an alternate form of Zara and Zahara, which means “flowering, shining.” Zariah sounds like an artistic and creative person!