AARON m English, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
אַהֲרֹן ('Aharon) which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Other theories claim a Hebrew derivation, and suggest meanings such as "high mountain" or "exalted". In the Old Testament this name is borne by the older brother of
Moses. He acted as a spokesman for his brother when they appealed to the pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Aaron's rod produced miracles and plagues to intimidate the pharaoh. After the departure from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, God installed Aaron as the first high priest of the Israelites and promised that his descendants would form the priesthood.
... [more] ABADDON m BiblicalMeans "ruin, destruction" in Hebrew. In Revelation in the New Testament this is another name of the angel of the abyss.
ABEDNEGO m BiblicalMeans "servant of Nebo" in Akkadian,
Nebo being the Babylonian god of wisdom. In the Old Testament Abednego is the Babylonian name given to
Azariah, one of the three men cast into a blazing furnace but saved from harm by God, as told in the Book of Daniel.
ABEL m English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
הֶבֶל (Hevel) or
הָבֶל (Havel) which meant "breath". In the Old Testament he is the second son of
Adam and
Eve, murdered out of envy by his brother
Cain. In England, this name came into use during the Middle Ages, and it was common during the Puritan era.
ABIEL m BiblicalMeans "God is my father" in Hebrew. This was the name of the grandfather of Saul in the Old Testament.
ABIHU m BiblicalMeans "he is my father" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of
Aaron in the Old Testament. He and his brother Nadab were killed by God because they presented him with unauthorized fire.
ABIJAH m & f BiblicalMeans "my father is
YAHWEH" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of several characters, both male and female, including the second king of Judah.
ABIMAEL m BiblicalMeans "my father is God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is listed as a descendant of Shem.
ABIMELECH m BiblicalMeans "my father is king" in Hebrew. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament including a king of Gerar who takes
Abraham's wife
Sarah, but is forced by God to give her back.
ABIRAM m BiblicalMeans "my father is exalted" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Abiram is swallowed by an earthquake after rebelling against the leadership of
Moses.
ABISHAI m BiblicalMeans "my father is a gift" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is one of King
David's heroes.
ABNER m English, Biblical, Biblical LatinMeans "my father is a light" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Abner was a cousin of
Saul and the commander of his army. After he killed Asahel he was himself slain by Asahel's brother
Joab. It has been used as an English Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation. It was popular with the Puritans, who brought it to America in the 17th century.
ABRAHAM m English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Biblical, Biblical LatinThis name may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" in Hebrew or else as a contraction of
ABRAM (1) and
הָמוֹן (hamon) "many, multitude". The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). With his father
Terah, he led his wife
Sarah, his nephew
Lot and their other followers from Ur into Canaan. He is regarded by Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son
Isaac and by Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son
Ishmael.
... [more] ABSALOM m Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
אַבְשָׁלוֹם ('Avshalom) which meant "my father is peace". In the Old Testament he is a son of King
David. He avenged his sister
Tamar by arranging the murder of her rapist, their half-brother
Amnon. He later led a revolt against his father. While fleeing on the back of a mule he got his head caught in a tree and was killed by
Joab.
ACHAICUS m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Αχαικος (Achaikos), which referred to the region in Greece called
Αχαια (Achaia), situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. In the New Testament this is the name of a Corinthian Christian who aids Saint
Paul.
ACHAN m BiblicalPossibly a variation of the Hebrew word
עֲכָר ('akhar) meaning "trouble". In the Old Testament, Achan is stoned to death because he steals forbidden items during the assault on Jericho.
ACHIM (2) m BiblicalPossibly means "he will establish" in Hebrew. In the New Testament this name is listed as an ancestor of
Jesus.
ADALIA m BiblicalPossibly means "
YAHWEH is just" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Haman.
ADAM m English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Hebrew, Arabic, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewThis is the Hebrew word for "man". It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew
אדם ('adam) meaning "to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian
adamu meaning "to make".
... [more] ADINO m BiblicalMeans "ornament" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of King
David's mighty men.
ADONIJAH m BiblicalMeans "my lord is
YAHWEH" in Hebrew. This is the name of one of King
David's sons in the Old Testament. Though he was the eldest surviving son of David, he was passed over as heir to the throne in favour of
Solomon.
ADONIRAM m BiblicalMeans "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of an overseer of tribute under the kings
David,
Solomon and
Rehoboam. He was stoned to death when the Israelites revolted.
AGRIPPA m & f Ancient Roman, BiblicalRoman cognomen of unknown meaning, possibly from Greek
αγριος (agrios) "wild" and
‘ιππος (hippos) "horse" or possibly of Etruscan origin. It was also used as a praenomen, or given name, by the Furia and Menenia families. In the New Testament this name was borne by Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod the Great), the king of Israel who put the apostle James to death. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
AHAB m Biblical, Biblical LatinMeans "uncle", from Hebrew
אָח ('ach) "brother" and
אֲב ('av) "father". This was the name of a king of Israel, the husband of
Jezebel, as told in the Old Testament. He was admonished by
Elijah for his sinful behaviour. This name was later used by Herman Melville in his novel 'Moby-Dick' (1851), where it belongs to a sea captain obsessively hunting for a white whale.
ALEXANDER m English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)Latinized form of the Greek name
Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek
αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, help" and
ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive
ανδρος). In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero
Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, King of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.
... [more] ALLON m BiblicalMeans "oak" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
ALVAH m BiblicalMeans "his highness" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned in the Old Testament as belonging to a descendant of Esau.
AMAL (2) m BiblicalMeans "work" in Hebrew. This was the name of an Asherite in the Old Testament.
AMARIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH has said" in Hebrew. This was the name of several Old Testament characters.
AMI (1) m BiblicalMeans "trustworthy, reliable" in Hebrew. This was the name of a servant of King Solomon in the Old Testament.
AMITTAI m BiblicalMeans "my truth" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of the prophet Jonah.
AMMIEL m BiblicalMeans "God is my kinsman" in Hebrew. This is the name of one of the spies sent out by
Moses in the Old Testament.
AMOS m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewMeans "carried" in Hebrew. Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Amos, which speaks against greed, corruption and oppression of the poor. Written about the 8th century BC, it is among the oldest of the prophetic books. As an English name,
Amos has been used since the Protestant Reformation, and was popular among the Puritans.
ANAH f & m BiblicalMeans "answer" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name belongs to one female character and two male characters.
ANAN (2) m BiblicalMeans "cloud" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned very briefly in the Old Testament.
ANANI m BiblicalMeans "my cloud" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned in the Old Testament as belonging to a descendant of King
David.
ANDREAS m German, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Welsh, Ancient Greek, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekAncient Greek and Latin form of
ANDREW. It is also the form used in modern Greek, German and Welsh.
ANDREW m English, BiblicalEnglish form of the Greek name
Ανδρεας (Andreas), which was derived from
ανδρειος (andreios) "manly, masculine", a derivative of
ανηρ (aner) "man". In the New Testament the apostle Andrew, the first disciple to join
Jesus, is the brother of
Simon Peter. According to tradition, he later preached in the Black Sea region, with some legends saying he was crucified on an X-shaped cross.
Andrew, being a Greek name, was probably only a nickname or a translation of his real Hebrew name, which is not known.
... [more] ARELI m BiblicalMeans "lion of God, hero" in Hebrew. This was the name of a son of Gad in the Old Testament.
ARETAS m BiblicalGreek form of an Aramaic name, of unknown meaning. This was the name of four Nabataean kings of Petra in Jordan, including the first king (2nd century BC). King Aretas IV is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
ARIDAI m BiblicalMeaning unknown, possibly of Persian origin. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the ten sons of Haman killed by the Jews.
ARIEL m & f Hebrew, English, French, Biblical, Biblical GreekMeans "lion of God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament it is used as another name for the city of Jerusalem. Shakespeare used it as the name of a spirit in his play 'The Tempest' (1611), and one of the moons of Uranus bears this name in his honour. As an English name, it became more common for females in the 1980s, especially after it was used for the title character in the Walt Disney film 'The Little Mermaid' (1989).
ASAPH m BiblicalMeans "collector" in Hebrew. This name belongs to several minor characters in the Old Testament.
ATHALIAH f & m BiblicalMeans "afflicted of
YAHWEH" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is both a feminine and masculine name. It was borne by the daughter of
Ahab and
Jezebel, who later came to rule Judah as a queen.
AZAREL m BiblicalMeans "God has helped" in Hebrew. This is the name of several minor Old Testament characters.
AZARIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH has helped" in Hebrew. This is the name of many Old Testament characters including of one of the three men the Babylonian king ordered cast into a fiery furnace. His Babylonian name was
Abednego.
AZAZEL m BiblicalMeans "scapegoat" in Hebrew. This is the name of the recipient of a sacrificial goat in the Old Testament. The identity of Azazel is not clear; it may in fact be the name of the place where the goat is to be sacrificed, or it may be the name of some sort of evil desert demon.
AZAZIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH is strong" in Hebrew. This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
AZEL m BiblicalMeans "reserved" in Hebrew. This is both the name of a minor character and a place name in the Old Testament.
AZRIEL m BiblicalMeans "help of God", derived from Hebrew
עָזַר ('azar) "help" and
אֵל ('el) "God". This was the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
BARNABAS m German (Rare), English (Rare), Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekGreek form of an Aramaic name. In Acts in the New Testament the byname Barnabas was given to a man named
Joseph, a Jew from Cyprus who was a companion of
Paul on his missionary journeys. The original Aramaic form is unattested, but it may be from
בּר נביא (bar naviya') meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement". As an English name, it came into occasional use after the 12th century.
BARTHOLOMEW m English, BiblicalFrom
Βαρθολομαιος (Bartholomaios), which was the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "son of
TALMAI". In the New Testament
Bartholomew is the byname of an apostle, possibly the same person as the apostle
Nathanael. According to tradition he was a missionary to India before returning westward to Armenia, where he was martyred by flaying. Due to the popularity of this saint the name became common in England during the Middle Ages.
BARUCH m Biblical, HebrewMeans "blessed" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a companion of the prophet Jeremiah, acting as his scribe and assistant. The deuterocanonical Book of Baruch was supposedly written by him. A famous bearer was Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), a Dutch-Jewish rationalist philosopher.
BEELZEBUB m BiblicalFrom Hebrew
בַּעַל זְבוּב (Ba'al Zevuv) meaning "lord of flies", intended as a mocking alteration of
בּאל זבל (Ba'al Zevul) "Ba'al the exalted", one of the Canaanite names for their god
BA'AL. In Milton's 'Paradise Lost' (1667) this is the name of Satan's chief lieutenant.
BELIAL m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Judeo-Christian LegendMeans "worthless" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this term is used to refer to various wicked people. In the New Testament, Paul uses it as a name for Satan. In later Christian tradition Belial became an evil angel associated with lawlessness and lust.
BELSHAZZAR m Ancient Near Eastern, BiblicalFrom
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (Belshatzzar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name
Bel-sarra-usur meaning "
BA'AL protect the king". This was the name of the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Babylonian Empire before it was conquered by the Persians in the 6th century BC. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel Belshazzar is the last king of Babylon who sees the mystical handwriting on the wall, which is interpreted by Daniel to portend the end of the empire.
BENJAMIN m English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand". Benjamin in the Old Testament is the twelfth and youngest son of
Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. He was originally named
בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-'oniy) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother
Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father (see Genesis 35:18).
... [more] BETHUEL m BiblicalMeans "man of God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of
Rebecca.
BUZ m BiblicalMeans "contempt" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of
ABRAHAM's brother
Nahor in the Old Testament.
CAIAPHAS m BiblicalMeaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin. In the New Testament this is the name of the Jewish high priest who condemns
Jesus.
CAIN m Biblical, Biblical LatinMeans "acquired" in Hebrew. In Genesis in the Old Testament Cain is the first son of
Adam and
Eve. He killed his brother
Abel after God accepted Abel's offering of meat instead of his offering of plant-based foods. After this Cain was banished to be a wanderer.
CALEB m English, BiblicalMost likely related to Hebrew
כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning "dog". An alternate theory connects it to Hebrew
כָּל (kal) "whole, all of" and
לֵב (lev) "heart". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve spies sent by
Moses into Canaan. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and
Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.
... [more] CANAAN m BiblicalMeaning unknown. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Ham. He is said to be the ancestor of the Canaanite people.
CARMI m BiblicalMeans "vine" in Hebrew. This was the name of a son of Reuben in the Old Testament.
CARPUS m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatin form of the Greek name
Καρπος (Karpos), which meant "fruit, profits". The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament in the second epistle of Timothy.
CEPHAS m Biblical, Biblical LatinMeans "rock" in Aramaic. The apostle
Simon was called Cephas by
Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament
Cephas is translated into Greek
Πετρος (Petros) (in English
Peter).
CLOPAS m BiblicalMeaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin. In the New Testament Clopas is mentioned briefly as the husband of one of the women who witnessed the crucifixion, sometimes identified with
Alphaeus.
CORNELIUS m Ancient Roman, English, Dutch, German, BiblicalRoman family name which possibly derives from the Latin element
cornu "horn". In Acts in the New Testament Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek
Peter. After speaking with Peter he converts to Christianity, and he is traditionally deemed the first gentile convert. The name was also borne by a few early saints, including a 3rd-century pope. In England it came into use in the 16th century, partly due to Dutch influence.
CYRUS m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek (Latinized)From
Κυρος (Kyros), the Greek form of the Persian name
Kūrush, which may mean "far sighted" or "young". The name is sometimes associated with Greek
κυριος (kyrios) "lord". It was borne by several kings of Persia, including Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon. He is famous in the Old Testament for freeing the captive Jews and allowing them to return to Israel. As an English name, it first came into use among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation.
DANIEL m English, Hebrew, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Armenian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge". Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king's dreams. The book also presents Daniel's four visions of the end of the world.
... [more] DARIUS m English, Lithuanian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical LatinRoman form of
Δαρειος (Dareios), which was the Greek form of the Persian name
Dārayavahush, which was composed of the elements
dâraya "to possess" and
vahu "good". Three ancient kings of Persia bore this name, including Darius the Great who expanded the Achaemenid Empire to its greatest extent. His forces invaded Greece but were defeated in the Battle of Marathon.
... [more] DATHAN m BiblicalPossibly means "fountain" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the conspirators against
Moses.
DAVID m English, Hebrew, French, Scottish, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
דָּוִד (Dawid), which was probably derived from Hebrew
דוד (dwd) meaning "beloved". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of
Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament,
Jesus was descended from him.
... [more] DELAIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH has drawn" in Hebrew. This was the name of several Old Testament characters.
DIKLAH m & f Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical HebrewPossibly means "palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Joktan. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name.
EBENEZER m BiblicalMeans "stone of help" in Hebrew. This was the name of a monument erected by
Samuel in the Old Testament. Charles Dickens used it for the miserly character Ebenezer Scrooge in his novel 'A Christmas Carol' (1843).
EDER (1) m BiblicalMeans "flock" in Hebrew. This was the name of a son of Beriah in the Old Testament.
EDOM m BiblicalMeans "red" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament,
Esau was given this name because he traded his birthright for a helping of red broth. The bible goes on to tell that Esau was the founder of the ancient nation of Edom, located to the south of the kingdom of Judah.
EHUD m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical HebrewMeans "united" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the biblical judges. He killed Eglon, the king of Moab, and freed the city of Jericho from Moabite rule.
ELAH f & m Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical HebrewMeans "oak tree" or "terebinth tree" in Hebrew. This was the name of the fourth king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. He was murdered by
Zimri, who succeeded him. In modern Hebrew this is typically a feminine name.
ELAM m BiblicalPossibly means either "hidden" or "eternity" in Hebrew. This was the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including a son of
Shem who was the ancestor of the Elamite peoples.
ELDAD m BiblicalMeans "God has loved" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is one of the two elders who prophesizes in the Israelite camp.
ELI (1) m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical HebrewMeans "ascension" in Hebrew. In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young
Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.
... [more] ELIAKIM m BiblicalMeans "God rises" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the master of Hezekiah's household.
ELIJAH m English, Hebrew, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
אֱלִיָּהוּ ('Eliyyahu) meaning "my God is
YAHWEH". Elijah was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker, as told in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament. He was active in the 9th century BC during the reign of King
Ahab of Israel and his Phoenician-born queen
Jezebel. Elijah confronted the king and queen over their idolatry of the Canaanite god
Ba'al and other wicked deeds. At the end of his life he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and was succeeded by
Elisha. In the New Testament, Elijah and
Moses appear next to
Jesus when he is transfigured.
... [more] ELIOENAI m BiblicalMeans "my eyes look to God" in Hebrew. This was the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
ELIPHELET m BiblicalMeans "God is release" in Hebrew. This is the name of several people in the Old Testament including a son of
David.
ELISHA m Biblical, Biblical HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
אֱלִישַׁע ('Elisha'), a contracted form of
אֱלִישׁוּעַ ('Elishu'a) meaning "my God is salvation". According to the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet and miracle worker. He was the attendant of
Elijah and succeeded him after his ascension to heaven.
ELIUD m BiblicalGreek form of a Hebrew name meaning "God is grandeur". The Gospel of Matthew lists him as an ancestor of
Jesus.
ELNATHAN m BiblicalMeans "God has given" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of both a grandfather of king Jehoiachin and a son of Akbor.
ELON m BiblicalMeans "oak" in Hebrew. This was the name of one of the ruling judges of the Israelites according to the Old Testament.
EMMANUEL m Biblical, French, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
עִמָּנוּאֵל ('Immanu'el) meaning "God is with us". This was the foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament. It has been used in England since the 16th century in the spellings
Emmanuel and
Immanuel, though it has not been widespread. The name has been more common in continental Europe, especially in Spain and Portugal (in the spellings
Manuel and
Manoel).
ERAN m BiblicalMeans "watchful, vigilant" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is a grandson of Ephraim.
ERASTUS m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Εραστος (Erastos) meaning "beloved". This was the name of an assistant of
Paul mentioned in Acts and two epistles in the New Testament.
ESAU m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
עֵשָׂו ('Esaw) which possibly meant "hairy". In the Old Testament Esau is the elder of the twin sons of
Isaac and
Rebecca. Once when he was very hungry he sold his birthright to his twin
Jacob for a bowl of stew. Later Jacob disguised himself as Esau and received the elder son's blessing from the blind Isaac. Esau was the ancestor of the Edomites.
ETHAN m English, French, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
אֵיתָן ('Eitan) meaning "solid, enduring, firm". In the Old Testament this name is borne by a few minor characters, including the wise man Ethan the Ezrahite, supposedly the author of Psalm 89.
... [more] EUTYCHUS m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Ευτυχος (Eutychos), which was derived from Greek
ευτυχης (eutyches) "fortunate". The word was formed of the elements
ευ (eu) "good" and
τυχη (tyche) "chance, luck, fortune". In the New Testament this is the name of a young man who went to sleep while
Paul was preaching and fell from the third story of the building. He was believed to be dead, but later turned out to be alive.
EZEKIEL m Biblical, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yechezqel) meaning "God strengthens". Ezekiel is a major prophet of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Ezekiel. He lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and captivity of Israel, at which time he was taken to Babylon. The Book of Ezekiel describes his vivid symbolic visions that predict the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. As an English given name,
Ezekiel has been used since the Protestant Reformation.
EZER m Biblical, Biblical HebrewMeans "help" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Seir, as well as several other minor characters.
EZRA m Biblical, English, HebrewMeans "help" in Hebrew. Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.
FELIX m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Romanian, Ancient Roman, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom a Roman cognomen meaning "lucky, successful" in Latin. It was acquired as an agnomen, or nickname, by the 1st-century BC Roman general Sulla. It also appears in the New Testament belonging to the governor of Judea who imprisoned Saint
Paul.
... [more] GABRIEL m French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Catalan, English, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
גַבְרִיאֵל (Gavri'el) meaning "God is my strong man", derived from
גֶּבֶר (gever) "strong man, hero" and
אֶל ('El) "God". Gabriel was one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition, often appearing as a messenger of God. In the Old Testament he is sent to interpret the visions of the prophet
Daniel, while in the New Testament he serves as the announcer of the births of
John to
Zechariah and
Jesus to
Mary. According to Islamic tradition he was the angel who dictated the Qur'an to
Muhammad.
... [more] GAD m BiblicalMeans "fortune, luck" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Gad is the first son of
Jacob by
Leah's slave-girl
Zilpah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. His name is explained in Genesis 30:11. Another Gad in the Old Testament is a prophet of King
David.
GAIUS m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, BiblicalRoman praenomen, or given name, of uncertain meaning. It is possibly derived from Latin
gaudere "to rejoice", though it may be of unknown Etruscan origin. This was a very common Roman praenomen, the most famous bearers being Gaius Julius Caesar, the great leader of the Roman Republic, and his adopted son Gaius Octavius (later known as Augustus), the first Roman emperor. This name also appears in the New Testament belonging to a bishop of Ephesus who is regarded as a saint.
GAMALIEL m BiblicalMeans "benefit of God" in Hebrew. In Acts in the New Testament he is a teacher of Saint
Paul.
GEDALIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH is great" in Hebrew. This was the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.
GEMARIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH has accomplished" in Hebrew. This was the name of a friend of Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
GERA m BiblicalPossibly means "a grain" in Hebrew. This was the name of several members of the tribe of Benjamin in the Old Testament.
GERSHOM m Biblical, Biblical HebrewProbably means "exile" in Hebrew, though the Bible explains that it derives from
גֵּר שָׁם (ger sham) meaning "a stranger there" (see Exodus 18:3). This is the name of a son of
Moses in the Old Testament.
GIDEON m Biblical, English, HebrewMeans "feller" or "hewer" in Hebrew. Gideon is a hero and judge of the Old Testament. He led the vastly outnumbered Israelites against the Midianites, defeated them, and killed their two kings. In the English-speaking world,
Gideon has been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation, and it was popular among the Puritans.
GILEAD m BiblicalFrom an Old Testament place name meaning "monument of testimony" in Hebrew. This was a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Besides being a place name, it is also borne by people in the Bible.
GOMER m & f BiblicalMeans "complete" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of both a grandson of
Noah and the unfaithful wife of the prophet
Hosea.
HABAKKUK m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חֲבַקּוּק (Chavaqquq) meaning "embrace". In the Old Testament this is one of the twelve minor prophets, the author of the Book of Habakkuk.
HAGGAI m BiblicalMeans "festive" in Hebrew. This is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. He was the author of the Book of Haggai, which urges the exiles returning from Babylonia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
HAM m BiblicalMeans "hot, warm" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Ham is one of
Noah's three sons, along with
Shem and
Japheth. He was the ancestor of the Egyptians and Canaanites.
HANAN (1) m BiblicalMeans "gracious" in Hebrew. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
HAVILAH f & m BiblicalProbably means "to dance, to circle, to twist" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is both a place name and a masculine personal name.
HAZAEL m BiblicalMeans "God sees" in Hebrew. This was the name of a king of Aram in the Old Testament.
HEBER (2) m BiblicalMeans "enclave" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name is borne by a great-grandson of
Jacob and also by the husband of
Jael.
HELI (1) m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatin form of
ELI (1) used in the Old and New Testament. This form of the name is used in most English versions of the New Testament to refer to the father of
Joseph (husband of
Mary) in the genealogy in the Gospel of Luke.
HEROD m BiblicalFrom the Greek name
‘Ηρωιδης (Heroides), which probably means "song of the hero" from
‘ηρως (heros) "hero, warrior" combined with
ωιδη (oide) "song, ode". This was the name of several rulers of Judea during the period when it was part of the Roman Empire. This includes two who appear in the New Testament: Herod the Great, the king who ordered the slaughter of the children, and his son Herod Antipas, who had
John the Baptist beheaded.
HEZEKIAH m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חִזְקִיָהוּ (Chizqiyahu), which means "
YAHWEH strengthens". This name was borne by a powerful king of Judah who reigned in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Also in the Old Testament, this was the name of an ancestor of the prophet
Zephaniah.
HIRAH m BiblicalMeans "splendour" in Hebrew. This was the name of the father-in-law of Judah in the Old Testament.
HIRAM m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew, EnglishProbably of Phoenician origin, though it could be from Hebrew meaning "exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre in the Old Testament. As an English given name,
Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.
HOSEA m BiblicalVariant transcription of
Hoshe'a (see
HOSHEA). Hosea is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Hosea. Written in the northern kingdom, it draws parallels between his relationship with his unfaithful wife and the relationship between God and his people.
HOSHEA m Biblical, Biblical HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshe'a) meaning "salvation". In the Old Testament at Numbers 13:16,
Moses gives the spy Hoshea the new name
Yehoshu'a (see
JOSHUA), which has a related origin. This name was also borne by an 8th-century BC king of Israel, who was the last ruler of that state before it was conquered by Assyria.
HURI m BiblicalMeans "linen weaver" in Hebrew. This was the name of the father of Abihail in the Old Testament.