PHILIP m English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, BiblicalFrom the Greek name
Φιλιππος (Philippos) which means "friend of horses", composed of the elements
φιλος (philos) "friend, lover" and
‘ιππος (hippos) "horse". This was the name of five kings of Macedon, including Philip II the father of Alexander the Great. The name appears in the New Testament belonging to two people who are regarded as saints. First, one of the twelve apostles, and second, an early figure in the Christian church known as Philip the Deacon.
... [more] PHINEHAS m BiblicalProbably means "Nubian" from the Egyptian name
Panhsj, though some believe it means "serpent's mouth" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Phinehas is a grandson of
Aaron who kills an Israelite because he is intimate with a Midianite woman, thus stopping a plague sent by God. Also in the Bible this is the son of
Eli, killed in battle with the Philistines.
PONTIUS m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, BiblicalRoman family name. The family had Samnite roots so the name probably originated from the Oscan language, likely meaning "fifth" (a cognate of Latin
Quintus). Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of the ancient province of
Pontus in Asia Minor, itself probably from Greek
ποντος (pontos) "sea". A notable bearer of this name was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who appears in the New Testament.
PROCHORUS m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Προχορος (Prochoros) which meant "leader of the dance". Saint Prochorus was one of the original seven deacons, as told in Acts in the New Testament.
RAM (1) m BiblicalMeans "exalted" in Hebrew. This was a son of Hezron in the Old Testament.
RAPHAEL m German, French, English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
רָפָאֵל (Rafa'el) which meant "God has healed". In Hebrew tradition Raphael was the name of one of the seven archangels. He appears in the Book of Tobit, in which he disguises himself as a man named
Azarias and accompanies
Tobias on his journey to Media, aiding him along the way. In the end he cures Tobias's father
Tobit of his blindness. He is not mentioned in the New Testament, though tradition identifies him with the angel troubling the water in John 5:4.
... [more] REHOBOAM m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
רֵחַבְעָם (Rechav'am) meaning "he enlarges the people". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Solomon. He succeeded his father as king of Israel, but his subjects eventually revolted because of high taxes. This resulted in the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah, with Rehoboam ruling Judah.
REUBEN m Biblical, Hebrew, EnglishMeans "behold, a son" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is the eldest son of
Jacob and
Leah and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben was cursed by his father because he slept with Jacob's concubine
Bilhah. It has been used as a Christian name in Britain since the Protestant Reformation.
REUEL m BiblicalMeans "friend of God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is another name for
Jethro. The fantasy author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was a famous bearer.
RUFUS m Ancient Roman, English, BiblicalRoman cognomen which meant "red-haired" in Latin. Several early saints had this name, including one mentioned in one of
Paul's epistles in the New Testament. As a nickname it was used by William II Rufus, a king of England, because of his red hair. It came into general use in the English-speaking world after the Protestant Reformation.
SAMSON m Biblical, English, French, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon) which meant "sun". Samson was an Old Testament hero granted exceptional strength by God. His mistress
Delilah betrayed him and cut his hair, stripping him of his power. Thus he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought to their temple. However, in a final act of strength, he pulled down the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.
... [more] SAMUEL m English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Jewish, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el) which could mean either "name of God" or "God has heard". As told in the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel was the last of the ruling judges. He led the Israelites during a period of domination by the Philistines, who were ultimately defeated in battle at Mizpah. Later he anointed
Saul to be the first king of Israel, and even later anointed his successor
David.
... [more] SATAN m Theology, Biblical, Biblical HebrewDerived from Hebrew
שָׂטָן (satan) meaning "adversary". This is the Hebrew name of the enemy of the Judeo-Christian god. In the New Testament he is also known by the title
Devil (
Diabolos in Greek).
SAUL m Biblical, Jewish, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul) which meant "asked for, prayed for". This was the name of the first king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. Before the end of his reign he lost favour with God, and after a defeat by the Philistines he was succeeded by
David as king. In the New Testament, Saul was the original Hebrew name of the apostle
Paul.
SHADRACH m BiblicalMeans "command of Aku" in Akkadian,
Aku being the name of the Babylonian god of the moon. In the Old Testament Shadrach is the Babylonian name of
Hananiah, one of the three men cast into a fiery furnace but saved by God.
SHAMGAR m BiblicalPossibly means "sword" in Hebrew. Shamgar was one of the Old Testament judges.
SHARAR m BiblicalMeans "enemy" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of Ahiam.
SHEALTIEL m BiblicalMeans "I have asked of God" in Hebrew. This was the name of the father of Zerubbabel in the Old Testament.
SHEBA m BiblicalMeans "oath" in Hebrew. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament. Also in the Bible, this is a place name, referring to a region in Ethiopia. The queen of Sheba visited Solomon after hearing of his wisdom.
SHELAH m BiblicalMeans "petition" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of both a grandson of Shem and a son of Judah.
SHEMAIAH m BiblicalMeans "heard by
YAHWEH" in Hebrew. This name is borne by many characters in the Old Testament including a prophet in the reign of
Rehoboam.
SHEMER m BiblicalPossibly means "preserved" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the owner of the hill upon which Samaria was built.
SHILOH m & f BiblicalFrom an Old Testament place name possibly meaning "tranquil" in Hebrew. It is also used prophetically in the Old Testament to refer to a person, often understood to be the Messiah (see Genesis 49:10). This may in fact be a mistranslation. This name was brought to public attention after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gave it to their daughter in 2006.
SIMEON m Biblical, Bulgarian, SerbianFrom
Συμεων (Symeon), the Old Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name
Shim'on (see
SIMON). In the Old Testament this is the name of the second son of
Jacob and
Leah and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the New Testament the Greek rendering
Σιμων (Simon) is more common, though
Συμεων occurs belonging to a man who blessed the newborn
Jesus. He is recognized as a saint in most Christian traditions.
... [more] SIMON m English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Slovene, Romanian, Macedonian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom
Σιμων (Simon), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name
שִׁמְעוֹן (Shim'on) which meant "he has heard". This name is spelled
Simeon, based on Greek
Συμεων, in many translations of the Old Testament, where it is borne by the second son of
Jacob. In the New Testament
Simon is the name of several characters, including the man who carried the cross for
Jesus. Most importantly however it was borne by the leading apostle Simon, also known as
Peter (a name given to him by Jesus).
... [more] SOLOMON m Biblical, English, JewishFrom the Hebrew name
שְׁלֹמֹה (Shelomoh) which was derived from Hebrew
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) "peace". As told in the Old Testament, Solomon was a king of Israel, the son of
David and
Bathsheba. He was renowned for his wisdom and wealth. Towards the end of his reign he angered God by turning to idolatry. Supposedly, he was the author of the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.
... [more] STEPHEN m English, BiblicalFrom the Greek name
Στεφανος (Stephanos) meaning "crown", more precisely "that which surrounds". Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death, as told in Acts in the New Testament. He is regarded as the first Christian martyr. Due to him, the name became common in the Christian world. It was popularized in England by the Normans.
... [more] TEKOA m BiblicalMeans "stockade" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a both a city and a son of Ashhur.
TEMAN m Biblical, Biblical HebrewMeans "right hand" or "south" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a grandson of Esau for whom the town of Teman in Edom was named.
TERAH m BiblicalPossibly means "station" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Terah is the father of
Abraham. He led his people out of Ur and towards Canaan, but died along the way.
THADDEUS m English, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom
Θαδδαιος (Thaddaios), the Greek form of the Aramaic name
Thaddai. It is possibly derived from a word meaning "heart", but it may in fact be an Aramaic form of a Greek name such as
Θεοδωρος (see
THEODORE). In the Gospel of Matthew, Thaddaeus is listed as one of the twelve apostles, though elsewhere in the New Testament his name is omitted and
Jude's appears instead. It is likely that the two names refer to the same person.
THOMAS m English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekGreek form of the Aramaic name
תָּאוֹמָא (Ta'oma') which meant "twin". In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle. When he heard that
Jesus had risen from the dead he initially doubted the story, until Jesus appeared before him and he examined his wounds himself. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.
... [more] TIMOTHY m English, BiblicalEnglish form of the Greek name
Τιμοθεος (Timotheos) meaning "honouring God", derived from
τιμαω (timao) "to honour" and
θεος (theos) "god". Saint Timothy was a companion of
Paul on his missionary journeys and was the recipient of two of Paul's epistles that appear in the New Testament. He was of both Jewish and Greek ancestry. According to tradition, he was martyred at Ephesus after protesting the worship of
Artemis. As an English name,
Timothy was not used until after the Protestant Reformation.
TIRAS m BiblicalPossibly means "desire" in Hebrew. Tiras is a grandson of
Noah in the Old Testament.
TITUS m Ancient Roman, English, Biblical, Biblical LatinRoman praenomen, or given name, which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to Latin
titulus "title of honour". It is more likely of Oscan origin, since it was borne by the legendary Sabine king Titus Tatius.
... [more] TOBIAH m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
טוֹבִיָּה (Toviyyah) which meant "
YAHWEH is good". This was the name of an Ammonite in the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.
TOBIAS m Biblical, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekGreek form of
TOBIAH. This is the name of the hero of the apocryphal Book of Tobit, which appears in many English versions of the Old Testament. It relates how
Tobit's son Tobias, with the help of the angel
Raphael, is able to drive away a demon who has plagued
Sarah, who subsequently becomes his wife. This story was popular in the Middle Ages, and the name came into occasional use in parts of Europe at that time. In England it became common after the Protestant Reformation.
TOBIT m Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom Greek
Τωβιθ (Tobith), from the Hebrew name
טוֹבִיה (Tovih) meaning "my good". The apocryphal Book of Tobit, which is canonical in many Christian traditions but not in Judaism, tells the story of Tobit's son
Tobias. He is sent by his father to collect money in Media, aided by the angel
Raphael in the guise of a man. At the end of the story Tobit's blindness is cured.
URIAH m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
אוּרִיָה ('Uriyah) which meant "
YAHWEH is my light". In the Old Testament this is the name of a Hittite warrior in King
David's army, the first husband of
Bathsheba. David desired Bathsheba so he placed Uriah in the forefront of battle so he would be killed.
URIEL m Biblical, HebrewFrom the Hebrew name
אוּרִיאֵל ('Uri'el) which meant "God is my light". Uriel was one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition. He is mentioned only in the Apocrypha, for example in the Book of Enoch where he warns
Noah of the coming flood.
URIJAH m BiblicalForm of
URIAH used in some English versions of the Old Testament (for a character in the Book of Jeremiah).
UZZIAH m BiblicalMeans "my power is
YAHWEH" in Hebrew. This is the name of several Old Testament characters including a king of Judah.
YESHUA m Biblical Hebrew, Ancient AramaicContracted form of
Yehoshu'a (see
JOSHUA) used in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Hebrew Old Testament. The form was also used in Aramaic, and was most likely the name represented by Greek
Iesous (see
JESUS) in the New Testament. This means it was probably the real name of Jesus.
ZACCAI m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
זַכָּי (Zakkay) meaning "pure". This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
ZACCHAEUS m BiblicalFrom
Ζακχαιος (Zakchaios), the Greek form of
ZACCAI. In the New Testament he is a tax collector in Jericho who gives half his possessions to charity.
ZACHARIAH m English, BiblicalVariant of
ZECHARIAH. This spelling is used in the King James Version of the Old Testament to refer to one of the kings of Israel (called Zechariah in other versions).
ZACHARY m English, BiblicalUsual English form of
ZACHARIAS, used in some English versions of the New Testament. This form has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it did not become common until after the Protestant Reformation. It was borne by American military commander and president Zachary Taylor (1784-1850).
ZADOK m BiblicalMeans "righteous" in Hebrew. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament, most notably the high priest of Israel during the reigns of
David and
Solomon. Solomon was anointed by Zadok.
ZALMON m BiblicalMeans "shady" in Hebrew. This is the name of one of
David's mighty men in the Old Testament.
ZEBADIAH m BiblicalMeans "
YAHWEH has bestowed" in Hebrew. This was the name of several Old Testament characters.
ZEBEDEE m BiblicalFrom
Ζεβεδαιος (Zebedaios), the Greek form of
ZEBADIAH used in the New Testament, where it refers to the father of the apostles James and John.
ZEBULUN m BiblicalPossibly derived from Ugartic
zbl meaning "prince". In the Old Testament Zebulun is the tenth son of
Jacob (his sixth son by
Leah) and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Genesis 30:20 implies two different roots for the name:
זָבַל (zaval) "to dwell" and
זֵבֵד (zeved) "gift, dowry". These are probably only folk etymologies.
ZECHARIAH m Biblical, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
זְכַרְיָה (Zekharyah) meaning "
YAHWEH remembers". This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament, including the prophet Zechariah, the author of the Book of Zechariah. The name also appears in the New Testament belonging to the father of
John the Baptist, who was temporarily made dumb because of his disbelief. He is regarded as a saint by Christians. In some versions of the New Testament his name is spelled in the Greek form
Zacharias or the English form
Zachary. As an English given name,
Zechariah has been in occasional use since the Protestant Reformation.
ZELOPHEHAD m BiblicalPossibly means either "first born" or "shadow from terror" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Zelophehad is a man who dies while the Israelites are wandering in the wilderness, leaving five daughters as heirs.
ZEPHANIAH m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
צְפַנְיָה (Tzefanyah) meaning "
YAHWEH has hidden". This is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Zephaniah.
ZERAH m BiblicalMeans "dawning, shining" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of
Judah and the twin of
Perez in the Old Testament.
ZIBA (2) m BiblicalMeans "station" in Hebrew. This was the name of a servant of Saul in the Old Testament.
ZIMRI m BiblicalMeans "my praise" or "my music" in Hebrew. This is the name of a king of Israel in the Old Testament. He ruled for only seven days, when he was succeeded by the commander of the army
Omri.
ZION m Jewish, BiblicalFrom the name of a citadel which was in the center of Jerusalem. Zion is also used to refer to a Jewish homeland and to heaven.
ZURIEL m BiblicalMeans "my rock is God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name was borne by a chief of the Merarite Levites at the time of the Exodus.