Behind the Name
the etymology and history of first names
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Biblical Names

The names listed here occur in the Revised English Bible. Names marked Biblical (Variant) occur in other English versions of the Bible. See also about biblical names.

AARON   m   English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name אַהֲרֹן ('Aharon) which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin... [more]

ABADDON   m   Biblical
Means "ruin, destruction" in Hebrew... [more]

ABEDNEGO   m   Biblical
Means "servant of Nebo" in Babylonian, Nebo being the Babylonian god of wisdom... [more]

ABEL   m   English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Biblical
From the Hebrew name הֶבֶל (Hevel) or הָבֶל (Havel) which meant "breath"... [more]

ABIAH   m & f   Biblical
Variant of ABIJAH

ABIDAN   m   Biblical
Means "my father is judge" in Hebrew... [more]

ABIEL   m   Biblical
Means "God is my father" in Hebrew... [more]

ABIGAIL   f   English, German, Biblical
From the Hebrew name אֲבִיגָיִל ('Avigayil) meaning "my father is joy"... [more]

ABIHU   m   Biblical
Means "he is my father" in Hebrew... [more]

ABIJAH   m & f   Biblical
Means "my father is YAHWEH" in Hebrew... [more]

ABILENE   f   Biblical
From a place name mentioned briefly in the New Testament... [more]

ABIMAEL   m   Biblical
Means "my father is God" in Hebrew... [more]

ABIMELECH   m   Biblical
Means "my father is king" in Hebrew... [more]

ABIRAM   m   Biblical
Means "my father is exalted" in Hebrew... [more]

ABISAI   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of ABISHAI

ABISHAG   f   Biblical
Means "my father strays" in Hebrew... [more]

ABISHAI   m   Biblical
Means "my father is a gift" in Hebrew... [more]

ABITAL   f   Biblical
Means "my father is the night dew" in Hebrew... [more]

ABNER   m   English, Biblical
Means "my father is a light" in Hebrew... [more]

ABRAHAM   m   English, Jewish, Biblical
This name may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" in Hebrew or else as a contraction of ABRAM (1) and Hebrew הָמוֹן (hamon) "many, multitude"... [more]

ABRAM (1)   m   Biblical
Means "high father" in Hebrew... [more]

ABSALOM   m   Biblical
From the Hebrew name אַבְשָׁלוֹם ('Avshalom) which meant "my father is peace"... [more]

ACHAICUS   m   Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Αχαικος (Achaikos), which referred to the region in Greece called Αχαια (Achaia), situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnesus... [more]

ACHAN   m   Biblical
Possibly a variation of the Hebrew word עֲכָר ('akhar) meaning "trouble"... [more]

ACHIM (2)   m   Biblical
Possibly means "he will establish" in Hebrew... [more]

ADAH   f   Biblical
Means "adornment" in Hebrew... [more]

ADALIA   m   Biblical
Possibly means "YAHWEH is just" in Hebrew... [more]

ADAM   m   English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Jewish, Biblical
This is the Hebrew word for "man"... [more]

ADINA   m & f   Biblical, Jewish
Means "slender, delicate" in Hebrew... [more]

ADINO   m   Biblical
Means "ornament" in Hebrew... [more]

ADLAI   m   Biblical
Contracted form of ADALIA... [more]

ADONIJAH   m   Biblical
Means "my lord is YAHWEH" in Hebrew... [more]

ADONIRAM   m   Biblical
Means "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew... [more]

AGRIPPA   m   Ancient Roman, Biblical
Roman family of unknown meaning, possibly of Etruscan origin but possibly from Latin agripeta "land grabber"... [more]

AHAB   m   Biblical
Means "uncle", from Hebrew אָח ('ach) "brother" and אֲב ('av) "father"... [more]

AHARON   m   Jewish, Biblical (Original)
Hebrew form of AARON

ALLON   m   Biblical
Means "oak" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.

ALPHAEUS   m   Biblical
From Αλφαιος (Alphaios), the Greek form of a Hebrew name that meant "changing"... [more]

ALVAH   m   Biblical
Means "his highness" in Hebrew... [more]

AMAL (2)   m   Biblical
Means "work" in Hebrew. This is the name of an Asherite in the Old Testament.

AMARIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH has said" in Hebrew... [more]

AMI (1)   m   Biblical
Means "trustworthy, reliable" in Hebrew... [more]

AMITTAI   m   Biblical
Means "my truth" in Hebrew... [more]

AMMIEL   m   Biblical
Means "God is my kinsman" in Hebrew... [more]

AMOS   m   Biblical, English, Jewish
Means "to carry" in Hebrew... [more]

AMRAM   m   Biblical
Means "exalted nation" in Hebrew... [more]

ANAH   f & m   Biblical
Means "answer" in Hebrew... [more]

ANAIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH answers" in Hebrew... [more]

ANAN (2)   m   Biblical
Means "cloud" in Hebrew... [more]

ANANI   m   Biblical
Means "my cloud" in Hebrew... [more]

ANANIAS   m   Biblical
Greek form of HANANIAH... [more]

ANATH (1)   m & f   Biblical, Jewish
Means "answer" in Hebrew... [more]

ANDREW   m   English, Biblical
From the Greek name Ανδρεας (Andreas), which derives from ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος (andros) "of a man")... [more]

ANNA   f   English, Italian, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Finnish, Estonian, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian, Icelandic, Catalan, Breton, Biblical
Latinate form of HANNAH... [more]

ANNAS   m   Biblical
Contracted form of ANANIAS... [more]

APPHIA   f   Biblical
Greek form of a Hebrew name which possibly meant "increasing"... [more]

AQUILA   m   Biblical, Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen which meant "eagle" in Latin... [more]

ARARAT   m   Armenian, Biblical
From the name of a mountain in eastern Turkey (formerly part of Armenia), the place where Noah's Ark came to rest according to the Old Testament.

ARCHELAUS   m   Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Αρχελαος (Archelaos), which meant "master of the people" from αρχος (archos) "master" and λαος (laos) "people"... [more]

ARELI   m   Biblical
Means "lion of God" in Hebrew... [more]

ARETAS   m   Biblical
Greek form of an Aramaic name, of unknown meaning... [more]

ARIDAI   m   Biblical
Meaning unknown, possibly of Persian origin... [more]

ARIEH   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "lion" in Hebrew... [more]

ARIEL   m & f   Biblical, Jewish
Means "lion of God" in Hebrew... [more]

ARTAXERXES   m   History, Biblical
Greek form of the Persian name Artakhshathra meaning "righteous ruler"... [more]

ASA   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "doctor" in Hebrew... [more]

ASAF   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of ASAPH

ASAPH   m   Biblical
Means "collector" in Hebrew... [more]

ASENATH   f   Biblical
Means "she belongs to her father" in Egyptian... [more]

ASHER   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "happy" or "blessed" in Hebrew... [more]

ASHTORETH   f   Biblical, Near Eastern Mythology
Meaning unknown... [more]

ATARAH   f   Biblical
Means "crown" in Hebrew... [more]

AVITAL   f   Biblical
Hebrew form of ABITAL

AZAREL   m   Biblical
Means "God has helped" in Hebrew... [more]

AZARIA   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of AZARIAH

AZARIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH has helped" in Hebrew... [more]

AZARIAS   m   Biblical (Variant)
Greek form of AZARIAH

AZAZEL   m   Biblical
Means "scapegoat" in Hebrew... [more]

AZAZIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH is strong" in Hebrew... [more]

AZEL   m   Biblical
Means "reserved" in Hebrew... [more]

AZRIEL   m   Biblical
Means "help of God", derived from Hebrew עָזַר ('azar) "help" and אֵל ('el) "God"... [more]

AZUBAH   f   Biblical
Means "forsaken" in Hebrew... [more]

BARAK   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "lightning" in Hebrew... [more]

BARNABAS   m   English, German, Biblical
Greek form of an Aramaic name which probably meant "son of the prophet" (though it is claimed in Acts 4:36 to mean "son of encouragement")... [more]

BARTHOLOMEW   m   English, Biblical
From Βαρθολομαιος (Bartholomaios), which was the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "son of תַלְמַי (Talmay)"... [more]

BARUCH   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "blessed" in Hebrew... [more]

BASEMATH   f   Biblical
Means "fragrance" in Hebrew... [more]

BASHEMATH   f   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of BASEMATH

BASMATH   f   Biblical
Variant of BASEMATH... [more]

BATHSHEBA   f   Biblical
Means "daughter of the oath" in Hebrew... [more]

BEELZEBUB   m   Biblical
From Hebrew בַעַל זְבוּב (Ba'al Zevuv) meaning "lord of flies", intended as a mocking alteration of באל זבל (Ba'al Zevul) "Ba'al the exalted", one of the Canaanite names for their god BA'AL... [more]

BELIAL   m   Biblical, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Means "worthless" in Hebrew... [more]

BENAIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH has built" in Hebrew... [more]

BENJAMIN   m   English, French, German, Biblical
From the Hebrew name בִנְיָמִין (Binyamin) which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand"... [more]

BERNICE   f   English, Biblical
Contracted form of BERENICE

BETHANY   f   English, Biblical
Means "house of figs" in Hebrew, from a biblical place name... [more]

BETHEL   f   Biblical
From an Old Testament place name meaning "house of God" in Hebrew... [more]

BETHUEL   m   Biblical
Means "man of God" in Hebrew... [more]

BEULAH   f   Biblical, English
Means "married" in Hebrew... [more]

BILHAH   f   Biblical
Means "bashful" in Hebrew... [more]

BITHIAH   f   Biblical
Means "daughter of YAHWEH" in Hebrew... [more]

BOAZ   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "swiftness" in Hebrew... [more]

BUZ   m   Biblical
Means "contempt" in Hebrew... [more]

CAIAPHAS   m   Biblical
Meaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin... [more]

CAIN   m   Biblical
Means "acquired" in Hebrew... [more]

CAINAN   m   Biblical
Variant of KENAN

CALEB   m   English, Biblical
Means "dog" in Hebrew... [more]

CANAAN   m   Biblical
Meaning unknown... [more]

CANDACE   f   English, Biblical (Variant)
From the hereditary title of the queens of Ethiopia, as mentioned in Acts in the New Testament... [more]

CARMEL   f   English, Biblical
From the title of the Virgin Mary Our Lady of Carmel... [more]

CARMI   m   Biblical
Means "vine" in Hebrew... [more]

CARPUS   m   Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latin form of the Greek name Καρπος (Karpos), which meant "fruit, profits"... [more]

CEPHAS   m   Biblical
Means "rock" in Aramaic... [more]

CHANNAH   f   Jewish, Biblical (Original)
Hebrew form of HANNAH

CHAVA   f   Jewish, Biblical (Original)
Hebrew form of EVE

CHENANIAH   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of KENANIAH

CHLOE   f   English, Biblical, Greek Mythology
Means "green shoot" in Greek... [more]

CLEOPAS   m   Biblical
Shortened form of the Greek name Κλεοπατρος (Kleopatros) which was derived from κλεος (kleos) "glory" and πατρος (patros) "of the father"... [more]

CLEOPHAS   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of CLOPAS

CLOPAS   m   Biblical
Meaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin... [more]

CORNELIUS   m   Ancient Roman, English, Dutch, German, Biblical
Roman family name which possibly derives from the Latin element cornu "horn"... [more]

CYRUS   m   English, Biblical
From Κυρος (Kyros), the Greek form of the Persian name Kûrush, which may mean "far sighted" or may be related to the Persian word khur "sun"... [more]

DAMARIS   f   Biblical
Means "calf" in Greek... [more]

DAN (1)   m   Biblical
Means "he judged" in Hebrew... [more]

DANIEL   m   English, Jewish, French, German, Scandinavian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Biblical
From the Hebrew name דָנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge"... [more]

DATHAN   m   Biblical
Possibly means "fountain" in Hebrew... [more]

DAVID   m   English, Jewish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Slovene, German, Scandinavian, Biblical
Possibly derived from Hebrew דוד (dvd) meaning "beloved"... [more]

DEBORAH   f   English, Jewish, Biblical
Means "bee" in Hebrew... [more]

DELAIAH   m   Biblical
Means "YAHWEH has drawn" in Hebrew... [more]

DELILAH   f   Biblical, English
Means "delicate" in Hebrew... [more]

DIKLAH   m & f   Biblical, Jewish
Possibly means "palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic... [more]

DINAH   f   Biblical, English
Means "judged" in Hebrew... [more]

DORCAS   f   Biblical, English
Derived from Greek δορκας (dorkas) meaning "gazelle"... [more]

DRUSILLA   f   Biblical, Ancient Roman
Feminine pet form of the Roman family name Drusus... [more]

EBENEZER   m   Biblical, English
Means "stone of help" in Hebrew... [more]

EDEN   f   Biblical, English
Means "place of pleasure" in Hebrew... [more]

EDER (1)   m   Biblical
Means "flock" in Hebrew... [more]

EDNA (2)   f   Biblical
Means "pleasure" in Hebrew... [more]

EDOM   m   Biblical
Means "red" in Hebrew... [more]

EFRAIM   m   Jewish, Biblical (Variant)
Variant of EPHRAIM

EHUD   m   Biblical, Jewish
Means "united" in Hebrew... [more]

ELAM   m   Biblical
Possibly means "hidden" in Hebrew... [more]

ELDAD   m   Biblical
Means "God has loved" in Hebrew... [more]

ELEAZAR   m   Biblical
Means "my God has helped" in Hebrew... [more]

ELI (1)   m   Jewish, English, Biblical
Means "ascension" in Hebrew... [more]

ELIAKIM   m   Biblical
Means "God rises" in Hebrew... [more]

ELIEZER   m   Biblical
Means "my God is help" in Hebrew... [more]

ELIHU   m   Biblical
Means "my God is YAHWEH" in Hebrew... [more]

ELIJAH   m   English, Jewish, Biblical
From the Hebrew name אֱלִיָּהוּ ('Eliyyahu) meaning "my God is YAHWEH"... [more]

ELIOENAI   m   Biblical
Means "my eyes look to God" in Hebrew... [more]

ELIPHALET   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of ELIPHELET

ELIPHELET   m   Biblical
Means "God is release" in Hebrew... [more]

ELISABETH   f   German, Dutch, Scandinavian, English, Biblical (Variant)
German and Dutch form of ELIZABETH... [more]

ELISHA   m   Biblical
From the Hebrew name אֱלִישַׁע ('Elisha'), a contracted form of אֱלִישׁוּעַ ('Elishu'a) meaning "my God is salvation"... [more]

ELISHEBA   f   Biblical
Original Hebrew form of ELIZABETH... [more]

ELIUD   m   Biblical
Greek form of a Hebrew name meaning "God is grandeur"... [more]

ELIYAHU   m   Jewish, Biblical (Original)
Hebrew form of ELIJAH

ELIZABETH   f   English, Biblical
From Ελισαβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע ('Elisheva') meaning "my God is an oath" or perhaps "my God is abundance"... [more]

ELKANAH   m   Biblical
Means "God has purchased" in Hebrew... [more]

ELNATHAN   m   Biblical
Means "God has given" in Hebrew... [more]

ELON   m   Biblical
Means "oak" in Hebrew... [more]

EMMANUEL   m   Biblical, French, English
Means "God is with us" in Hebrew... [more]

ENOCH   m   Biblical
From the Hebrew name חֲנוֹך (Chanokh) which meant "dedicated"... [more]

ENOS   m   Biblical (Variant)
Variant of ENOSH

ENOSH   m   Biblical
Means "human being" in Hebrew... [more]

EPAPHRAS   m   Biblical, Ancient Greek
Possibly a contracted form of EPAPHRODITOS... [more]

EPHRAIM   m   Biblical, Jewish
From the Hebrew name אֶפְרָיִם ('Efrayim) which meant "fruitful"... [more]

EPHRATH   f   Biblical
Means "fruitful place" in Hebrew... [more]

ERAN   m   Biblical
Means "watchful, vigilant" in Hebrew... [more]

ERASTUS   m   Biblical
Derived from Greek εραστος (erastos) meaning "beloved"... [more]

ESAIAS   m   Biblical
Greek form of ISAIAH used in some versions of the Bible.

ESAU   m   Biblical
From the Hebrew name עֵשָׂו ('Esav) which possibly meant "hairy"... [more]

ESDRAS   m   Biblical
Greek form of EZRA

ESTHER   f   English, Jewish, French, Biblical
Possibly means "star" in Persian... [more]

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