Abednego עֲבֵד־נְגוֹ 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.
Abiathar אֶבְיָתָר m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
אֶבְיָתָר (ʾEvyaṯar) meaning
"my father abounds" or
"my father excels", derived from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
יָתַר (yaṯar) meaning "to abound, to excel". According to the Old Testament Abiathar was a high priest during the reign of King
David.
Achaicus Ἀχαϊκός m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Ἀχαϊκός (Achaikos), which referred to the region in Greece called
Ἀχαΐα (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.
Adonijah אֲדֹנִיָה m BiblicalMeans
"my lord is Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
אָדוֹן (ʾaḏon) meaning "lord, master" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. 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.
Athaliah עֲתַלְיָה f & m BiblicalPossibly means
"Yahweh is exalted" in Hebrew, from
עֲתַל (ʿaṯal) possibly meaning "exalted" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. 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.
Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין m English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Slovene, Croatian, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) meaning
"son of the south" or
"son of the right hand", from the roots
בֵּן (ben) meaning "son" and
יָמִין (yamin) meaning "right hand, south". Benjamin in the Old Testament was 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-ʾoni) 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] Elioenai אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי m BiblicalMeans
"my eyes look to Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from
אֶל (ʾel) meaning "towards",
יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God, and
עַיִן (ʿayin) meaning "eye". This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Elnathan אֶלְנָתָן m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
אֶלְנָתָן (ʾElnaṯan) meaning
"God has given", derived from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
נָתַן (naṯan) meaning "to give". In the Old Testament this is the name of both a grandfather of King Jehoiachin and a son of Akbor.
Emmanuel עִמָּנוּאֵל m Biblical, French, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
עִמָּנוּאֵל (ʿImmanuʾel) meaning
"God is with us", from the roots
עִם (ʿim) meaning "with" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". 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).
Eutychus Εὔτυχος m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Εὔτυχος (Eutychos), which was derived from Greek
εὐτυχής (eutyches) meaning
"fortunate". The word was formed of the elements
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
τύχη (tyche) meaning "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.
Gamaliel גַּמְלִיאֵל, Γαμαλιήλ m Biblical, Biblical GreekMeans
"my reward is God" in Hebrew, from the roots
גָּמַל (gamal) meaning "to reward" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to a son of Pedahzur. It was also borne by a 1st-century Jewish priest and scholar, mentioned in Acts in the New Testament as a teacher of Saint
Paul.
Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָהוּ m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh is great" in Hebrew, from
גָּדַל (gaḏal) meaning "to grow, to become great" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.
Habakkuk חֲבַקּוּק m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חֲבַקּוּק (Ḥavaqquq), probably derived from the root
חָבַק (ḥavaq) meaning
"embrace". In the Old Testament this is one of the twelve minor prophets, the author of the Book of Habakkuk.
Hananiah חֲנַנְיָה m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh is gracious" in Hebrew, from
חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name appears frequently in the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew name of
Shadrach.
Herodias Ἡρῳδιάς f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFeminine form of
Herod. This was the name of a member of the Herodian ruling family of Judea, a sister of Herod Agrippa and the wife of Herod Antipas. She appears in the New Testament, where she contrives to have her husband Antipas imprison and execute John the Baptist.
Herodion Ἡρῳδίων m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekDerivative of the Greek name
Herodes (see
Herod). This name is mentioned briefly in
Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament. According to tradition he was a bishop of Patras, Greece, and was later martyred in Rome with Saint Peter.
Hezekiah חִזְקִיָהוּ m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חִזְקִיָהוּ (Ḥizqiyahu), which means
"Yahweh strengthens", from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strength" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. 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 is the name of an ancestor of the prophet
Zephaniah.
Ishmerai יִשְׁמְרַי m BiblicalMeans
"he guards me" in Hebrew, derived from
שָׁמַר (shamar) meaning "to guard". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Issachar יִשָּׂשׁכָר, Ἰσσαχάρ m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekPossibly means
"man of hire" or
"there is reward", from Hebrew
שָׁכַר (shaḵar) meaning "hire, wage, reward". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve sons of
Jacob (by
Leah) and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A justification for the name's meaning is given in
Genesis 30:18.
Jecoliah יְכָלְיָה f BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh is able" in Hebrew, derived from
יָכֹל (yaḵol) meaning "to be able" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name occurs in the Old Testament belonging to the mother of King
Uzziah.
Jeconiah יְכָנְיָה m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots
כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is another name (with the same meaning) of the Judean king
Jehoiachin.
Jephthah יִפְתַח m BiblicalMeans
"he opens" in Hebrew, derived from the root
פָּתַח (paṯaḥ) meaning "to open". In the Old Testament this is the name of a ruling judge. He successfully defended Israel from the Ammonites, but was then obliged to sacrifice his daughter because of a vow he had made.
Jeremiah יִרְמְיָהוּ m English, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmeyahu) meaning
"Yahweh will exalt", from the roots
רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations (supposedly). He lived to see the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC.
... [more] Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
יָרָבְעָם (Yarovʿam) meaning
"the people will contend", derived from the roots
רִיב (riv) meaning "to strive, to contend" and
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation". According to the Old Testament, this was the name of the leader of the revolt against King
Rehoboam of Israel. The kingdom was split into Judah in the south and Israel in the north, with Jeroboam becoming the first king of the latter.
Jonathan יוֹנָתָן m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonaṯan), contracted to
יוֹנָתָן (Yonaṯan), meaning
"Yahweh has given", derived from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
נָתַן (naṯan) meaning "to give". According to the Old Testament, Jonathan was the eldest son of
Saul. His relationship with his father was strained due to his close friendship with his father's rival
David. Along with Saul he was killed in battle with the Philistines.
... [more] Kenaniah כְּנַנְיָהוּ m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh establishes" in Hebrew, from
כָּנַן (kanan) meaning "to establish" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This was the name of two minor Old Testament characters.
Maaseiah מַעֲשֵׂיָה m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
מַעֲשֵׂיָה (Maʿaseya) meaning
"work of Yahweh", from the roots
מַעֲשֶׂה (maʿase) meaning "deed, work" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of numerous Old Testament characters (mostly minor).
Manasseh מְנַשֶּׁה m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
מְנַשֶּׁה (Menashshe) meaning
"causing to forget", a derivative of
נָשָׁה (nasha) meaning "to forget". In the Old Testament this is the name of the oldest son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was also borne by a 7th-century BC king of Judah, condemned in the Bible for allowing the worship of other gods.
Mordecai מָרְדֳּכַי m Biblical, HebrewMeans
"servant of Marduk" in Persian. In the Old Testament Mordecai is the cousin and foster father of
Esther. He thwarted a plot to kill the Persian king, though he made an enemy of the king's chief advisor
Haman.
Naphtali נַפְתָלִי m BiblicalMeans
"my struggle, my strife" in Hebrew, a derivative of
פָּתַל (paṯal) meaning "to twist, to struggle, to wrestle". In the Old Testament he is a son of
Jacob by
Rachel's servant
Bilhah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Nehemiah נְחֶמְיָה m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh comforts" in Hebrew, derived from
נָחַם (naḥam) meaning "to comfort" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. According to the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament he was a leader of the Jews who was responsible for the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian captivity.
Onesimus Ὀνήσιμος m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Ὀνήσιμος (Onesimos), which meant
"beneficial, profitable". Saint Onesimus was an escaped slave of
Philemon who met Saint
Paul while in prison and was converted by him. Paul sent him back to Philemon carrying the epistle that appears in the New Testament.
Peninnah פְּנִנָּה f BiblicalMeans
"pearl, coral, precious stone" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the wives of
Elkanah, the other being
Hannah.
Phinehas פִּינְחָס 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.
Rehoboam רֵחַבְעָם m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
רֵחַבְעָם (Reḥavʿam) meaning
"he enlarges the people", from
רָחַב (raḥav) meaning "to enlarge" and
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation". 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.
Sapphira Σαπφείρη f BiblicalFrom the Greek name
Σαπφείρη (Sappheire), which was from Greek
σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning
"sapphire" or
"lapis lazuli" (ultimately derived from the Hebrew word
סַפִּיר (sappir)). Sapphira is a character in Acts in the New Testament who is killed by God for lying.
Shadrach שַׁדְרַך 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.
Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָה m BiblicalMeans
"heard by Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name is borne by many characters in the Old Testament including a prophet in the reign of
Rehoboam.
Shimeath שִׁמְעָת f BiblicalFrom Hebrew
שֵׁמַע (shemaʿ) meaning
"report, news, fame". In the Old Testament Shimeath is the mother of one of the assassins of King
Joash of Judah.
Shiphrah שִׁפְרָה f BiblicalMeans
"beautiful" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the midwives (the other being
Puah) who disobeys the Pharaoh's order to kill any Hebrew boys they deliver.
Tahpenes תַּחְפְּנֵיס f BiblicalProbably of Egyptian origin, possibly meaning
"the wife of the king", derived from the feminine determiner
tꜣ and
ḥmt "woman, wife" combined with the masculine determiner
pꜣ and
nsw "king". Queen Tahpenes was a wife of an Egyptian pharaoh according to the Book of Kings in the Old Testament.
Thaddeus Θαδδαῖος m English, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom
Θαδδαῖος (Thaddaios), the Greek form of the Aramaic name
תַדַּי (Ṯaddai). It is possibly derived from Aramaic
תַּד (taḏ) meaning
"heart, breast", but it may in fact be an Aramaic form of a Greek name such as
Θεόδωρος (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.
Tryphena Τρύφαινα f BiblicalFrom the Greek name
Τρύφαινα (Tryphaina), derived from Greek
τρυφή (tryphe) meaning
"softness, delicacy". This name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
Zebadiah זְבַדְיָה m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh has given" in Hebrew, derived from
זָבַד (zavaḏ) meaning "to give" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Zedekiah צִדְקִיָּהוּ m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
צִדְקִיָּהוּ (Tsiḏqiyyahu) meaning
"Yahweh is righteousness", from
צֶדֶק (tseḏeq) meaning "justice, righteousness" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of the last king of Judah.