Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the usage is Biblical; and the meaning contains the keywords to or clean.
gender
usage
meaning
Abiathar אֶבְיָתָר m Biblical
From 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.
Abidan אֲבִידָן, Ἀβιδάν m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "my father has judged" in Hebrew, derived from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and דִּין (din) meaning "to judge". In the Old Testament he is a Benjamite prince.
Abiram אֲבִירָם m Biblical
Means "my father is exalted" in Hebrew, derived from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament, Abiram is swallowed by an earthquake after rebelling against the leadership of Moses.
Abishag אֲבִישַׁג f Biblical
Means "my father strays" in Hebrew, from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and שָׁגָה (shaḡa) meaning "to stray, to err". In the Old Testament Abishag is a young woman who tends King David in his old age.
Abram 1 אַבְרָם m English, Biblical
Means "high father" in Hebrew, from the roots אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt, to be high". In the Old Testament God changed Abram's name to Abraham (see Genesis 17:5).
Adaiah עֲדָיָה m Biblical
From the Hebrew name עֲדָיָה (ʿAḏaya) meaning "Yahweh has adorned", derived from עָדָה (ʿaḏa) meaning "to adorn" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of numerous Old Testament characters, including the father of Jedidah.
Adam אָדָם, Ἀδάμ m English, French, German, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Catalan, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Georgian, Malay, Indonesian, Dhivehi, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
This is the Hebrew word for "man". It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew אדם (ʾaḏam) meaning "to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian adamu meaning "to make".... [more]
Adoniram Ἀδωνιράμ, אֲדֹנִירָם m Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Means "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew, derived from אָדוֹן (ʾaḏon) meaning "lord, master" and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". 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.
Amariah אֲמַרְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has said" in Hebrew, derived from the roots אָמַר (ʾamar) meaning "to say" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Amaziah אֲמַצְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh strengthens" in Hebrew, derived from אָמֵץ (ʾamets) meaning "to strengthen" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters, including a king of Judah.
Anaiah עֲנָיָה m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has answered" in Hebrew, from עָנָה (ʿana) meaning "to answer" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Asenath אָסְנַת f Biblical
Means "belonging to the goddess Neith" in Ancient Egyptian. In the Old Testament this is the name of Joseph's Egyptian wife. She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Azarel עֲזַרְאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "God has helped" in Hebrew, derived from עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of several minor Old Testament characters.
Azariah עֲזַרְיָה m Biblical
From the Hebrew name עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzarya) meaning "Yahweh has helped", derived from עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "help" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. 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.
Azaziah עֲזַזְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is strong" in Hebrew, from עָזַז (ʿazaz) meaning "to be strong" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
Aziel עֲזִיאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly means "God comforts" in Hebrew, from the roots עוּז (ʿuz) meaning "to take refuge" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Otherwise it might a variant of Uzziel. This is the name of a musician (also called Jaaziel) in the Old Testament.
Benaiah בְּנָיָה m Biblical
From the Hebrew name בְּנָיָה (Benaya) meaning "Yahweh has built", derived from בָּנָה (bana) meaning "to build" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of numerous Old Testament characters.
Cozbi כָּזְבִּי f Biblical
Means "my lie, my deception" in Hebrew, a derivative of כָּזַב (kazav) meaning "to lie, to deceive". In the Old Testament this name is borne by a Midianite woman who became a lover of the Israelite Zimri, both of whom were killed by Phinehas in order to stop a plague sent by God.
Daniel דָּנִיֵּאל, Δανιήλ m English, Hebrew, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Finnish, Estonian, Armenian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge", from the roots דִּין (din) meaning "to judge" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". 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]
Delaiah דְּלָיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has drawn up" in Hebrew, from דָּלָה (dala) meaning "to draw up, to hang" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Ehud אֵהוּד m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Meaning unknown, possibly related to Hebrew אָחַד (ʾaḥaḏ) meaning "to unite" or הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning "glory". 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.
Eleazar אֶלְעָזָר, Ἐλεάζαρ m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אֶלְעָזָר (ʾElʿazar) meaning "God has helped", derived from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the sons of Aaron. The name also appears in the New Testament belonging to one of the ancestors of Jesus in the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew.
Elhanan אֶלְחָנָן m Biblical
Means "God is gracious" in Hebrew, from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". This is the name of two Old Testament characters.
Eliakim אֶלְיָקִים m Biblical
Means "God raises" in Hebrew, from the roots אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of the master of Hezekiah's household.
Elioenai אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי m Biblical
Means "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.
Eliphelet אֱלִיפֶלֶט m Biblical
Means "my God is deliverance" in Hebrew, from the roots אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and פָּלַט (palaṭ) meaning "to deliver, to rescue". This is the name of several people in the Old Testament including a son of David.
Elisha אֱלִישַׁע m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From the Hebrew name אֱלִישַׁע (ʾElishaʿ), a contracted form of אֱלִישׁוּעַ (ʾElishuaʿ) meaning "my God is salvation", derived from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save, to deliver". 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.
Elkanah אֱלְקָנָה m Biblical
Means "God has purchased" in Hebrew, from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and קָנָה (qana) meaning "to acquire, to purchase". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of Samuel.
Elnathan אֶלְנָתָן m Biblical
From 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.
Eve חַוָּה f English, Estonian, Biblical
From the Hebrew name חַוָּה (Ḥawwa), which was derived from the Hebrew word חָוָה (ḥawa) meaning "to breathe" or the related word חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning "to live". According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eve and Adam were the first humans. God created her from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. At the urging of a serpent she ate the forbidden fruit and shared some with Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.... [more]
Ezekiel יְחֶזְקֵאל m Biblical, English
From the Hebrew name יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel) meaning "God will strengthen", from the roots חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strengthen" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". 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 2 עֵזֶר m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From Hebrew עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help". This is the name of a few minor characters in the Old Testament. See also the unrelated name Ezer 1, which is spelled differently in Hebrew.
Gaius m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Roman 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 גַּמְלִיאֵל, Γαμαλιήλ m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Means "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 Biblical
Means "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.
Gemariah גְּמַרְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has completed" in Hebrew, from the roots גָּמַר (gamar) meaning "to end, to complete" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of a friend of Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
Hananiah חֲנַנְיָה m Biblical
Means "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.
Havilah חֲוִילָה m Biblical
Probably 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 חֲזָאֵל m Biblical
Means "God sees" in Hebrew, from חָזָה (ḥaza) meaning "to see" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of a king of Aram in the Old Testament.
Hephzibah חֶפְצִי־בָּה f Biblical
From the Hebrew name חֶפְצִי־בָּה (Ḥeftsi-ba) meaning "my delight is in her". In the Old Testament she is the wife of King Hezekiah of Judah and the mother of Manasseh. The meaning of her name is explained in Isaiah 62:4.
Hezekiah חִזְקִיָהוּ m Biblical
From 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.
Ichabod אִי־כָבוֹד m Biblical
Means "no glory" in Hebrew, from the roots אִי (ʾi) meaning "not" and כָּבַד (kavaḏ) meaning "to be glorious". In the Old Testament this is the grandson of Eli and the son of Phinehas. He was named this because his mother despaired that "the glory has departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:21).... [more]
Ilai עִילַי m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly from the Hebrew root עָלָה (ʿala) meaning "to ascend". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of King David's mighty men.
Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָהוּ m English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) meaning "Yahweh is salvation", from the roots יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, supposedly the author of the Book of Isaiah. He was from Jerusalem and probably lived in the 8th century BC, at a time when Assyria threatened the Kingdom of Judah. As an English Christian name, Isaiah was first used after the Protestant Reformation.
Iscah יִסְכָּה f Biblical
From the Hebrew name יִסְכָּה (Yiska) meaning "to behold". In the Old Testament this is the name of Abraham's niece, mentioned only briefly. This is the basis of the English name Jessica.
Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Yishmaʿel) meaning "God will hear", from the roots שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Abraham. He is the traditional ancestor of the Arab people. Also in the Old Testament, it is borne by a man who assassinates Gedaliah the governor of Judah. The author Herman Melville later used this name for the narrator in his novel Moby-Dick (1851).
Ishmerai יִשְׁמְרַי m Biblical
Means "he guards me" in Hebrew, derived from שָׁמַר (shamar) meaning "to guard". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל, Ἰσραήλ m Jewish, English, Spanish, Biblical, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) meaning "God contends", from the roots שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "to contend, to fight" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament, Israel (who was formerly named Jacob; see Genesis 32:28) wrestles with an angel. The ancient and modern states of Israel took their names from him.
Jaasiel יַעֲשִׂיאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Spanish
Means "God is my maker" in Hebrew, derived from עָשָׂה (ʿasa) meaning "to make" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of two minor characters in the Old Testament.
Jahleel יַחְלְאֵל m Biblical
Means "God waits" in Hebrew, from יָחַל (yaḥal) meaning "to wait" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Jahzeel יַחְצְאֵל m Biblical
Means "God will divide" in Hebrew, from חָצָה (ḥatsa) meaning "to divide" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the son of Naphtali in the Old Testament.
Jecoliah יְכָלְיָה f Biblical
Means "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 Biblical
Means "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.
Jehiel יְחִיאֵל m Biblical
Means "God will live" in Hebrew, from חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning "to live" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of several people in the Old Testament, including one of King David's lute players.
Jehoaddan יְהוֹעָדָּן, יְהוֹעָדִין f Biblical
Means "Yahweh delights" in Hebrew, from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and עָדַן (ʿaḏan) meaning "to delight". In the Old Testament she was the wife of King Joash of Judah, and the mother of his successor King Amaziah.
Jehoiachin יְהוֹיָכִין m Biblical
Means "Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. Also known as Jeconiah, he was imprisoned in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar after a brief reign in the early 6th century BC.
Jehoiakim יְהוֹיָקִים m Biblical
Means "Yahweh raises up" in Hebrew, from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. He lived in the 7th century BC, and was the son of Josiah and the father of Jehoiachin.
Jehoram יְהוֹרָם m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹרָם (Yehoram) meaning "exalted by Yahweh", derived from יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah and a king of Israel, both of whom ruled at about the same time in the 9th century BC.
Jehoshaphat יְהוֹשָׁפָט m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has judged" in Hebrew, from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and שָׁפַט (shafaṭ) meaning "to judge". According to the Old Testament he was the fourth king of Judah, noted for having a generally peaceful and prosperous reign.
Jerahmeel יְרַחְמְאֵל m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְרַחְמְאֵל (Yeraḥmeʾel) meaning "God will have pity", derived from רָחַם (raḥam) meaning "to pity" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name is borne by a few minor characters in the Old Testament.
Jeremiah יִרְמְיָהוּ m English, Biblical
From 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]
Jeriah יְרִיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "taught by Yahweh" in Hebrew, from יָרָה (yara) meaning "to teach" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament, Jeriah is a descendant of Hebron.
Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם m Biblical
From 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.
Jezebel אִיזֶבֶל f Biblical
From Hebrew אִיזֶבֶל (ʾIzevel), probably from a Phoenician name, possibly containing the Semitic root zbl meaning "to exalt, to dwell". According to one theory it might be an altered form of the Phoenician name 𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤀𐤆𐤁𐤋 (Baʿlʾizbel) meaning "Ba'al exalts" with the first element removed or replaced.... [more]
Jochebed יוֹכֶבֶד f Biblical
From the Hebrew name יוֹכֶבֶד (Yoḵeveḏ) meaning "Yahweh is glory", from the roots יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and כָּבַד (kavaḏ) meaning "to be glorious". In the Old Testament this is the name of the mother of Miriam, Aaron and Moses.
John m English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Biblical
English form of Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ἰωάννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yoḥanan). It means "Yahweh is gracious", from the roots יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". The Hebrew form occurs in the Old Testament (spelled Johanan or Jehohanan in the English version), but this name owes its popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered saints. The first is John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic who is considered the forerunner of Jesus. He baptized Jesus and was later executed by Herod Antipas. The second is the apostle John, who is traditionally regarded as the author of the fourth gospel and Revelation. With the apostles Peter and James (John's brother), he was part of the inner circle of Jesus.... [more]
Jonathan יוֹנָתָן m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Biblical
From 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]
Jorah יוֹרָה m Biblical, Literature
From the Hebrew name יוֹרָה (Yora), derived from the root יָרָה (yara) meaning variously "to teach, to throw, to rain". This name is mentioned briefly in the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament. It was used by George R. R. Martin for a character in his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (first published 1996) and the television adaptation Game of Thrones (2011-2019). It is not known if Martin took the name from the Bible.
Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁעַ m English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshuaʿ) meaning "Yahweh is salvation", from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save". As told in the Old Testament, Joshua was a companion of Moses. He went up Mount Sinai with Moses when he received the Ten Commandments from God, and later he was one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan. After Moses died Joshua succeeded him as leader of the Israelites and he led the conquest of Canaan. His original name was Hoshea.... [more]
Kemuel קְמוּאֵל m Biblical
From the Hebrew name קְמוּאֵל (Qemuʾel) meaning "raised by God", derived from קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of a nephew of Abraham in the Old Testament.
Kenaniah כְּנַנְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "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.
Lamech לֶמֶךְ, Λάμεχ m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Possibly means "to make low" in Hebrew. This is the name of two characters in Genesis in the Old Testament, the first being a descendant of Cain, and the second being a descendant of Seth and the father of Noah.
Lo-Ruhamah לֹא רֻחָמָה f Biblical
Means "not loved, not pitied" in Hebrew, from לֹא (lo) meaning "not" and רָחַם (raḥam) meaning "to pity, to love". In the Old Testament the prophet Hosea was told by God, who was displeased with the people of Israel, to name his daughter this.
Maacah מַעֲכָה f & m Biblical
Derived from Hebrew מָעַך (maʿaḵ) meaning "to press, to crush". This name is borne by both male and female characters in the Old Testament.
Manasseh מְנַשֶּׁה m Biblical
From 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.
Mehetabel מְהֵיטַבְאֵל f Biblical
From the Hebrew name מְהֵיטַבְאֵל (Meheṭavʾel) meaning "God makes happy", derived from the roots יָטַב (yaṭav) meaning "to be happy" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Naomi 1 נָעֳמִי f English, Hebrew, Biblical
From the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי (Naʿomi) meaning "my pleasantness", a derivative of נָעַם (naʿam) meaning "to be pleasant". In the Old Testament this is the name of the mother-in-law of Ruth. After the death of her husband and sons, she returned to Bethlehem with Ruth. There she declared that her name should be Mara because of her misfortune (see Ruth 1:20).... [more]
Naphtali נַפְתָלִי m Biblical
Means "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.
Nathanael נְתַנְאֵל, Ναθαναήλ m Biblical, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Neṯanʾel) meaning "God has given", from the roots נָתַן (naṯan) meaning "to give" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". It is borne by several minor characters in the Old Testament, typically spelled Nethanel or Nethaneel. In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle, probably another name of the apostle called Bartholomew.
Nebuchadnezzar נְבוּכַדְנֶאצֲּר m Babylonian (Anglicized), Biblical
From נְבוּכַדְנֶאצֲּר (Nevuḵaḏnetstsar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name Nabu-kudurri-usur meaning "Nabu protect my eldest son", derived from the god's name Nabu combined with kudurru meaning "eldest son" and an imperative form of naṣāru meaning "to protect". This name was borne by a 12th-century BC king of the Babylonian Empire. It was also borne by a 6th-century BC king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He captured Jerusalem, and ultimately destroyed the city's temple and deported many of its citizens, as told in the Old Testament.
Nehemiah נְחֶמְיָה m Biblical
Means "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.
Nethaniah נְתַנְיָהוּ m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has given" in Hebrew, derived from נָתַן (naṯan) meaning "to give" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of Ishmael (the assassin of Gedaliah), as well as other minor characters.
Obadiah עֹבַדְיָה m Biblical
Means "servant of Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from עָבַד (ʿavaḏ) meaning "to serve, to worship" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets, the author of the Book of Obadiah, which predicts the downfall of the nation of Edom. This is also the name of several other biblical characters.
Oded עוֹדֵד m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "to restore" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a prophet from Samaria.
Ohad אֹהַד m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to Hebrew אָחַד (ʾaḥaḏ) meaning "to unite". In the Old Testament he is the third son of Simeon.
Paltiel פָּלְטִיאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "God is my deliverance" in Hebrew, derived from פָּלַט (palaṭ) meaning "to deliver, to rescue, to escape" combined with אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of two Israelites in the Old Testament.
Penuel פְּנוּאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "facing God" in Hebrew, from פָּנָה (pana) meaning "to turn to" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of two minor characters in the Old Testament.
Raphael רָפָאֵל m German, English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name רָפָאֵל (Rafaʾel) meaning "God heals", from the roots רָפָא (rafa) meaning "to heal" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In Hebrew tradition Raphael is the name of an archangel. 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 רֵחַבְעָם m Biblical
From 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.
Reuben רְאוּבֵן m Biblical, Hebrew, English
Means "behold, a son" in Hebrew, derived from רָאָה (raʾa) meaning "to see" and בֵּן (ben) meaning "son". 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.
Sennacherib m Ancient Assyrian (Anglicized), Biblical, Biblical Latin
From Akkadian Sin-ahhi-eriba meaning "Sin has replaced my (lost) brothers", from the god's name Sin combined with a plural form of aḫu meaning "brother" and riābu meaning "to replace". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Assyrian king who destroyed Babylon. He appears in the Old Testament.
Seraiah שְׂרָיָה m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is ruler" in Hebrew, from שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "to have power" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament, including the father of Ezra.
Shealtiel שְׁאַלְתִיאֵל m Biblical
Means "I have asked of God" in Hebrew, from the roots שָׁאַל (shaʾal) meaning "to ask" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". According to the Old Testament this was the name of the father of Zerubbabel. It was also borne by a son of King Jeconiah of Judah (he is called Salathiel in some translations).
Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָה m Biblical
Means "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.
Shimei שִׁמְעִי m Biblical
From Hebrew שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear, to listen". This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament.
Timaeus Τίμαιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Τίμαιος (Timaios), derived from τιμάω (timao) meaning "to honour". This is the name of one of Plato's dialogues, featuring Timaeus and Socrates. Timaeus is also the name of a person mentioned briefly in the New Testament (Mark 10:46).
Timon Τίμων m Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Dutch
Derived from Greek τιμάω (timao) meaning "to honour, to esteem". According to ancient writers, this was the name of a wealthy man of Athens who grew to hate humanity after he lost his riches and his friends deserted him. His story is related in Shakespeare's tragedy Timon of Athens (1607). This name is also mentioned in the New Testament as belonging to one of the original seven deacons of the church, considered a saint.
Timothy m English, Biblical
English form of the Greek name Τιμόθεος (Timotheos) meaning "honouring God", derived from τιμάω (timao) meaning "to honour" and θεός (theos) meaning "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.
Zebadiah זְבַדְיָה m Biblical
Means "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.
Zechariah זְכַרְיָה m Biblical, English
From the Hebrew name זְכַרְיָה (Zeḵarya) meaning "Yahweh remembers", from the roots זָכַר (zaḵar) meaning "to remember" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. 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.
Zephaniah צְפַנְיָה m Biblical
From the Hebrew name צְפַנְיָה (Tsefanya) meaning "Yahweh has hidden", derived from צָפַן (tsafan) meaning "to hide" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Zephaniah.