Boaz

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOH-az /ˈboʊ.æz/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Bo'az, possibly meaning swiftness, strength, or in him is strength; in the Book of Ruth, Boaz is the wealthy landowner who redeems and marries the loyal widow RuthMedium

In 30 seconds: Boaz is an ancient Hebrew name meaning swiftness or in him is strength, borne by the noble, generous kinsman-redeemer in the Book of Ruth whose marriage to Ruth became a story of loyalty, grace, and providential love.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew Bo'az, possibly meaning swiftness, strength, or in him is strength; in the Book of Ruth, Boaz is the wealthy landowner who redeems and marries the loyal widow Ruth

U.S. rank (2025)#891 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births268 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,472

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Boaz is a Hebrew name whose exact etymology is debated. Scholars have proposed connections to Hebrew roots meaning swiftness or alacrity (bo'az), or to a compound meaning in him is strength. In the Bible's Book of Ruth, Boaz is a wealthy Bethlehem landowner of the tribe of Judah who shows extraordinary kindness to the Moabite widow Ruth, ultimately marrying her in an act of chesed (loving-kindness). One of the two bronze pillars at Solomon's Temple was named Boaz (1 Kings 7:21).

Boaz remained uncommon in English-speaking naming tradition through most of history, used primarily in Jewish communities. In the 21st century it has attracted interest from Christian parents drawn to its strong biblical narrative of loyalty and redemption and from parents who want a genuine biblical rarity outside the overused pool. Israel has seen consistent use of Boaz as a given name. In the United States it entered mainstream charts in the 2010s, part of the movement toward rarer Old Testament names with strong stories behind them.

Did you know? In the Book of Ruth, Boaz's act of redeeming Ruth as a kinsman-redeemer (go'el) — buying back ancestral land and marrying a foreign widow to preserve a family lineage — was a formal legal institution in ancient Israelite society, and Ruth and Boaz became ancestors of King David and, in Christian tradition, of Jesus.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Boaz — etymology and biblical contextBook of Ruth (Hebrew Bible) — primary narrative source

Variations

Bo'az

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Boaz…

Amos— short, rare Old Testament Hebrew name with the same faith-community appeal

Ezra— two-syllable Hebrew biblical name experiencing the same contemporary revival

Levi— two-syllable Hebrew tribal name from the same Old Testament tradition

Ruth— the female protagonist of the same biblical book as Boaz, sharing the name's narrative context

Frequently Asked

What does the name Boaz mean?

Boaz comes from Hebrew, meaning swiftness or in him is strength; the exact etymology is debated among scholars.

How do you pronounce Boaz?

It is said BOH-az — two syllables, stress on the first.

Who is Boaz in the Bible?

Boaz is the wealthy, generous Bethlehem landowner in the Book of Ruth who redeems and marries Ruth, the loyal Moabite widow; they become ancestors of King David.

Is Boaz a popular name?

Boaz is rare in English-speaking countries but has grown in the 2010s as parents seek distinctive Old Testament names with strong biblical stories.