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Enoch

♂ Boy

Pronounced EE-nok /ˈiː.nɒk/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Hanokh (חֲנוֹךְ), meaning 'dedicated,' 'initiated,' or 'experienced'; Enoch was a biblical figure who 'walked with God' and was taken directly to heaven without dying, one of only two figures in the Bible to escape deathHigh

In 30 seconds: Enoch is a rare, profound biblical name meaning 'dedicated' — belonging to the mysterious figure who walked so closely with God that he was taken to heaven without dying. Ancient and distinctive, it is a bold choice for parents who love genuinely rare biblical names.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew Hanokh (חֲנוֹךְ), meaning 'dedicated,' 'initiated,' or 'experienced'; Enoch was a biblical figure who 'walked with God' and was taken directly to heaven without dying, one of only two figures in the Bible to escape death
U.S. rank (2025)#746 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births348 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,107

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202318802025

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

History & Origin

Enoch is from the Hebrew Hanokh meaning 'dedicated.' The Genesis Enoch was the father of Methuselah and great-grandfather of Noah. Several ancient Jewish texts called the Books of Enoch expand his story. The name was popular among the Puritans and early American settlers who favored rare biblical names.

Enoch has been in steady but rare use in the United States for centuries. It declined through the 20th century but has been rising as parents seek genuinely uncommon biblical names that stand apart from the more common Elijah and Ezra. Enoch Powell, the controversial British politician, is a well-known non-religious bearer.

Did you know? The biblical Enoch (Genesis 5:24) is one of only two people in the Hebrew Bible said to have been taken to heaven without dying — the other being the prophet Elijah. The phrase 'Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him' is one of the most haunting lines in all of scripture.
Overall data confidence 93%
Behind the Name — Enoch — etymology and biblical historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ChanochHenoch

Nicknames

EnoNoch

Famous Bearers

  • ★Enoch (Genesis) (biblical)
    Biblical patriarch who 'walked with God' and was taken to heaven without dying; father of Methuselah.

If you like Enoch…

Ezra— shares the short, strong rare biblical name with the same crisp two-syllable quality
Amos— fellow minor yet profound Old Testament figure name in the same cool-biblical revival
Amos— fellow minor yet profound Old Testament figure name in the same cool-biblical revival
Silas— shares the rare, slightly eccentric biblical feel and the same contemporary cool

Frequently Asked

What does the name Enoch mean?

Enoch means 'dedicated' or 'initiated' from Hebrew Hanokh. The biblical Enoch 'walked with God' and was taken directly to heaven without dying.

How do you pronounce Enoch?

Enoch is pronounced EE-nok /ˈiː.nɒk/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Enoch a rare name?

Yes, Enoch is quite rare in the United States, making it a genuinely distinctive choice with profound biblical roots.

Who was the biblical Enoch?

The biblical Enoch (Genesis 5:24) was the father of Methuselah who 'walked with God' and was taken to heaven without dying — one of the most mysterious figures in scripture.