Uriah

♂ Boy

Pronounced yoo-RY-uh /juːˈraɪ.ə/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Uri-yah, composed of uri meaning my flame or my light and Yah (Yahweh), meaning God is my light or Yahweh is my fire; Uriah was a Hittite soldier in the service of King David in the Hebrew BibleHigh

In 30 seconds: A bold Hebrew biblical name meaning God is my light, Uriah carries both Old Testament depth and a striking three-syllable sound, and has been quietly climbing in the United States.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew Uri-yah, composed of uri meaning my flame or my light and Yah (Yahweh), meaning God is my light or Yahweh is my fire; Uriah was a Hittite soldier in the service of King David in the Hebrew Bible

U.S. rank (2025)#650 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births427 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 12,072

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Uriah is a Hebrew name meaning God is my light, from uri (my flame, my light) and Yah (a shortened form of Yahweh). In the Bible, Uriah the Hittite was a loyal soldier in King David's army and the husband of Bathsheba. Despite being a Hittite, his Hebrew theophoric name suggests he was a worshiper of Yahweh. His story in 2 Samuel is one of moral tragedy and royal betrayal.

Uriah was used in Puritan and early American communities as a biblical name. In the Victorian era it gained a slightly comic literary association through Uriah Heep, the obsequious villain in Charles Dickens's David Copperfield (1850). In the 21st century, Uriah has been staging a quiet revival as parents seek distinctive Old Testament names. It now charts in the U.S. top 500 and is celebrated for its strong sound and meaningful depth.

Did you know? The biblical Uriah the Hittite was one of David's famous Thirty Mighty Warriors — yet King David arranged his death in battle to conceal his affair with Uriah's wife Bathsheba, making Uriah one of the most morally complex figures in the Hebrew Bible.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Uriah — etymology and biblical historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

UriUriya

Nicknames

UriRy

Famous Bearers

★Uriah Heep (fictional)
Fictional villain character in Charles Dickens's novel David Copperfield.
★Uriah the Hittite (biblical)
Biblical soldier and husband of Bathsheba, one of King David's Mighty Warriors.

If you like Uriah…

Isaiah— shares the Hebrew -iah ending and the same strong Old Testament prophetic character

Elijah— fellow three-syllable Hebrew theophoric name with the same bold biblical energy

Josiah— another -iah ending biblical name with the same dignified, ancient Hebrew sound

Azaiah— shares the same Hebrew -aiah structure and the same rare, striking quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Uriah mean?

Uriah is Hebrew, meaning God is my light or Yahweh is my flame. It is composed of uri (my light) and Yah (Yahweh).

How do you pronounce Uriah?

It is said yoo-RY-uh /juːˈraɪ.ə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Who was Uriah in the Bible?

Uriah the Hittite was one of King David's mighty warriors and the husband of Bathsheba. His story in 2 Samuel is a tale of loyalty and royal betrayal.

Is Uriah a popular name?

Uriah has been quietly rising in the U.S. in the 21st century and now ranks in the top 500 boys' names.