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Old-testament Baby Names

67 Old-testament names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

Old Testament baby names are drawn from the Hebrew Bible — the patriarchs, prophets, judges, and everyday families whose stories have shaped Western culture for thousands of years. Parents love them because they carry built-in meaning and gravity: a name like Gideon or Uriah isn’t just a sound, it’s a small piece of scripture passed down.

Patriarchs, judges, and heroes

Many of the most familiar Old Testament names belong to men who led, judged, or wrestled with their faith. Seth, Reuben, and Esau reach back to Genesis, while Boaz and Saul come from the era of judges and kings. They feel sturdy and timeless rather than trendy.

Names that carry a blessing

Hebrew names are often literal phrases, so choosing one can feel like choosing a wish for your child. Jedidiah means beloved of God, Obadiah and Zephaniah both point to divine protection, and Eliezer quietly declares “my God is my help.”

Old Testament girl names

Girls’ names from this tradition tend to be graceful and a little unexpected next to today’s popular picks. Rebekah and Judith belonged to women remembered for courage and cleverness, while Keziah and Mara offer softer, less common alternatives.

Fresh spellings of familiar names

If a name like Isaac or Zachariah feels overused, the Old Testament tradition offers variants that keep the roots but sound distinct: Issac, Zachariah, Eliseo, and Eitan all trace back to the same well of stories.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Old-testament Girl Names

Danielle#549 in the U.S.French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge,' a compound of d▶Mara#589 in the U.S.From Hebrew mara meaning 'bitter' or 'sorrowful'; in the Book of Ruth, Naomi asks to be called ▶Keziah#767 in the U.S.Cassia or cinnamon tree; from the Hebrew Qetsiyah, a fragrant spice plant related to cinnamon m▶Judith#790 in the U.S.Woman of Judea or she will be praised; from the Hebrew Yehudit, the feminine form of Yehudah me▶Rebekah#884 in the U.S.From Hebrew Rivkah, possibly connected to a root meaning to tie, bind, or ensnare; traditionall▶Anayah#913 in the U.S.From Hebrew Anaiah meaning Yahweh has answered, composed of ana (to answer, to respond) and Yah▶Elisha#2038 in the U.S.From Hebrew Elishaʿ, 'God is salvation' (El 'God' + yashaʿ 'to save/deliver'). Name of an Old T▶Kezia#3060 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Qetsiyah, referring to the cassia tree, a plant whose bark resembles cinnamon; ▶Mahalia#3196 in the U.S.From Hebrew mahalah (מַחֲלָה) meaning 'tenderness,' 'affection,' or possibly 'marrow,' appearin▶Zechariah#13686 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Zecharyah, 'the Lord remembers; Yahweh has remembered' — the name of an Old Tes▶Bathsheba#13700 in the U.S.Bathsheba is a Hebrew biblical name, from bat, 'daughter,' and sheva, understood either as 'oat▶Jeremiah#14191 in the U.S.Jeremiah is the English form of Hebrew Yirmeyahu, usually read as 'the Lord exalts' or 'appoint▶Jaala#14503 in the U.S.Jaala (also spelled Jaalah) is a Hebrew name appearing in Ezra 2:56 and Nehemiah 7:58 as one of▶Malachi#14551 in the U.S.From the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger' — the name of the last prophet of the Hebrew Bible, wh▶Malakai#14553 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Malachi, from the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger' — the prophet whose bo▶

Old-testament Boy Names

Eliam#313 in the U.S.From the Hebrew elements 'El' (God) and 'am' (people, kinsman, or nation), meaning 'my God is a▶Gideon#337 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Gidon, from 'gada' (to cut down, to hew), meaning 'one who cuts down', 'great w▶Zachariah#538 in the U.S.From Hebrew Zekharyah, a compound of zakar ('to remember') and Yah (a shortened form of YHWH, t▶Eliseo#550 in the U.S.Spanish and Italian form of Elisha, from Hebrew Elisha meaning 'God is my salvation,' a compoun▶Saul#557 in the U.S.From Hebrew Sha'ul, from sha'al meaning 'to ask' or 'to inquire,' giving the meaning 'asked for▶Seth#581 in the U.S.From Hebrew Sheth meaning 'appointed' or 'placed,' referring to the third son of Adam and Eve i▶Eliel#586 in the U.S.From Hebrew Eli'el, a compound of El ('God') repeated, or eli ('my God') combined with El ('God▶Abdiel#607 in the U.S.From Hebrew Avdi'el, composed of eved ('servant') and El ('God'), meaning 'servant of God' or '▶Uriah#650 in the U.S.From Hebrew Uri-yah, composed of uri meaning my flame or my light and Yah (Yahweh), meaning God▶Ozias#708 in the U.S.Greek form of the Hebrew name Uzziah (עֻזִּיָּה), meaning 'my strength is Yahweh' or 'God has h▶Aron#711 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Aaron, from the Hebrew Aharon (אַהֲרֹן), possibly meaning 'high mountain,' ▶Enoch#746 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Hanokh (חֲנוֹךְ), meaning 'dedicated,' 'initiated,' or 'experienced'; Enoch was▶Asaiah#773 in the U.S.God has made or Yahweh has acted; from the Hebrew Asayah, combining asah meaning to do or make ▶Haziel#795 in the U.S.Vision of God or God sees; from the Hebrew Chazyel, combining chazah meaning to see or to have ▶Jedidiah#876 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yedidyah, composed of yedid meaning beloved or friend and Yah, a shortened form of ▶Jericho#886 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yericho, possibly derived from yareach (moon) reflecting the city's ancient associa▶Reuben#889 in the U.S.From Hebrew Re'uven, meaning behold, a son — from re'u (behold, look) and ben (son); the name L▶Boaz#891 in the U.S.From Hebrew Bo'az, possibly meaning swiftness, strength, or in him is strength; in the Book of ▶Eliezer#893 in the U.S.From Hebrew Eli'ezer, composed of El (God) and ezer (help, aid, assistance); meaning my God is ▶Yitzchok#911 in the U.S.Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation variant of Yitzhak (Isaac), from Hebrew Yitzchaq meaning he will▶Ezrah#914 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Ezra, from Hebrew Ezra meaning help or helper; the -h ending reflects the o▶Issac#915 in the U.S.Alternate spelling of Isaac, from Hebrew Yitzchak meaning he will laugh or he laughs; referring▶Eitan#921 in the U.S.From Hebrew Eitan (also Ethan) meaning strong, firm, or enduring; a name used in the Old Testam▶Jairo#935 in the U.S.Spanish form of Jair (Hebrew Ya'ir), composed of ya (God) and or (light, to shine); meaning God▶Josias#950 in the U.S.Latin and Greek form of Josiah, from Hebrew Yoshiyahu meaning Yahweh supports or may Yahweh hea▶Benaiah#1278 in the U.S.God has built; son of Yahweh▶Malakhi#1312 in the U.S.My messenger, my angel▶Jeriah#1330 in the U.S.God has seen, the Lord sees▶Zephaniah#1339 in the U.S.God has hidden, treasured of God▶Obadiah#1412 in the U.S.Servant of God, worshipper of God▶Lael#1472 in the U.S.Belonging to God, of God▶Jahleel#3007 in the U.S.God waits; hope in God▶Azarias#3041 in the U.S.God has helped; the Lord is my helper▶Esau#3055 in the U.S.From the Hebrew name Esav, meaning hairy or rough, a reference to the biblical patriarch Esau w▶Jeziah#3115 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yiziyah or Yizziyyahu, meaning Yahweh is strength or God strengthens, a biblical na▶Jeriel#3177 in the U.S.God has seen; or 'founded by God,' from Hebrew roots El (God) and ra'ah (to see)▶Oseias#3192 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Hosea, from Hebrew Hoshea meaning 'salvation' or 'God saves'▶Phinehas#3193 in the U.S.Hebrew name of possible Egyptian origin; most likely meaning 'the Nubian' or 'dark-complexioned▶Malahkai#8046 in the U.S.Malahkai reads as a respelling of Malachi, the Hebrew name meaning 'my messenger' - the last of▶Malekai#8076 in the U.S.A spelling of Malachi — from the Hebrew Malakhi, 'my messenger; messenger of God' (the last pro▶Melachi#8091 in the U.S.A spelling of Malachi — from the Hebrew Malakhi, 'my messenger; messenger of God' (the last pro▶Malacai#9512 in the U.S.A spelling of Malachi — from the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger; messenger of God'; the last bo▶Nemiah#9581 in the U.S.A contracted spelling of Nehemiah — from the Hebrew Nechemyah, 'the Lord comforts; comforted by▶Jud#10042 in the U.S.A short form of Judah (Hebrew Yehudah, 'praised; thanksgiving') or Jude; a crisp, one-beat name▶Abimelec#10913 in the U.S.A form of the Hebrew Abimelech, 'my father is king' — from avi ('my father') and melech ('king'▶Jarryd#11340 in the U.S.Jarryd is a 1980s respelling of Jared, an Old Testament name from the Hebrew Yered, 'descent' o▶Malakia#11757 in the U.S.Malakia reads as an elaborated form echoing Malachi, the Hebrew for 'my messenger' - the last O▶Michah#11835 in the U.S.A -ch spelling of the biblical Micah, from the Hebrew Mikha, 'who is like God?' The name of a p▶Nehemia#11875 in the U.S.A form of Nehemiah, from the Hebrew Nechemya, 'the Lord comforts; comforted by Yah.' Nehemiah r▶Obediah#11902 in the U.S.A form of Obadiah, from the Hebrew Ovadyah, 'servant of the Lord.' Obadiah is a minor prophet w▶Salatiel#12048 in the U.S.A form of the biblical Hebrew Shealtiel, 'I have asked of God' — the father of Zerubbabel in th▶Melakai#13482 in the U.S.A respelling of Malachi, from the Hebrew for 'my messenger' - the name of a biblical prophet an▶

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Frequently Asked

What are Old Testament baby names?

Old Testament baby names come from the Hebrew Bible — the men and women who appear in Genesis, Exodus, and the books of judges, kings, and prophets. Many, like Gideon and Rebekah, carry a literal Hebrew meaning tied to faith or blessing.

What are popular Old Testament boy names?

Seth, Reuben, Boaz, Gideon, and Uriah are classic Old Testament boy names, drawn from patriarchs and judges. Variants like Zachariah, Eliseo, and Eitan offer a fresher sound while keeping the same roots.

What are good Old Testament girl names?

Rebekah, Judith, Keziah, and Mara are strong Old Testament choices for girls, each belonging to a woman remembered for courage or wisdom in scripture.

Do Old Testament names have meanings?

Yes — Hebrew names were often chosen for their literal meaning, so a name like Jedidiah (beloved of God) or Eliezer (my God is my help) doubles as a small blessing for the child.

How many old testament baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 67 old testament baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.