Biblical Baby Names for Girls and Boys (Some Are So Unique!)

What is the best baby name from the Bible?

Finding the right name for your child is a very personal process. Are you looking for unique baby girl names with biblical meaning? Or, biblical baby boy names? Maybe you've already selected a first name and are searching for a middle name with biblical significance. 

Well, we have put together a list of over 30 meaningful names from the Bible, and some of them are very unique! Each name is paired with its meaning plus at least one Biblical reference.

Take a look and you may find the perfect fit!

Asher

• Meaning:
  • "happy" or "happy one" or "happiness" or "blessed"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Barnabas

• Meaning:
  • means "son of encouragement"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),” (Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Benjamin

• Meaning:
  • "son of the right hand" (which represents a position of favor and strength) or "fortunate"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.” (Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Berakah

• Meaning:
  • Hebrew word meaning "blessing" or "praise"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.” (‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Bethel

• Meaning:
  • "house of God" in Hebrew
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.” (Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Boaz

• Meaning:
  • "in him is strength"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    

Dan

• Meaning:
  • "He has vindicated" or "He provides justice" or "judge"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.” (Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  • ““Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭49‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Ebenezer

• Meaning:
  
  • derived from a Hebrew phrase meaning "stone of help" and refers to a memorial stone erected to commemorate God's assistance
    
  • symbolizes God's help and faithfulness to His people
    
  • serves a reminder to rely on God's provision
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”” (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Eliezer

• Meaning:
  
  • "God is helper" or "My God is help" or "God is help"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Elijah

• Meaning:
  
  • "My God is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is God"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”” (1 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Ephraim

• Meaning:
  
  • "double fruitfulness" or "twice fruitful"
    
  • derived from the Hebrew word meaning "fruitful"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “The second son he [Joseph] named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭52‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Esther

• Meaning: 
  • "a star"
  • originates from a Persian word for "a star"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.” (Esther‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Eve

• Meaning:
  • "life" or "living" or "life-giver"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” (Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Hadassah

• Meaning: 
  • "myrtle" (in reference to the fragrant, evergreen plant that can thrive in dry conditions)
  • the Hebrew name for Esther (the main character in the Book of Esther)
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.” (Esther‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Hephzibah

• Meaning:
  • "My delight is in her"
  • has symbolic meaning in the Bible as a name given to the restored Jerusalem
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭62‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    

Hosanna

• Meaning:
  • a Hebrew expression meaning "save!" which became an exclamation of praise and adoration
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”” (Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    
  • “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Immanuel

• Meaning:
  
  • "God with us"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Isaac

• Meaning:
  
  • "he laughs" or "laughter"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬, ‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    
  • “God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”” (Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Jakin (or Jachin)

• Meaning:
  
  • derived from the Hebrew root "Yakin" which means "He establishes" or "He will establish"
    
  • serves as a reminder of the strength and stability that God provides to His people
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  • “Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.” (‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Jedidiah

• Meaning:
  
  • "beloved of the Lord"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Jezreel

• Meaning:
  
  • "God plants"
    
  • derived from the Hebrew word meaning "God sows" of "may God make fruitful"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • ““In that day I will respond,” declares the Lord— “I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, and they will respond to Jezreel. I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’ ”” (Hosea‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    

Joseph

• Meaning:
  
  • "may He add" or "He will add" or "He increases"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    

Judah

• Meaning:
  
  • "praise" or "thanksgiving"
    
  • serves as an acknowledgement of God's grace
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Michaiah

• Meaning: 
  • "Who is like Yahweh?"
• Biblical References(s):
  • “The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.””‭‭ (1 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  • “...[Abijah] reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah...” (II Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭2a‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Naomi

• Meaning:
  • "pleasant" or "delightful" or "my delight"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬)

Noah

• Meaning:
  
  • "comfort" or "rest"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Peter

• Meaning:
  
  • "rock"
    
  • Cephas is the Aramaic word for "rock" and is translated into Greek as "Petros" or "Peter"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” (‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    
  • “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Pheobe (or Phebe)

• Meaning:
  • "shining" or "bright" or "pure"
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Now, let me introduce to you our dear and beloved sister in the faith, Phoebe, a shining minister of the church in Cenchrea. I am sending her with this letter and ask that you shower her with your hospitality when she arrives. Embrace her with honor, as is fitting for one who belongs to the Lord and is set apart for him. So provide her whatever she may need, for she’s been a great leader and champion for many—I know, for she’s been that for even me!” (Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬)
  • “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Salem

• Meaning
  • "peace" or "peaceful" or "perfect"
  • "complete" or "completeness"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “... “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Samuel

• Meaning:
  
  • "heard of God", "asked of God", "God hath heard"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”” (1 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Selah

• Meaning:
  • "to lift up" or "to exalt"
  • found most often in the Psalms and is thought to be an invitation to pause, reflect or lift up one's voice or instruments in response to the preceding words
• Biblical Reference(s):
  • “Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; They will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬)
    
  • “Who is [He then] this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory [who rules over all creation with His heavenly armies]. Selah.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬)
    

Shekinah

• Meaning:
  • "that which dwells" or "to dwell" or "to settle"
  • a word used to describe the presence of God and God's dwelling among His people
  • the word is not present in the Bible although many verses allude to the ways God has dwelled and continues to dwell among His people
• Biblical References:
  • ““Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  • “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
    
  • “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  • “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Simeon

• Meaning:
  
  • "heard"
    
  • from the Hebrew word "shama" meaning "to hear"
    
  • the name represents the recognition God's responsiveness
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Solomon

• Meaning:
  
  • "peaceful"
    
  • derived from "shalom" the Hebrew word for "peace"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Zebulun

• Meaning
  
  • "honor"
    
• Biblical Reference(s):
  
  • “Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

After taking the time to select a truly meaningful name for your child, why not showcase it in their nursery, bedroom or playroom with personalized wall art featuring their name? It is the perfect way to customize their space and remind them of how special they are!

 

Additional Resources: 

• What is Shekinah Glory? 
• What Does Selah Mean in the Bible?