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56 English names

Biblical English names

English names that come from people in the Bible, with what each name means in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic.

Names

  1. AaronBoyAIR-un · HebrewMeans “possibly high mountain or exalted”In the Bible, Aaron is the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of the Israelites. The real meaning is uncertain, and some scholars think the name may come from Egyptian. English speakers began using it after the Protestant Reformation, and it is still common today.
  2. AbigailGirlAB-ih-gayl · HebrewMeans “my father is joy”In the Bible, Abigail is a wise woman who becomes a wife of King David. English Puritans began using the name in the 17th century, and for a while “abigail” was also an everyday word for a lady’s maid because of a character in a popular play. Today it is a common girls’ name again, especially in the US.
  3. AdamBoyAD-um · HebrewMeans “man”In the Bible, Adam is the first man, made by God from the earth. The Hebrew word is probably connected to adamah, “earth” or “ground”. It has been used in English since the Middle Ages and is short and easy to say in many languages.
  4. AndrewBoyAN-droo · GreekMeans “manly”Andrew comes from the Greek name Andreas, based on the word for “man”. Saint Andrew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and he is the patron saint of Scotland. The name has been common in Britain for many centuries.
  5. AnnaGirlAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew name Hannah. In the New Testament, Anna is an old prophetess who sees the baby Jesus in the Temple. The name is used in almost every European language, which makes it easy to say anywhere.
  6. AsherBoyASH-er · HebrewMeans “happy, blessed”In the Bible, Asher is one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and one of the tribes of Israel is named after him. His mother Leah gave him the name because she felt happy at his birth. It has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  7. BenjaminBoyBEN-juh-min · HebrewMeans “son of the right hand”In the Bible, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The “right hand” in the meaning may also mean “the south”, so the name is sometimes explained as “son of the south”. It has been used in English since the Reformation and is still very popular today.
  8. CalebBoyKAY-lub · HebrewMeans “possibly dog, or whole-hearted”In the Bible, Caleb is one of the men Moses sent to explore the land of Canaan, and he stays loyal to God. The meaning is debated: it is often linked to the Hebrew word for “dog”, a symbol of loyalty, but some explain it as “whole-hearted”. Puritans took the name to America, and it is popular in the US today.
  9. ChloeGirlKLOH-ee · GreekMeans “young green shoot”In ancient Greece, Chloe was a name given to the goddess Demeter, who looked after crops and new growth. It appears once in the New Testament, in a letter of St Paul, so Puritans began to use it in the 17th century. It became very popular in Britain and the US from the 1990s onwards.
  10. DanielBoyDAN-yul · HebrewMeans “God is my judge”In the Bible, Daniel is a prophet who survives a night in a den of lions. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages and became very common after the Reformation. It is still widely used around the world.
  11. DavidBoyDAY-vid · HebrewMeans “beloved”In the Bible, David is the young shepherd who defeats the giant Goliath and later becomes king of Israel. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and two kings of Scotland had the name. It has been one of the most common names in the English-speaking world for centuries.
  12. ElijahBoyih-LY-juh · HebrewMeans “my God is Yahweh”In the Bible, Elijah is a great prophet who is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. English Puritans used the name after the Reformation. In the 2020s it has been one of the most popular boys’ names in the US.
  13. ElizabethGirlih-LIZ-uh-beth · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva; in the New Testament, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. It became one of the most common English names after Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, made it famous all over the world.
  14. EstherGirlES-tur · PersianMeans “star”Esther is the brave Jewish queen of Persia in the Old Testament book named after her. The name is probably from a Persian word for star, though some link it with the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. English Puritans used it from the 17th century, sometimes in the form Hester.
  15. EthanBoyEE-thun · HebrewMeans “firm, enduring”In the Bible, Ethan the Ezrahite is a wise man mentioned in the books of Kings and Psalms. The name was rare for a long time but became very popular in the US and UK from the late 20th century. It is still a common choice today.
  16. EvaGirlEE-vuh · HebrewMeans “life”Eva is the Latin and Greek form of Eve, the first woman in the Bible, whose name comes from a Hebrew word for life. It is used in many European languages and has been common in English since the 19th century. It is popular again in the UK and US today.
  17. EzraBoyEZ-ruh · HebrewMeans “help”In the Bible, Ezra is a priest and teacher who leads the Jewish people back to Jerusalem from Babylon. A book of the Bible carries his name. It was used by Puritans and has become popular again in recent years.
  18. GabrielBoyGAY-bree-ul · HebrewMeans “God is my strength”In the Bible, Gabriel is the archangel who tells Mary that she will have a son, Jesus. The name is used in Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. It has become very popular in many countries, including the US, in recent years.
  19. HannahGirlHAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”In the Old Testament, Hannah prays for a child and becomes the mother of the prophet Samuel. English Puritans started using the name in the 17th century. It reads the same backwards and forwards, and it was especially popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
  20. IsaacBoyEYE-zuk · HebrewMeans “he will laugh”In the Bible, Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah laughed when she heard she would have a child in her old age, which explains the name. It became common in English after the Reformation and is popular again today.
  21. JacobBoyJAY-kub · HebrewMeans “holder of the heel”In the Bible, Jacob is born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau, and the name is linked to the Hebrew word for “heel”. It can also be understood as “one who takes another’s place”. The name James comes from the same source.
  22. JamesBoyJAYMZ · HebrewMeans “holder of the heel”James comes from Iacomus, a late Latin form of Jacob. Two apostles of Jesus were called James, and the King James Bible is named after King James I. It has been one of the most common boys’ names in the English-speaking world for centuries.
  23. JesseUnisexJES-ee · HebrewMeans “gift”Jesse comes from the Hebrew name Yishai, which possibly means “gift”, though scholars are not certain. In the Bible he is the father of King David. Jesse is mostly a boy’s name, while girls more often use the spelling Jessie.
  24. JohnBoyJON · HebrewMeans “God is gracious”John comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan. In the Bible it was borne by John the Baptist and by John the Apostle, so it spread across the Christian world. King John of England signed the Magna Carta in 1215, and for centuries it was the most common boys’ name in England.
  25. JonathanBoyJON-uh-thun · HebrewMeans “God has given”In the Bible, Jonathan is the son of King Saul and the close friend of David. Their friendship is one of the best-known in the Bible. The name became common in English after the Reformation.
  26. JosephBoyJOH-zuf · HebrewMeans “he will add”In the Bible, Joseph is the son of Jacob who receives a coat of many colours, and also the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The name was given in hope that God would add more children to the family. It has been common in Europe since the Middle Ages.
  27. JoshuaBoyJOSH-oo-uh · HebrewMeans “Yahweh is salvation”In the Bible, Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. The name Jesus comes from the same Hebrew name. It became very popular in English-speaking countries from the late 20th century.
  28. JudeBoyJOOD · HebrewMeans “praised”Jude is a form of Judas, which comes from the Hebrew name Judah. Saint Jude was one of the apostles and is the patron saint of lost causes; the short form helped people avoid the name of Judas Iscariot. The Beatles song “Hey Jude” made it better known.
  29. JuliaGirlJOO-lee-uh · LatinMeans “of the Julius family”Julia is the female form of Julius, an old Roman family name; its meaning is not clear, though some say it meant “youthful” or was linked to the god Jupiter. Julia is mentioned in one of St Paul’s letters in the New Testament. It has been used in England since the 18th century.
  30. LeahGirlLEE-uh · HebrewMeans “weary”In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the older sister of Rachel. Her name probably comes from a Hebrew word for tired, though some scholars connect it with an older word for a cow. Puritans began using it in the 17th century, and it is still common today.
  31. LeviBoyLEE-vy · HebrewMeans “joined, attached”In the Bible, Levi is one of the sons of Jacob, and his descendants, the Levites, served as priests. His mother Leah hoped the baby would bring her husband closer to her. The name has become popular in the US and UK in recent years.
  32. LucasBoyLOO-kus · GreekMeans “from Lucania”Lucas is the Latin form of the Greek name Loukas, which meant a person from Lucania in southern Italy; people have also long linked it to the Latin word lux, “light”. Saint Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels, has this name. It is one of the most popular boys’ names in Europe and the US.
  33. LukeBoyLOOK · GreekMeans “from Lucania”Luke is the English form of the Greek name Loukas, meaning a person from Lucania in southern Italy; it is also often linked to the Latin word lux, “light”. Saint Luke wrote one of the four Gospels in the Bible. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages.
  34. LydiaGirlLID-ee-uh · GreekMeans “woman from Lydia”Lydia was a region in what is now western Turkey, so the name first meant a woman from there. In the New Testament, Lydia is a seller of purple cloth who becomes one of the first Christians in Europe. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lydia is the youngest Bennet sister.
  35. MarkBoyMARK · LatinMeans “probably from Mars”Mark comes from the Roman name Marcus, which is probably connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Saint Mark wrote one of the Gospels and is the patron saint of Venice. The name became very common in English in the 20th century.
  36. MaryGirlMAIR-ee · HebrewMeans “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is not known for sure; suggestions include “bitter”, “wished-for child” and an Egyptian word for “beloved”. As the name of Jesus’s mother, it has been one of the most important names in Christian Europe for centuries. England has had two Queen Marys who ruled in their own right, and Scotland had Mary, Queen of Scots.
  37. MatthewBoyMATH-yoo · HebrewMeans “gift of God”Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu. Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and is traditionally named as the writer of the first Gospel. The name has been used in England since the Normans and is still common today.
  38. MichaelBoyMY-kul · HebrewMeans “who is like God?”In the Bible, Michael is an archangel who leads the armies of heaven. The name spread across Europe in the Middle Ages through devotion to Saint Michael. In the US it was the most popular boys’ name for much of the second half of the 20th century.
  39. NaomiGirlnay-OH-mee · HebrewMeans “pleasantness”In the Old Testament Book of Ruth, Naomi is Ruth’s loving mother-in-law. After losing her husband and sons, she says she should be called Mara, “bitter”, instead of Naomi. English Puritans used the name from the 17th century.
  40. NathanBoyNAY-thun · HebrewMeans “he gave”In the Bible, Nathan is a prophet who bravely tells King David that he has done wrong. It is also used as a short form of Nathaniel. The name became common in English after the Reformation and is still widely used.
  41. NoahBoyNOH-uh · HebrewMeans “rest, comfort”In the Bible, Noah builds an ark to save his family and the animals from a great flood. The name was used by Puritans but was not very common until recent decades. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  42. PaulBoyPAWL · LatinMeans “small, humble”Paul comes from the Roman family name Paulus. In the Bible, Saint Paul spread Christianity and wrote many letters in the New Testament. The name has been used across Europe for many centuries.
  43. PeterBoyPEE-ter · GreekMeans “rock, stone”Peter comes from the Greek word petros. In the Bible, Jesus gave this name to the apostle Simon, as a translation of the Aramaic name Cephas. Saint Peter is seen as the first pope, and the name has been common in Europe since the Middle Ages.
  44. PhilipBoyFIL-ip · GreekMeans “lover of horses”Philip comes from Greek words for “friend, lover” and “horse”. It was the name of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, and of one of the apostles of Jesus. In Britain it is well known through Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
  45. PhoebeGirlFEE-bee · GreekMeans “bright, pure”In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan, and her name was also used for the moon goddess Artemis. A woman called Phoebe is praised by St Paul in the New Testament. It was used by Puritans and is well liked in Britain today.
  46. RachelGirlRAY-chul · HebrewMeans “ewe, female sheep”In the Old Testament, Rachel is the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. English Puritans began using the name in the 17th century. It was very common in Britain and the US from the 1970s to the 1990s.
  47. RebeccaGirlrih-BEK-uh · HebrewMeans “to tie, bind”In the Old Testament, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. Her name probably comes from a Hebrew word meaning to tie or join. Puritans used it from the 17th century, and Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca made it famous in the 20th century.
  48. RuthGirlROOTH · HebrewMeans “friend”Ruth is the heroine of the Old Testament Book of Ruth, a woman famous for staying loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi. The meaning “friend” is the usual explanation, but it is not certain. Puritans used it from the 17th century, and it was very common in the early 20th century.
  49. SamuelBoySAM-yoo-ul · HebrewMeans “name of God, or God has heard”In the Bible, Samuel is a prophet who chooses the first kings of Israel, Saul and David. The exact meaning is discussed, but it is often explained as “name of God” or “God has heard”. It became common in English after the Reformation and is still popular.
  50. SarahGirlSAIR-uh · HebrewMeans “princess, lady”In the Old Testament, Sarah is the wife of Abraham; God changes her name from Sarai to Sarah. It became common in England after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. It has been a favourite name in English-speaking countries ever since.
  51. SimonBoySY-mun · HebrewMeans “he has heard”Simon comes from the Hebrew name Shimon, and it was also influenced by a Greek name of similar sound. In the Bible, Simon is the first name of the apostle Peter, and another apostle was also called Simon. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages.
  52. StephenBoySTEE-vun · GreekMeans “crown”Stephen comes from the Greek word stephanos, a crown or wreath. In the Bible, Saint Stephen is the first Christian martyr. King Stephen ruled England in the 12th century, and the name is also spelled Steven.
  53. SusanGirlSOO-zun · HebrewMeans “lily”Susan is the English form of Susanna, from the Hebrew name Shoshannah, which comes from a word for a lily or similar flower. Susanna appears in the Bible, both in the Gospel of Luke and in a story added to the Book of Daniel. It was one of the most popular girls’ names in Britain and the US in the 1950s.
  54. ThomasBoyTOM-us · AramaicMeans “twin”Thomas comes from the Aramaic word for “twin”. In the Bible, the apostle Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen until he saw him, which is why we say “doubting Thomas”. Saint Thomas Becket helped make it one of the most common names in medieval England.
  55. TimothyBoyTIM-uh-thee · GreekMeans “honouring God”Timothy comes from the Greek name Timotheos, made of words for “honour” and “god”. In the Bible, Timothy was a companion of Saint Paul, who wrote two letters to him. It came into English use after the Reformation.
  56. ZacharyBoyZAK-uh-ree · HebrewMeans “God remembers”Zachary is the English form of Zechariah, a Hebrew name. In the Bible, Zechariah is a prophet, and Zacharias is the father of John the Baptist. It became common in English-speaking countries in the late 20th century.