Combing through the entire Bible to find biblical boy names may be a daunting task. If you’re like some devout Christians, you read your favorite passages repeatedly, especially during trying times, but rarely read the entire book.
Our list of 100 Bible names for boys includes less-used sacred names, as well as many of the favorites you’re likely familiar with. As you plan for the arrival of your baby, this list should be a timesaver for you.
100 Biblical Names for Boys and Meanings
If you’re looking for a holy or divine name for your baby boy, the Bible contains many options, some of which have held up well in the centuries since it was written.
1. Aaron
With roots in Hebrew, Aaron means exalted or high mountain.
Aaron is one of those strong boy names that never seem to go out of fashion. Year after year, it reaches the top 1,000 names in the U.S. In 2019, it was the 61st most popular name for boys.
2. Abraham
Abraham is a Hebrew name that means father of multitudes.
Abraham is honored as an important figure in three popular faiths worldwide — Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. He is called God’s friend by James.
3. Adam
This Hebrew name means man from the red earth.
Adam is the first man, according to Christianity. Adam and his wife, Eve, were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because they ate fruit from the Knowledge of Good and Evil tree.
4. Aeneas
Coming from Latin and Greek origins, Aeneas means to praise.
A New Testament figure, Aeneas was a cripple who was healed by Jesus Christ.
5. Amal
Amal is Arabic in origin and means hope.
In the Bible, Amal is a man, but this name is a good unisex option. Amal Clooney, a female lawyer, is married to actor George Clooney.
6. Amos
Amos is a name that means brave or strong.
Amos is another great name for people of faith. In the Old Testament, Amos is known as one of the Twelve Minor Prophets.
7. Andrew
This Greek baby name means manly.
Andrew has been a popular boys’ name for centuries. In 2019, it ranked number 46 in the U.S. for boys. It’s a versatile name, lending itself to the nicknames of Andy and Drew.
8. Asher
Hebrew in origin, Asher means happy.
Asher first appeared briefly on the popularity charts in the U.S. in 1983. But ever since 1992, it has been there to stay, with 2019 ranking as Asher’s most popular year at number 43.
9. Azriel
Stemming from Hebrew roots, Azriel means God is my help.
People who were children in the 1980s remember Azrael, with the slightly different spelling, as Gargamel’s cat in the Smurfs cartoon.
10. Barak
A Hebrew name, Barak means lightning.
Barak was an associate of Deborah, a prophetess in the Bible. He spearheaded an Israelite army to take on Sisera, a Canaanite army commander.
11. Bartholomew
This Hebrew name means son of Talmai.
Bartholomew was one of Jesus’ main 12 disciples. But aside from appearing in the lists of apostles, not much is known about him.
12. Benjamin
Benjamin is a Hebrew name that means son of my right hand.
One of the founding fathers of the U.S., Benjamin Franklin was well known as an inventor, politician, humorist, and printer, among other things. He was also a scientist who helped unlock some of the secrets of electricity.
13. Cain
Cain is a Hebrew name that means spear or possessed.
The religious moniker Cain has earned a spot on our list of Bible names for boys. One of the more recognizable names in the book, Cain, the son of Eve and Adam, murdered Abel, his brother.
14. Caleb
Caleb, a Hebrew name, means faith and devotion.
Caleb solidified its role as a mainstream name in the 1960s. It has been on the list of 1,000 most popular names in the U.S. every year since 1968, ranking number 52 in 2019.
15. Cyrus
Derived from the Greek name Kyros, Cyrus means lord.
Some names enjoy brief but immense popularity before falling out of fashion. But other names, like Cyrus, never become overly popular. Cyrus has been on the U.S. popularity charts for more than 100 years, never rising to more than number 389.
16. Daniel
A Hebrew name, Daniel means God is my judge.
Another eternally popular name, Daniel was the name of a hit song by singer Elton John. It was written about a fictional soldier returning from the Vietnam war who is idolized when he comes back, but he only wants to return to his quiet, pre-war life.
17. Darius
Coming from the Persian name Dariush, Darius means rich and kingly or he possesses.
Singer Darius Rucker rose to fame as the lead singer of one of the biggest bands of the 1990s, Hootie & the Blowfish. Since then, he’s focused on country music, landing several number one hits, although Hootie & the Blowfish also continue to release albums.
18. David
A Hebrew name, David means beloved.
In the Bible, King David has an astounding 66 chapters written about him. But one of the most beloved of his tales is how he killed the powerful Goliath.
19. Ebenezer
Ebenezer is a Hebrew name that means stone of help.
In the Bible, Ebenezer wasn’t a person — it was a stone that was given a name. The most famous Ebenezer the world has ever heard of is undoubtedly Ebenezer Scrooge. He was a miser who finds redemption in A Christmas Carol, a novella written by Charles Dickens.
20. Elijah
A Hebrew name, Elijah means my God is Yahweh.
A Hebrew prophet, Elijah remains an often used “e” name for boys. It’s currently at the height of its popularity in the U.S., where it was the fifth most used boys’ name in 2019.
21. Emmanuel
Emmanuel is a Hebrew name that means God is with us.
Emmanuel is a name that shows up in the Book of Isaiah. It is seen as a sign that the House of David will enjoy protection from God. It’s also viewed as another name for God and is sometimes seen as Immanuel.
22. Ephron
A Hebrew name, Ephron means productive or fertile.
Nora Ephron was an American filmmaker who wrote the monstrous hits When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle.
23. Esau
Esau, which means son of Isaac, is a Hebrew name.
In the Bible, Esau was a twin. He was born before his brother, Jacob, and Jacob arrived while holding onto Esau’s heel. Due to this, Esau and Jacob could make great names for twins.
24. Ethan
A Hebrew name, Ethan means strong and firm.
Ethan has spent much of the last 20 years in the top 10 most popular names in the U.S. This name is frequently seen in fictional works, such as the Mission Impossible franchise, where Tom Cruise stars Ethan Hunt.
25. Ezekiel
Another Hebrew name, Ezekiel means God strengthens.
Ezekiel Elliott, who was born in 1995, is a football player with the Dallas Cowboys. He has been a Pro Bowl selection three times.
26. Ezra
A Hebrew name, Ezra means help.
The name Ezra has taken off in popularity in recent years. Around the turn of the century, it was ranked number 430 in boys’ names in the U.S. But since then, it has steadily gained ground, landing at number 49 in 2019.
27. Felix
Felix is a Latin name that means lucky or happy.
In the Bible, Felix was a mean governor of Judea. A fictional Felix in modern times proved much more likable. Felix Unger and Oscar Madison made for unlikely roommates in the hit play, movie, and television show, The Odd Couple.
28. Gabriel
Gabriel is a Hebrew name that means God is my strength.
Gabriel cracked the top 100 most popular names for boys in the U.S. in 1976, and it has remained there almost every year since.
29. Gideon
A Hebrew name, Gideon means he who cuts down.
Gideon was known as the greatest of all the judges of Israel. That might make this a wonderful name choice for the son of a judge.
30. Gilead
Of Hebrew origins, Gilead means hill country or mountain.
Gilead was a popular name in the Bible, referring to three different men. These men are mentioned in Numbers 26:29, Judges 11:1, and 1 Chronicles 5:14.
31. Gomer
A Hebrew name, Gomer means complete, but as an English name, it means famous and good.
Many generations think of the popular character, Gomer Pyle, from The Andy Griffith Show when they hear this name. The character was played by Jim Nabors and resulted in a spin-off show called Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
32. Hezekiah
Hezekiah is a Hebrew name that means my strength is the lord.
Serving as the 13th king of Judah, Hezekiah was known as a righteous king. Out of all the kings of Judah who were mentioned, he was considered the most obedient and devoted to God.
33. Hiram
Another Hebrew name, Hiram means brother of the exalted one.
Seen more as an older name, Hiram continually dropped in popularity in the 1900s. In 1920, it was ranked number 397 on the Social Security Administration’s names list. But by 1983, the last year it appeared on this list, it was number 968.
34. Ira
A Hebrew name, Ira means watchful.
Ira Hayes, a member of the Pima Native American tribe, gained fame for being one of the Marines to raise the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima during World War II and was hailed as a national war hero by President Dwight Eisenhower.
35. Isaac
Isaac is a Hebrew name that means he will laugh.
There have been many famous men named Isaac throughout history, including writer Isaac Asimov, singer Isaac Hanson, and singer Isaac Hayes. But perhaps the most famous of all is Sir Isaac Newton, regarded as one of the top scientists in history.
36. Isaiah
Isaiah is a Hebrew name that means God is salvation.
Although it temporarily fell out of favor as a boys’ name in the late 1960s, Isaiah has been in the top 100 since the mid-1990s. It landed at number 53 in 2019.
37. Jacob
A Hebrew name, Jacob means he who supplants.
Jacob was the twin son of Isaac and Rebecca. His first biblical mention was in the Book of Genesis.
38. Jadon
Jadon is another Hebrew name, meaning he will judge.
Jadon is known in the Bible as being one of the people who repaired the wall of Jerusalem. He is often called a Meronothite since he hailed from Meronoth, a town that biblical scholars can’t seem to locate.
39. James
James, which comes from a Hebrew origin, means supplanter.
In the Bible, James was an apostle, one of the original 12. A fisherman by occupation, James was also John the Apostle’s brother.
40. Jared
Stemming from the Hebrew name Yared, Jared means descent.
According to the Bible, Jared lived 962 years and fathered Enoch when he was a mere 162 years old. That gives him the distinction of being listed as the second oldest person in the Hebrew Bible.
41. Jason
Jason is a name that stems from both Hebrew and Greek origins, and it means the Lord is salvation or healer.
Named in the New Testament, Jason of Thessalonica was forcibly taken from his home by non-believing Jewish people who were looking to seize Paul. He was arrested and posted bail.
42. Javan
A Hebrew name, Javan comes from the word yavan and means Greece.
Javan was Noah’s grandson and was considered to be the Greek people’s forefather.
43. Jaziel
Another Hebrew name, Jaziel means allotted by God.
Jaziel is a name variation of Jahzeel. It is pronounced as jah-zeel.
44. Jedediah
A Hebrew name, Jedediah means friend of God.
Jedediah has never been an often-used name. In the past 100 years, it has only placed on the top 1,000 names list for boys 9 times. It hasn’t appeared since 1985.
45. Jeremiah
Jeremiah is a Hebrew name that means the Lord exalts.
Many people still can’t hear the name Jeremiah without breaking into singing the catchy tune, Joy to the World by Three Dog Night. The opening lyrics of the song are “Jeremiah was a bullfrog.” The song became a monstrous hit in 1971.
46. Jericho
An Arabic name, Jericho means city of the moon.
Jericho, a Canaan city in the Bible, was destroyed by Israelites and was abandoned. In modern times, Chris Jericho is a popular wrestler known for his over-the-top personality and athleticism.
47. Jesse
A Hebrew name, Jesse means God’s gift.
American outlaw Jesse James continues to fascinate the public, even though he died in 1882.
Jesse and his brother, Frank, became famous and feared robbers throughout the Midwest. He died after being shot by Robert Ford, another outlaw.
48. Joel
Joel is a Hebrew name that means the lord is God.
The Bible mentions 12 minor prophets, and Joel was the second of them. Joel has been a constant fixture on the list of popular males names in the U.S. for more than a century.
49. John
John is Hebrew in origin, coming from the name Yochanan and meaning God is gracious.
For more than 100 years, this name has been one of the most-used names in the U.S. If you give your child this name, he’ll likely have several other Johns in his class at school. To be a little different, you can go with Johnny, Jon, Jonathan, or Johnathan.
50. Jonah
Jonah is a Hebrew name that means dove.
One of the tales of the Bible that most captures the imagination of children is Jonah and the whale. In this story, Jonah is swallowed by a giant fish, often called a whale, and three days later is vomited out of the fish, alive and well.
51. Jonas
Coming from the name Yohanan, Jonas is a Hebrew name that also means dove.
Jonah, from the Jonah and the whale tale, is also sometimes known as Jonas. When you know the tale of Jonah and the whale, it makes it slightly funny that the main character of The Meg book and movie is named Jonas. In this story, Jonas Taylor is trying to stop a megalodon from snacking on people in the ocean.
52. Joseph
Stemming from the Hebrew name Yosef, Joseph means addition or increase.
The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Book of Genesis led to the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
53. Joshua
Joshua is derived from Yehoshua, a Hebrew name that means a deliverer or savior.
Joshua was a name that was used occasionally since 1920, but gained mainstream popularity beginning in the 1970s. Although it has never reached number one, it has spent a lot of years as the third, fourth, or fifth most popular name in the U.S. for boys.
54. Josiah
A Hebrew name, Josiah means heals or God supports.
King Josiah ruled over Judah from approximately 640 to 609 B.C. Despite being the descendant of two corrupt kings, Josiah was known as a just and honorable king in the Bible.
55. Judah
Judah is a Hebrew name that means praised.
There are two mentions of Judah in the holy book. One is a place called Judah, and the other is a person, the son of Jacob and Leah.
56. Jude
Jude has its roots in Greek and means he who is praised.
The song Hey Jude by The Beatles was their biggest hit and it began as a song for Julian Lennon, John’s son. The original title was Hey Jules.
57. Kenan
A Hebrew name, Kenan means lamenter or sorrow.
The most famous Kenan is undoubtedly actor Kenan Thompson. A cast member of Saturday Night Live for almost two decades, he has been on the show longer than any other actor in history. He also currently stars on NBC’s sitcom Kenan and has been in movies such as Good Burger, Heavyweights, Snakes on a Plane, and Hubie Halloween.
58. Levi
A Hebrew name, Levi means attached.
Levi is a surprisingly popular name considering it reminds most people of the iconic Levi jeans, a clothing company that was started in 1853 by Levi Strauss.
59. Lucas
A Latin name, Lucas means light or illumination.
A classic 1980s movie, Lucas is the story of a young teen played by Corey Haim who falls for a girl who firmly puts him in the friend zone. The movie also stars Charlie Sheen, Kerri Green, and Winona Ryder.
60. Lucius
Lucius is another Latin name that means brightness or light.
In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Lucius is a young servant to Brutus. Shakespeare incorporates another character named Lucius into his tragedy, Titus Andronicus.
61. Luke
The English version of Lucas, Luke also means light-giving.
The Bible’s Gospel of Luke has a lot of parables — 19 of them. That’s more parables than appear in the other gospels.
62. Malachi
A name of Hebrew origin, Malachi means messenger of God.
A prophet in the Old Testament, Malachi is the final of the twelve minor prophets.
63. Mark
A Latin name, Mark means dedicated to Mars.
Mark remains an often-used boys’ name in the U.S. Many famous men are named Mark, including actors Mark Wahlberg, Mark Hamill, Mark Harmon, and Mark Ruffalo, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, and iconic writer Mark Twain.
64. Matthew
Matthew is a Hebrew name that means gift of God.
Matthew the Apostle was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. In some churches, including Roman Catholic churches, Matthew is considered a saint.
65. Matthias
Coming from Hebrew, Greek, and German origins, Matthias also means gift of God.
Matthias, one of the twelve apostles, was brought in the apostle brotherhood to replace Judas.
66. Micah
Micah, a Hebrew name, means who is like God.
Micah Hyde, a football player with the Buffalo Bills, showed talent at a young age. He broke 17 records at his school.
67. Michael
Michael, a Hebrew name, also means who is like God.
Since this name has been so popular for so long, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of famous Michaels. Too many to list here, some of them include actors Michael J. Fox and Michael B. Jordan, singer Michael Jackson, and basketball superstar Michael Jordan.
68. Moses
Another Hebrew name is Moses, which means savior.
Moses is one of the most memorable characters in the Bible. One of the most dramatic miracles in the book involved Moses, who supposedly parted the Red Sea to help the Israelites escape slavery.
69. Nathan
Of Hebrew origin, Nathan means given.
An adviser to King David, Nathan was a court prophet and relayed messages from God to David.
70. Nathaniel
Nathaniel, which can also be seen as Nathanel, is a Greek version of the Hebrew name, Netan’el, which means God has given.
American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne has created several enduring works of literature, including The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. Extremely shy, Hawthorne was quiet in social circles.
71. Noah
A Hebrew name, Noah means peaceful.
One of the most enduring tales of the Bible is that of Noah and the Ark. Noah built an ark to protect himself and his family, as well as land animals, during a huge flood created by God.
72. Obadiah
Obadiah is a Hebrew name that means servant of God.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Obadiah Stane, who was also called Iron Monger, was the main villain from the movie Iron Man.
73. Omar
A Hebrew and Arabic name, Omar means flourishing or speaker.
Omar Sharif appeared in classic films like Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. An Academy Award nominee, he spoke six languages fluently.
74. Paul
A Latin name, Paul means small.
Paul is a name that has appealed to parents from generation to generation. Famous Pauls include singers Paul McCartney and Paul Simon, actors Paul Newman and Paul Rudd, and patriot Paul Revere.
75. Perez
Perez is a Hebrew name that means burst forth or breach.
While Perez is sometimes used as a first name, it is also a popular last name. It could be a good biblical choice for a mom who had the maiden name of Perez, but changed her name when she married.
76. Peter
Peter is derived from the Greek name Petros, and it means rock or stone.
Peter is a big name in the world of fiction. Peter Pan, Peter Parker, and Peter Rabbit have all had an influence on generations of children and teenagers.
77. Philip
Philip comes from the Greek name Philippos, and it means friend of horses.
Prince Philip, also called the Duke of Edinburgh, is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Here’s a fact you might not know about Prince Philip — his family was exiled from Greece when Philip was a baby.
78. Raphael
A Hebrew name, Raphael means God has healed.
The more devoutly religious will recognize Raphael as an archangel who appears in the Old Testament or perhaps as being the name of the famed Italian painter. But the younger generation will be impressed with this name because it is one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
79. Reuben
Reuben comes from the Hebrew name Reuven and means behold, a son.
According to legend, the reuben sandwich was first dreamed up by a Lithuanian grocer who lived in Omaha, Nebraska. Apparently, he created the reuben sandwich for a poker night at a business and its fame grew from there.
80. Rufus
Rufus is a Latin name that means redhead.
For people who grew up in the 1970s and early 1980s, the name Rufus reminds them of the Chicago band, Rufus, which led to fame for lead singer Chaka Khan. One of the band’s more popular songs was its hit, Tell Me Something Good.
81. Samson
A Hebrew name, Samson means sun.
Notorious biblical strongman Samson was betrayed by Delilah, his wife, which ultimately brings about his downfall. Samson used all his remaining strength to defeat the Philistines and their ruler, but he died in the process.
82. Samuel
Samuel is a Hebrew name that means God heard.
For more than 100 years, the name Samuel has been in the top 100 most popular boys’ names in the U.S. The name is hotter than ever, sitting at number 22 in 2019.
83. Saul
The Hebrew name Saul means asked or inquired of God.
Saul has never been one of the hottest names in the U.S., but it has managed to remain moderately popular for more than a century. It placed at number 532 in 2019.
84. Seth
Seth has Hebrew and Egyptian roots and means anointed or put.
Actor Seth Rogen got his big break in 1999 playing the role of Ken Miller in the television series Freaks and Geeks. Although the cult favorite only lasted one season, most of the cast moved onto big careers, including James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, and Jason Segel.
85. Silas
Silas stems from the Latin name Silvanus, and it means forest or wood.
Silas, who was also called Silvanus, was a church leader in the Bible. He went to Antioch in Syria with Paul and Barnabas on a mission.
86. Simon
A Hebrew name, Simon means the listener.
Simon has enjoyed a long reputation as one of those middle-of-the-road names. You don’t hear it often, but it is still a fairly common name, placing at number 256 in 2019.
87. Solomon
The Hebrew name Solomon stems from the name Shalom, which means peace.
The Israel king Solomon was the son of Bathsheba and David in the Old Testament. He was known for being rich and wise.
88. Stephen
With roots in English and Greek, Stephen, which is also sometimes seen as Stephan, means wreath or crown.
In the Bible, Stephen became the first Christian martyr when he was stoned to death.
89. Thaddeus
Thaddeus is the Greek version of Thaddai, an Aramaic name, and it means heart.
Thaddeus Stevens, who was born in 1792, was a dedicated abolitionist, leading the Radical Republicans in the 1860s. Stevens had a permanent limp, resulting from being born with a club foot.
90. Theophilus
Of Greek origin, Theophilus means loved by God.
This name would be quite a mouthful for a young child, and it could make learning to spell their name in school rather difficult. But if you like this name, you can always let your child go with the nickname of Theo or Phil.
91. Thomas
Thomas is a Greek name that comes from Ta’oma’, an Aramaic name, and it means twin.
Thomas has been an extremely popular name for well over a century, often landing in the top ten. But lately, it has started to wane in popularity, placing at number 47 in 2019.
92. Titus
A Latin name, Titus means title of honor.
Titus was a friend and companion of Paul the Apostle. Titus served as a leader of the church and a Christian missionary, so this might be a good name choice for people who have participated in religious missionary trips.
93. Tobias
A Hebrew name, Tobias means God is good.
The name Tobias ranks number 272 on the 2019 list of popular boys’ names. It’s a name you hear frequently in television shows such as Black Lightning, which features Tobias Whale, and Arrested Development, which has fan-favorite Tobias Fünke, played by David Cross.
94. Uri
Uri is a Hebrew name that means God is my light.
Famed illusionist and psychic, Uri Geller is best known for his trick of bending spoons with his mind. But many skeptics and magicians claim Geller is a fraud.
95. Zachariah
A Hebrew name, Zachariah means the Lord has remembered.
The name Zachariah didn’t appear on U.S. popularity lists until 1972 when it reached number 696. Its high point came in 1992 when it reached number 306.
96. Zachary
An English version of Zacharias, Zachary also means the Lord has remembered.
Actor Zachary Levi went from starring in the television series Chuck to eventually getting to play a superhero on the big screen. His movie, Shazam!, was a big hit and a sequel is planned. He’s also known for lending his voice to the animated character of Flynn Rider for the movie, Tangled.
97. Zebediah
A Hebrew name, Zebediah means gift of Jehovah.
In the Bible, Zebediah was the final king of Judah before it was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon.
98. Zebulun
Zebulun is a Hebrew name that means dwelling of honor.
Zebulun is a cool, current-sounding name that comes off as a bit edgy. In the Bible, Zebulun, the sixth son of Leah and Jacob, sold his younger brother, Joseph, to traders.
99. Zeke
A Hebrew name, Zeke means strength of God.
Zeke didn’t enter the list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ names in the U.S. until 2011. It has been on the list every year since then, ranking number 654 in 2019.
100. Zion
Zion is a Hebrew name that means highest point.
Zion is pronounced ZYE-on, and it wasn’t a person in the Bible, but a place. The Canaanite hill fortress called Zion later became known as the City of David.
