Aaron אַהֲרֹן, Ἀαρών m English, French, German, Finnish, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] From the Hebrew name
אַהֲרֹן (ʾAharon), which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin
[2] [3] [4] . Other theories claim a Hebrew derivation, and suggest meanings such as
"high mountain" or
"exalted". In the Old Testament this name is borne by the older brother of
Moses. He acted as a spokesman for his brother when they appealed to the pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Aaron's rod produced miracles and plagues to intimidate the pharaoh. After the departure from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, God installed Aaron as the first high priest of the Israelites and promised that his descendants would become the priesthood.
... [more] Abaddon אֲבַדּוֹן m Biblical Means
"ruin, destruction" in Hebrew. In Revelation in the New Testament this is another name for the angel of the abyss.
Abdiel עֲבְדִּיאֵל, Ἀβδιήλ m Biblical, Biblical Greek Means
"servant of God" in Hebrew, from
עֶבֶד (ʿeveḏ) meaning "servant, slave" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[1] [2] . In the Old Testament, this is the name of a member of the tribe of Gad. In John Milton's
Paradise Lost (1667), this is the name of a seraph who withstands Satan when he urges the angels to revolt.
Abednego עֲבֵד־נְגוֹ m Biblical Means
"servant of Nebo" in Akkadian,
Nebo being the Babylonian god of wisdom. In the Old Testament Abednego is the Babylonian name given to
Azariah, one of the three men cast into a blazing furnace but saved from harm by God, as told in the Book of Daniel.
Abel הֶבֶל, Ἄβελ m English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Georgian, Armenian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] From the Hebrew name
הֶבֶל (Hevel) meaning
"breath". In the Old Testament he is the second son of
Adam and
Eve, murdered out of envy by his brother
Cain. In England, this name came into use during the Middle Ages, and it was common during the Puritan era.
Abiah אֲבִיָה m & f Biblical Variant of
Abijah, similarly borne by both males and females in the Old Testament.
Abiathar אֶבְיָתָר m Biblical From the Hebrew name
אֶבְיָתָר (ʾEvyaṯar) meaning
"my father abounds" or
"my father excels", derived from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
יָתַר (yaṯar) meaning "to abound, to excel". According to the Old Testament Abiathar was a high priest during the reign of King
David.
Abiel אֲבִיאֵל m Biblical Means
"God is my father" in Hebrew, from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This was the name of the grandfather of
Saul according to the Old Testament.
Abihail אֲבִיהַיִל m & f Biblical Means
"my father is strength" in Hebrew, derived from the roots
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
חַיִל (ḥayil) meaning "strength". In the Old Testament this is the name of a few different characters, both male and female, including the father of Queen
Esther.
Abihu אֲבִיהוּא m Biblical Means
"he is my father" in Hebrew, from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
הוּא (hu) meaning "he". This is the name of a son of
Aaron in the Old Testament. He and his brother
Nadab were killed by God because they presented him with unauthorized fire.
Abijah אֲבִיָה m & f Biblical Means
"my father is Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of several characters, both male and female, including the second king of Judah (also known as
Abijam).
Abimael אֲבִימָאֵל, Ἀβιμαέλ m Biblical, Biblical Greek Meaning uncertain, though the first element is likely Hebrew
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father". In the Old Testament he is listed as a descendant of
Shem.
Abiram אֲבִירָם m Biblical Means
"my father is exalted" in Hebrew, derived from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament, Abiram is swallowed by an earthquake after rebelling against the leadership of
Moses.
Abishag אֲבִישַׁג f Biblical Means
"my father strays" in Hebrew, from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
שָׁגָה (shaḡa) meaning "to stray, to err". In the Old Testament Abishag is a young woman who tends King
David in his old age.
Abishai אֲבִישַׁי m Biblical Means
"my father is a gift" in Hebrew, from the roots
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
שַׁי (shai) meaning "gift". In the Old Testament he is one of King
David's heroes.
Abital אֲבִיטָל f Biblical Means
"my father is dew" in Hebrew, from the roots
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
טַל (ṭal) meaning "dew". She is the fifth wife of
David in the Old Testament.
Abner אַבְנֵר m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin From the Hebrew name
אַבְנֵר (ʾAvner) meaning
"my father is a light", derived from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light". In the Old Testament, Abner was a cousin of
Saul and the commander of his army. After he killed Asahel he was himself slain by Asahel's brother
Joab.
... [more] Abraham אַבְרָהָם m English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Dutch, Armenian, Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Swedish, Biblical Norwegian, Biblical Danish, Biblical Latin [1] From the Hebrew name
אַבְרָהָם (ʾAvraham), which may be viewed either as meaning
"father of many" or else as a contraction of
Abram 1 and
הָמוֹן (hamon) meaning "many, multitude"
[2] [3] . The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see
Genesis 17:5). With his father
Terah, he led his wife
Sarah, his nephew
Lot and their other followers from Ur into Canaan. He is regarded by Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son
Isaac and by Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son
Ishmael.
... [more] Absalom אַבְשָׁלוֹם m Biblical, Biblical Latin From the Hebrew name
אַבְשָׁלוֹם (ʾAvshalom) meaning
"father is peace", derived from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning "peace"
[1] [2] [3] . In the Old Testament he is a son of King
David. He avenged his sister
Tamar by arranging the murder of her rapist, their half-brother
Amnon. He later led a revolt against his father. While fleeing on the back of a mule he got his head caught in a tree and was killed by
Joab.
Achaicus Ἀχαϊκός m Biblical, Biblical Latin Latinized form of the Greek name
Ἀχαΐα (Achaia), situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. In the New Testament this is the name of a Corinthian Christian who aids Saint
Paul.
Achan עָכָן m Biblical Possibly a variation of the Hebrew word
עֲכָר (ʿaḵar) meaning
"trouble". In the Old Testament, Achan is stoned to death because he steals forbidden items during the assault on Jericho.
Achim 2 Ἀχείμ m Biblical Possibly from a Hebrew name meaning
"he will establish". In the New Testament this name is listed as an ancestor of
Jesus.
Achsah עַכְסָה f Biblical Means
"anklet, bangle" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of
Caleb.
Adah עָדָה f Biblical Means
"adornment, ornament" in Hebrew. This is the name of the wives of both
Lamech and
Esau in the Old Testament.
Adaiah עֲדָיָה m Biblical From the Hebrew name
עֲדָיָה (ʿAḏaya) meaning
"Yahweh has adorned", derived from
עָדָה (ʿaḏa) meaning "to adorn" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of numerous Old Testament characters, including the father of
Jedidah.
Adalia אֲדַלְיָא m Biblical Meaning unknown, possibly of Persian origin. In Book of Esther in the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Haman the Agagite.
Adam אָדָם, Ἀδάμ m English, French, German, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Catalan, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Georgian, Malay, Indonesian, Dhivehi, Biblical, Biblical Latin [1] , Biblical Greek [2] , Biblical Hebrew [3] , Quranic This is the Hebrew word for
"man" [3] [4] . It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew
אדם (ʾaḏam) meaning
"to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian
adamu meaning
"to make" [5] .
... [more] Adonijah אֲדֹנִיָה m Biblical Means
"my lord is Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
אָדוֹן (ʾaḏon) meaning "lord, master" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of King
David's sons in the Old Testament. Though he was the eldest surviving son of David, he was passed over as heir to the throne in favour of
Solomon.
Agabus Ἄγαβος m Biblical, Biblical Latin From
Hagab. According to the Book of Acts in the New Testament this was the name of an early Christian prophet. He is said to have been martyred by stoning, and is considered a saint. Agrippa m & f Ancient Roman [1] , Biblical Roman cognomen of unknown meaning, possibly from a combination of Greek
agrios) meaning "wild" and
hippos) meaning "horse"
[2] or alternatively of Etruscan origin. It was also used as a praenomen, or given name, by the Furia and Menenia families
[3] . In the New Testament this name was borne by
Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod the Great), the king of Israel who put the apostle
James to death. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
Ahab אַחְאָב m Biblical, Biblical Latin Means
"uncle" in Hebrew, from the combination of
אָח (ʾaḥ) meaning "brother" and
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father". This was the name of a king of Israel, the husband of
Jezebel, as told in the Old Testament. He was admonished by
Elijah for his sinful behaviour. Herman Melville later used this name in his novel
Moby-Dick (1851), where it belongs to a sea captain obsessively hunting for a white whale.
Ahasuerus אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ m Biblical From Hebrew
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ (ʾAḥashwerosh), from the Old Persian name
Xšayarša (see
Xerxes). This name appears several times in the Old Testament belonging to a king of Persia. In the Book of Esther, Ahasuerus is the husband of
Esther.
Ahinoam אֲחִינֹעַם f Biblical Means
"my brother is pleasant" in Hebrew, derived from
אָח (ʾaḥ) meaning "brother" and
נָעַם (naʿam) meaning "to be pleasant". In the Old Testament this is the name of wives of both
Saul and
David.
Aholibamah אָהֳלִיבָמָה f Biblical Means
"tent of the high place" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is one of the wives of
Esau, possibly the same as
Judith.
Alexander Ἀλέξανδρος m English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of the Greek name
[1] [2] [3] from Greek alexo) meaning "to defend, help" and aner) meaning "man" (genitive [4] [5] . In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament [6] . However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, king of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.... [more] Alvah עַלְוָה m Biblical Means
"his highness" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned in the Old Testament as belonging to a descendant of
Esau.
Amariah אֲמַרְיָהוּ m Biblical Means
"Yahweh has said" in Hebrew, derived from the roots
אָמַר (ʾamar) meaning "to say" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Amaziah אֲמַצְיָהוּ m Biblical Means
"Yahweh strengthens" in Hebrew, derived from
אָמֵץ (ʾamets) meaning "to strengthen" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters, including a king of Judah.
Aminadab עַמִּינָדָב m Biblical, Mormon Variant of
Amminadab found in some English versions of the Bible. It also appears in the Book of Mormon belonging to a man who left the Nephite church.
Ammiel עַמִּיאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Means
"God is my kinsman" in Hebrew, from the roots
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation, kinsman" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of one of the spies sent out by
Moses in the Old Testament.
Amminadab עַמִּינָדָב m Biblical Means
"my people are generous" in Hebrew, from
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation, kinsman" and
נָדַב (naḏav) meaning "to give willingly"
[1] [2] . This is the name of a few minor characters in the Old Testament, including the father-in-law of
Aaron. He is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the ancestors of
Jesus.
Amos עָמוֹס, Ἀμώς m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Latin [1] , Biblical Greek [2] , Biblical Hebrew [3] From Hebrew
עָמַס (ʿamas) meaning
"load, burden" [4] . Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Amos, which speaks against greed, corruption and oppression of the poor. Written about the 8th century BC, it is among the oldest of the prophetic books. As an English name,
Amos has been used since the Protestant Reformation, and was popular among the Puritans.
Anah עֲנָה f & m Biblical Means
"answer" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name belongs to one female character and two male characters.
Anaiah עֲנָיָה m Biblical Means
"Yahweh has answered" in Hebrew, from
עָנָה (ʿana) meaning "to answer" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Andrew m English, Biblical English form of the Greek name
ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) meaning
"manly, masculine", a derivative of
aner) meaning "man"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . In the New Testament the apostle Andrew, the first disciple to join
Jesus, is the brother of
Simon Peter. According to tradition, he later preached in the Black Sea region, with some legends saying he was crucified on an X-shaped cross.
Andrew, being a Greek name, was probably only a nickname or a translation of his real Hebrew name, which is not known.
... [more] Anna Ἄννα f English, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian, Armenian, Icelandic, Faroese, Catalan, Occitan, Breton, Scottish Gaelic, Biblical, Biblical Greek [1] , Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic Form of
Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament
[1] [2] [3] . Many later Old Testament translations, including the English, use the
Hannah spelling instead of
Anna. The name appears briefly in the New Testament belonging to a prophetess who recognized
Jesus as the Messiah. It was a popular name in the Byzantine Empire from an early date, and in the Middle Ages it became common among Western Christians due to veneration of Saint Anna (usually known as Saint Anne in English), the name traditionally assigned to the mother of the Virgin
Mary.
... [more] Apphia Ἀπφία f Biblical Greek form of a Hebrew name that possibly meant
"increasing". This is a name mentioned in
Paul's epistle to
Philemon in the New Testament.
Aretas Ἀρέτας m Biblical Greek form of an Aramaic name, of unknown meaning. This was the name of four Nabataean kings of
Petra in Jordan, including the first king (2nd century BC). King Aretas IV is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
Aridai אֲרִידַי m Biblical Meaning uncertain, possibly of Persian origin. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the ten sons of
Haman killed by the Jews.
Arieh אַרְיֵה m Biblical, Hebrew Derived from Hebrew
אֲרִי (ʾari) meaning
"lion", an animal particularly associated with the tribe of
Judah (see
Genesis 49:9). This is the name of an officer of King Pekahiah in the Old Testament.
Ariel אֲרִיאֵל, Ἀριήλ m & f Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, Polish, Biblical, Biblical Greek Means
"lion of God" in Hebrew, from
אֲרִי (ʾari) meaning "lion" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament it is used as another name for the city of Jerusalem. Shakespeare utilized it for a spirit in his play
The Tempest (1611) and Alexander Pope utilized it for a sylph in his poem
The Rape of the Lock (1712), and one of the moons of Uranus bears this name in his honour. As an English name, it became more common for females in the 1980s, especially after it was used for the title character in the Disney film
The Little Mermaid (1989).
Asaph אָסָף m Biblical Means
"collector" in Hebrew. This name belongs to several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Asmodeus m Biblical, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend From Greek
אשְׁמְדּאי (ʾAshmedʾai), probably from Avestan
𐬀𐬉𐬱𐬆𐬨𐬀 (aēšəma) meaning "wrath" and
𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 (daēuua) meaning "demon". In the apocryphal Book of Tobit this is the name of a demon who successively kills seven of Sarah's husbands on their wedding nights. He also appears in the Talmud.
Atarah עֲטָרָה f Biblical Means
"crown" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Atarah is a minor character, the wife of
Jerahmeel.
Athaliah עֲתַלְיָה f & m Biblical Possibly means
"Yahweh is exalted" in Hebrew, from
עֲתַל (ʿaṯal) possibly meaning "exalted" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is both a feminine and masculine name. It was borne by the daughter of
Ahab and
Jezebel, who later came to rule Judah as a queen.
Azariah עֲזַרְיָה m Biblical From the Hebrew name
עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzarya) meaning
"Yahweh has helped", derived from
עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "help" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of many Old Testament characters including of one of the three men the Babylonian king ordered cast into a fiery furnace. His Babylonian name was
Abednego.
Azazel עֲזָאזֵל m Biblical Means
"scapegoat" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, this is the name of the recipient of a sacrificial goat. The identity of Azazel is not clear; it may in fact be the name of the place where the goat is to be sacrificed, or it may be the name of some sort of evil desert demon.
Azaziah עֲזַזְיָהוּ m Biblical Means
"Yahweh is strong" in Hebrew, from
עָזַז (ʿazaz) meaning "to be strong" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
Azel אָצֵל m Biblical Means
"reserved" in Hebrew. This is both the name of a minor character and a place name in the Old Testament.
Aziel עֲזִיאֵל m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Possibly means
"God comforts" in Hebrew, from the roots
עוּז (ʿuz) meaning "to take refuge" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Otherwise it might a variant of
Uzziel. This is the name of a musician (also called Jaaziel) in the Old Testament.
Azriel עֲזְרִיאֵל m Biblical Means
"my help is God" in Hebrew, derived from
עֶזְרָה (ʿezra) meaning "help" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
Azubah עֲזוּבָה f Biblical Means
"forsaken" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of Caleb, the son of Hezron.
Bartholomew m English, Biblical English form of
Talmai" [1] . In the New Testament Bartholomew is the byname of an apostle, possibly the same person as the apostle Nathanael. According to tradition he was a missionary to India before returning westward to Armenia, where he was martyred by flaying. Due to the popularity of this saint the name became common in England during the Middle Ages. Baruch בָּרוּך m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Hebrew From the Hebrew name
בָּרוּך (Baruḵ) meaning
"blessed". In the Old Testament this is the name of a companion of the prophet Jeremiah, acting as his scribe and assistant. The deuterocanonical Book of Baruch was supposedly written by him. A famous bearer was Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), a Dutch-Jewish rationalist philosopher.
Bathsheba בַּת־שֶׁבַע f Biblical Means
"daughter of the oath" in Hebrew, derived from
בַּת (baṯ) meaning "daughter" and
שָׁבַע (shavaʿ) meaning "oath". According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a woman married to
Uriah the Hittite. She became pregnant by King
David, so he arranged to have her husband killed in battle and then married her. She was the mother of
Solomon.
Belial בְּלִיַעַל m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend Means
"worthless" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this term is used to refer to various wicked people. In the New Testament, Paul uses it as a name for Satan. In later Christian tradition Belial became an evil angel associated with lawlessness and lust.
Belshazzar בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר m Babylonian (Anglicized), Biblical From
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (Belshatstsar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name
Bel-sharra-usur meaning "
Bel protect the king". This was the name of the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Babylonian Empire before the Persians conquered it in the 6th century BC. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel Belshazzar is the last king of Babylon who sees the mystical handwriting on the wall, which is interpreted by Daniel to portend the end of the empire.
Benaiah בְּנָיָה m Biblical From the Hebrew name
בְּנָיָה (Benaya) meaning
"Yahweh has built", derived from
בָּנָה (bana) meaning "to build" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of numerous Old Testament characters.
Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין m English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Slovene, Croatian, Biblical From the Hebrew name
בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) meaning
"son of the south" or
"son of the right hand", from the roots
בֵּן (ben) meaning "son" and
יָמִין (yamin) meaning "right hand, south"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Benjamin in the Old Testament was the twelfth and youngest son of
Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. He was originally named
בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-ʾoni) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother
Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father (see
Genesis 35:18).
... [more] Bethuel בֵּתוּאֵל m Biblical Possibly means
"destruction of God" in Hebrew, from
בָּתָה (baṯa) meaning "destruction" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of
Rebecca.
Beulah בְּעוּלָה f Biblical, English Means
"married" in Hebrew. The name is used in the Old Testament to refer to the land of Israel (
Isaiah 62:4). As an English given name,
Beulah has been used since the Protestant Reformation.
Bilhah בִּלְהָה f Biblical Means
"bashful" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the handmaid given to
Jacob by his wife
Rachel. By him she was the mother of
Dan and
Naphtali.
Bithiah בִּתְיָה f Biblical Means
"daughter of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from the roots
בַּת (baṯ) meaning "daughter" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of Pharaoh. She is traditionally equated with the pharaoh's daughter who drew
Moses from the Nile.
Cain קָיִן m Biblical, Biblical Latin From the Hebrew name
קָיִן (Qayin) possibly meaning
"acquired", from the root
קָנָה (qana) meaning "to acquire, to purchase". In Genesis in the Old Testament Cain is the first son of
Adam and
Eve. He killed his brother
Abel after God accepted Abel's offering of meat instead of his offering of plant-based foods. After this Cain was banished to be a wanderer.
Caleb כָּלֵב m English, Biblical Most likely related to Hebrew
כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning
"dog" [1] . An alternate theory connects it to Hebrew
כֹּל (kol) meaning "whole, all of"
[2] and
לֵב (lev) meaning "heart"
[3] . In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve spies sent by
Moses into Canaan. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and
Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.
... [more] Canaan כְּנַעַן m Biblical From
כְּנַעַן (Kenaʿan), the Hebrew name of the ancient region of Canaan, which was possibly derived from a root meaning
"low, humble". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Ham. He is said to be the ancestor and namesake of the Canaanite peoples.
Candace Κανδάκη f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin From the hereditary title of the queens of Ethiopia, as mentioned in Acts in the New Testament
[1] . It is apparently derived from Meroitic
kdke meaning
"queen mother". In some versions of the Bible it is spelled
Kandake, reflecting the Greek spelling
[2] . Carmi כַּרְמִי m Biblical Means
"vine" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of
Reuben in the Old Testament.
Cephas Κηφᾶς m Biblical, Biblical Latin Means
"rock" in Aramaic. The apostle
Simon was called Cephas by
Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament
Cephas is translated into Greek
Peter ).
Chenaniah כְּנַנְיָהוּ m Biblical Variant of
Kenaniah used in several translations of the Old Testament (including the King James Version).
Clopas Κλωπᾶς m Biblical Meaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin. In the New Testament Clopas is mentioned briefly as the husband of one of the women who witnessed the crucifixion, sometimes identified with
Alphaeus.
Cornelius m Ancient Roman [1] , English, Dutch, German, Biblical Roman family name that possibly derives from Latin
cornu meaning
"horn" [2] . In Acts in the New Testament Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek
Peter. After speaking with Peter he converts to Christianity, and he is traditionally deemed the first gentile convert. The name was also borne by a few early saints, including a 3rd-century pope. In England it came into use in the 16th century, partly due to Dutch influence.
Cozbi כָּזְבִּי f Biblical Means
"my lie, my deception" in Hebrew, a derivative of
כָּזַב (kazav) meaning "to lie, to deceive". In the Old Testament this name is borne by a Midianite woman who became a lover of the Israelite
Zimri, both of whom were killed by
Phinehas in order to stop a plague sent by God.
Daniel דָּנִיֵּאל, Δανιήλ m English, Hebrew, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Finnish, Estonian, Armenian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Greek [1] From the Hebrew name
דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning
"God is my judge" [2] , from the roots
דִּין (din) meaning "to judge" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[3] [4] . Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king's dreams. The book also presents Daniel's four visions of the end of the world.
... [more] Dathan דָּתָן m Biblical Possibly means
"fountain" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the conspirators against
Moses.
David דָּוִד m English, Hebrew, French, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical Latin [1] From the Hebrew name
דָּוִד (Dawiḏ) [2] , which was derived from
דּוֹד (doḏ) meaning
"beloved" or
"uncle" [3] . David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of
Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament,
Jesus was descended from him.
... [more] Deborah דְּבוֹרָה f English, Biblical From the Hebrew name
דְּבוֹרָה (Devora) meaning
"bee". In the Old Testament Book of Judges, Deborah is a heroine and prophetess who leads the Israelites when they are threatened by the Canaanites. She forms an army under the command of
Barak, and together they destroy the army of the Canaanite commander Sisera. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of the nurse of Rebecca.
... [more] Delaiah דְּלָיָהוּ m Biblical Means
"Yahweh has drawn up" in Hebrew, from
דָּלָה (dala) meaning "to draw up, to hang" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Delilah דְּלִילָה f Biblical, English Means
"delicate, weak, languishing" in Hebrew
[1] . In the Old Testament she is the lover of
Samson, whom she betrays to the Philistines by cutting his hair, which is the source of his power. Despite her character flaws, the name began to be used by the Puritans in the 17th century
[2] . It has been used occasionally in the English-speaking world since that time.
Diklah דִּקְלָה m Biblical Possibly means
"palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Joktan.
Dinah דִּינָה f Biblical, English Means
"judged" in Hebrew, derived from
דִּין (din) meaning "to judge". According to the Old Testament, Dinah was a daughter of
Jacob and
Leah who was abducted by Shechem. It has been used as an English given name since after the Protestant Reformation.
Dionysius Διονύσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin form of
Dionysios. Dionysius the Areopagite, who is mentioned in the New Testament, was a judge converted to Christianity by Saint
Paul. This was also the name of many other early saints, including a 3rd-century pope.
Eber עֵבֶר, Ἔβερ m Biblical, Biblical Greek [1] Means
"region beyond" in Hebrew, derived from the root
עָבַר (ʿavar) meaning "to pass over, to cross"
[2] . In the Old Testament he is a descendant of
Shem said to be the ancestor of the Hebrews.
Edna עֶדְנָה f English, Hebrew, Biblical Means
"pleasure" in Hebrew, a derivative of
עָדַן (ʿaḏan) meaning "to delight". This name appears in the Old Testament Apocrypha, for instance in the Book of Tobit belonging to the wife of
Raguel. It was borne by the American poet Edna Dean Proctor (1829-1923). It did not become popular until the second half of the 19th century, after it was used for the heroine in the successful 1866 novel
St. Elmo by Augusta Jane Evans
[1] . It peaked around the turn of the century and has declined steadily since then, falling off the American top 1000 list in 1992.
Edom אֱדוֹם m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] From Hebrew
אָדֹם (ʾaḏom) meaning
"red" [2] . According to the Old Testament,
Esau, who is described as having red skin, was given this name because he traded his birthright for a helping of red broth. The bible goes on to tell that Esau was the founder of the ancient nation of Edom, located to the south of the kingdom of Judah.
Ehud אֵהוּד m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew [1] Meaning unknown, possibly related to Hebrew
אָחַד (ʾaḥaḏ) meaning
"to unite" or
הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning
"glory". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the biblical judges. He killed Eglon, the king of Moab, and freed the city of Jericho from Moabite rule.
Elah אֵלָה m Biblical Means
"terebinth tree" in Hebrew. This was the name of the fourth king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. He was murdered by
Zimri, who succeeded him.
Elam עֵילָם m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Possibly means either
"hidden" or
"eternity" in Hebrew. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including a son of
Shem who was the ancestor of the Elamite peoples.
Elead אֶלְעָד m Biblical Means
"God has testified" in Hebrew, from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
עוּד (ʿuḏ) meaning "to testify, to witness"
[1] [2] [3] . This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Elhanan אֶלְחָנָן m Biblical Means
"God is gracious" in Hebrew, from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". This is the name of two Old Testament characters.
Eli 1 עֵלִי, Ἠλί m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek [1] , Biblical Hebrew [2] Means
"ascension" in Hebrew, a derivative of
עָלָה (ʿala) meaning "to ascend". In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young
Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.
... [more] Eliab אֱלִיאָב m Biblical From the Hebrew name
אֱלִיאָב (ʾEliʾav) meaning
"my God is father", from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father". This is the name of several people from the Old Testament, including a brother of King
David.
Eliah m Biblical Variant of
Elijah used in the King James Version of the Bible to refer to a son of Jeroham.
Eliakim אֶלְיָקִים m Biblical Means
"God raises" in Hebrew, from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of the master of
Hezekiah's household.
Eliam אֱלִיעָם m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Means
"God is a kinsman" in Hebrew, derived from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation, folk, kinsman". This is the name of one of
David's mighty men in the Old Testament.
Elias Ἠλίας m Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Dutch, Greek, Amharic, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] Form of
Elijah used in several languages. This is also the form used in the Greek New Testament, as well as some English translations.
Elijah אֱלִיָּהוּ m English, Hebrew, Biblical From the Hebrew name
אֱלִיָּהוּ (ʾEliyyahu) meaning
"my God is Yahweh" [1] , derived from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) and
יָהּ (yah), both referring to the Hebrew God
[2] [3] . Elijah was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker, as told in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament. He was active in the 9th century BC during the reign of King
Ahab of Israel and his Phoenician-born queen
Jezebel. Elijah confronted the king and queen over their idolatry of the Canaanite god
Ba'al and other wicked deeds. At the end of his life he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and was succeeded by
Elisha. In the New Testament, Elijah and
Moses appear next to
Jesus when he is transfigured.
... [more] Elioenai אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי m Biblical Means
"my eyes look to Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from
אֶל (ʾel) meaning "towards",
יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God, and
עַיִן (ʿayin) meaning "eye". This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Eliphelet אֱלִיפֶלֶט m Biblical Means
"my God is deliverance" in Hebrew, from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
פָּלַט (palaṭ) meaning "to deliver, to rescue". This is the name of several people in the Old Testament including a son of
David.
Elisha 1 אֱלִישַׁע m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] From the Hebrew name
אֱלִישַׁע (ʾElishaʿ), a contracted form of
אֱלִישׁוּעַ (ʾElishuaʿ) meaning
"my God is salvation", derived from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save, to deliver". According to the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet and miracle worker. He was the attendant of
Elijah and succeeded him after his ascension to heaven.
Elkanah אֱלְקָנָה m Biblical Means
"God has purchased" in Hebrew, from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
קָנָה (qana) meaning "to acquire, to purchase". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of
Samuel.
Elnathan אֶלְנָתָן m Biblical From the Hebrew name
אֶלְנָתָן (ʾElnaṯan) meaning
"God has given", derived from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
נָתַן (naṯan) meaning "to give". In the Old Testament this is the name of both a grandfather of King Jehoiachin and a son of Akbor.
Elon אֵילוֹן m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Means
"oak tree" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament this was the name of one of the ruling judges of the Israelites. A notable modern bearer is the entrepreneur Elon Musk (1971-), who was born in South Africa and also holds Canadian and American citizenship (he is not Jewish).
Emmanuel עִמָּנוּאֵל m Biblical, French, English From the Hebrew name
עִמָּנוּאֵל (ʿImmanuʾel) meaning
"God is with us", from the roots
עִם (ʿim) meaning "with" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[1] [2] . This is the foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament. It has been used in England since the 16th century in the spellings
Emmanuel and
Immanuel, though it has not been widespread
[3] . The name has been more common in continental Europe, especially in Spain and Portugal (in the spellings
Manuel and
Manoel ).
Ephraim אֶפְרָיִם, Ἐφραίμ m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek From the Hebrew name
אֶפְרָיִם (ʾEfrayim) meaning
"fruitful". In the Old Testament Ephraim is a son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This name was also borne by two early saints: Ephraim or Ephrem the Syrian, a 4th-century theologian, and Ephraim of Antioch, a 6th-century patriarch of Antioch.
Esau עֵשָׂו, Ἠσαῦ m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] From the Hebrew name
עֵשָׂו (ʿEsaw), possibly derived from
עָשָׂה (ʿasa) meaning "to do, to make"
[2] [3] . It is traditionally said to mean
"hairy, rough" from his description at
Genesis 25:25. In the Old Testament Esau is the elder of the twin sons of
Isaac and
Rebecca. Once when he was very hungry he sold his birthright to his twin
Jacob for a bowl of stew. Later Jacob disguised himself as Esau and received the elder son's blessing from the blind Isaac. Esau, also called
Edom, was the ancestor of the Edomites.
Esther אֶסְתֵר, Ἐσθήρ f English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek From the Hebrew name
אֶסְתֵר (ʾEsṯer), which possibly means
"star" in Persian
[1] [2] . Alternatively it could be a derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess
Ishtar [3] . The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells the story of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia. The king's advisor
Haman persuaded the king to exterminate all the Jews in the realm. Warned of this plot by her cousin
Mordecai, Esther revealed her Jewish ancestry and convinced the king to execute Haman instead. Her original Hebrew name was
Hadassah .
... [more] Ethan אֵיתָן m English, French, Biblical, Biblical Latin From the Hebrew name
אֵיתָן (ʾEṯan) meaning
"solid, enduring, firm" [1] [2] . In the Old Testament this name is borne by a few minor characters, including the wise man Ethan the Ezrahite, supposedly the author of Psalm 89.
... [more] Eutychus Εὔτυχος m Biblical, Biblical Latin Latinized form of the Greek name
εὐτυχής (eutyches) meaning
"fortunate". The word was formed of the elements
eu) meaning "good" and
tyche) meaning "chance, luck, fortune"
[1] [2] . In the New Testament this is the name of a young man who went to sleep while
Paul was preaching and fell from the third story of the building. He was believed to be dead, but later turned out to be alive.
Eve חַוָּה f English, Estonian, Biblical From the Hebrew name
חַוָּה (Ḥawwa), which was derived from the Hebrew word
חָוָה (ḥawa) meaning
"to breathe" or the related word
חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning
"to live" [1] [2] [3] [4] . According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eve and
Adam were the first humans. God created her from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. At the urging of a serpent she ate the forbidden fruit and shared some with Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of
Eden.
... [more] Ezekiel יְחֶזְקֵאל m Biblical, English From the Hebrew name
יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel) meaning
"God will strengthen" [1] , from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strengthen" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[2] [3] . Ezekiel is a major prophet of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Ezekiel. He lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and captivity of Israel, at which time he was taken to Babylon. The Book of Ezekiel describes his vivid symbolic visions that predict the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. As an English given name,
Ezekiel has been used since the Protestant Reformation.
Ezer 1 אֵצֶר m Biblical From Hebrew
אָצַר (ʾatsar) meaning
"treasured" [1] . In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Seir the Horite. See also
Ezer 2.
Ezra עֶזְרָא m English, Hebrew, Biblical Means
"help" in Hebrew
[1] [2] . Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.
Felix m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Romanian, Ancient Roman [1] , Biblical, Biblical Latin From a Roman cognomen meaning
"lucky, successful" in Latin
[2] [3] . It was acquired as an agnomen, or nickname, by the 1st-century BC Roman general Sulla. It also appears in the New Testament belonging to the governor of Judea who imprisoned Saint
Paul.
... [more] Gabriel גַּבְרִיאֵל, Γαβριήλ m French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Catalan, English, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] From the Hebrew name
גַבְרִיאֵל (Ḡavriʾel) meaning
"God is my strong man" [1] [2] , derived from
גֶּבֶר (gever) meaning "strong man, hero" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[3] [4] . Gabriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition, often appearing as a messenger of God. In the Old Testament he is sent to interpret the visions of the prophet
Daniel, while in the New Testament he serves as the announcer of the births of
John to
Zechariah and
Jesus to
Mary. According to Islamic tradition he was the angel who dictated the Quran to
Muhammad.
... [more] Gaius m Ancient Roman [1] , Biblical Latin, Biblical Roman praenomen
[2] , or given name, of uncertain meaning. It is possibly derived from Latin
gaudeo "to rejoice" [3] , though it may be of unknown Etruscan origin. This was a very common Roman praenomen, the most famous bearers being Gaius Julius Caesar, the great leader of the Roman Republic, and his adopted son Gaius Octavius (later known as Augustus), the first Roman emperor. This name also appears in the New Testament belonging to a bishop of Ephesus who is regarded as a saint.
Gamaliel גַּמְלִיאֵל, Γαμαλιήλ m Biblical, Biblical Greek [1] Means
"my reward is God" in Hebrew, from the roots
גָּמַל (gamal) meaning "to reward" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to a son of Pedahzur. It was also borne by a 1st-century Jewish priest and scholar, mentioned in Acts in the New Testament as a teacher of Saint
Paul.
Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָהוּ m Biblical Means
"Yahweh is great" in Hebrew, from
גָּדַל (gaḏal) meaning "to grow, to become great" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.
Gera גֵּרָא m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] Possibly means
"a grain" in Hebrew. This is the name of several members of the tribe of Benjamin in the Old Testament.
Gideon גִּדְעוֹן m Biblical, Hebrew, English, Dutch From the Hebrew name
גִּדְעוֹן (Giḏʿon) meaning
"feller, hewer", derived from
גָּדַע (gaḏaʿ) meaning "to cut, to hew"
[1] . Gideon is a hero and judge of the Old Testament. He led the vastly outnumbered Israelites against the Midianites, defeated them, and killed their two kings. In the English-speaking world,
Gideon has been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation, and it was popular among the Puritans.
Gilead גִּלְעָד m Biblical From an Old Testament place name meaning
"heap of witness" in Hebrew. This is a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Besides being a place name, it is also borne by people in the Bible.
Habakkuk חֲבַקּוּק m Biblical From the Hebrew name
חֲבַקּוּק (Ḥavaqquq), probably derived from the root
חָבַק (ḥavaq) meaning
"embrace" [1] . In the Old Testament this is one of the twelve minor prophets, the author of the Book of Habakkuk.
Hagab חָגָב m Biblical Means
"locust" in Hebrew. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Hagar הָגָר f Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Hebrew [1] , Hebrew, Arabic Possibly means
"flight" in Hebrew, though it could also be of unknown Egyptian origin. According to the Old Testament she was the second wife of
Abraham and the mother of
Ishmael, the founder of the Arab people. After Abraham's first wife
Sarah finally gave birth to a child, she had Hagar and Ishmael expelled into the desert. However, God heard their crying and saved them.
... [more] Haggai חַגַּי m Biblical Means
"festive" in Hebrew, from the root
חָגַג (ḥaḡaḡ) meaning "to hold a festival, to celebrate". This is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. He was the author of the Book of Haggai, which urges the exiles returning from Babylonia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Haggith חַגִּית f Biblical Means
"festive" in Hebrew, derived from the root
חָגַג (ḥaḡaḡ) meaning "to hold a festival, to celebrate". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of King
David's wives.
Ham חָם m Biblical Means
"hot, warm" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Ham is one of
Noah's three sons, along with
Shem and
Japheth. He was the ancestor of the Egyptians and Canaanites.
Haman הָמָן m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] , Quranic Meaning uncertain, probably of Persian origin. In the Book of Esther in the Old Testament Haman, called the Agagite, is an adviser to the Persian king. He plots to have all the Jews in the realm executed, but is foiled by Queen
Esther.
Hammoleketh הַמֹּלֶכֶת f Biblical Means
"the reigning one, queen" in Hebrew, a derivative of
מָלַךְ (malaḵ) meaning "to reign". In the Old Testament, this is the name of the sister of
Gilead.
Hamutal חֲמוּטָל f Biblical Means
"father-in-law is dew" in Hebrew, derived from
חָם (ḥam) meaning "father-in-law" and
טַל (ṭal) meaning "dew". In the Old Testament this is the name of a wife of King
Josiah of Judah.
Hanan 1 חָנָן m Biblical Means
"gracious" in Hebrew. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Hananiah חֲנַנְיָה m Biblical Means
"Yahweh is gracious" in Hebrew, from
חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name appears frequently in the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew name of
Shadrach.
Hashabiah חֲשַׁבְיָה m Biblical Means
"Yahweh has considered" in Hebrew, from
חָשַׁב (ḥashav) meaning "to think, to plan, to consider" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Havilah חֲוִילָה m Biblical Probably means
"to dance, to circle, to twist" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is both a place name and a masculine personal name.
Hazael חֲזָאֵל m Biblical Means
"God sees" in Hebrew, from
חָזָה (ḥaza) meaning "to see" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of a king of Aram in the Old Testament.
Heber 2 חֶבֶר m Biblical Means
"comrade" in Hebrew, derived from the root
חָבַר (ḥavar) meaning "to join"
[1] . In the Old Testament this name is borne by a great-grandson of
Jacob and also by the husband of
Jael.
Heber 3 עֵבֶר m Biblical Form of
Eber used in some versions of the New Testament (in the genealogy of
Jesus in the Gospel of Luke).
Helah חֶלְאָה f Biblical Means
"rust" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name is mentioned as one of the wives of Ashur.
Heli 1 m Biblical, Biblical Latin Latin form of
Eli 1 used in the Old and New Testament. This form of the name is used in most English versions of the New Testament to refer to the father of
Joseph (husband of
Mary) in the genealogy in the Gospel of Luke.
Herodias Ἡρῳδιάς f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] Feminine form of
Herod. This was the name of a member of the Herodian ruling family of Judea, a sister of Herod Agrippa and the wife of Herod Antipas. She appears in the New Testament, where she contrives to have her husband Antipas imprison and execute John the Baptist.
Herodion Ἡρῳδίων m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] Derivative of the Greek name
Herodes (see
Herod). This name is mentioned briefly in
Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament. According to tradition he was a bishop of Patras, Greece, and was later martyred in Rome with Saint Peter.
Hezekiah חִזְקִיָהוּ m Biblical From the Hebrew name
חִזְקִיָהוּ (Ḥizqiyahu), which means
"Yahweh strengthens", from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strength" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name was borne by a powerful king of Judah who reigned in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of an ancestor of the prophet
Zephaniah.
Hillel הִלֵּל m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew [1] Derived from Hebrew
הָלַל (halal) meaning
"praise". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament as the father of the judge Abdon. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Jewish scholar Hillel the Elder.
Hirah חִירָה m Biblical Means
"splendour" in Hebrew. This is the name of a companion of
Judah in the Old Testament.
Hiram חִירָם m Biblical, English From Phoenician
𐤇𐤓𐤌 (Ḥirom) meaning
"exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre according to the Old Testament. He may have reigned in the 10th century BC. As an English given name,
Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.
Hodesh חָדֶשׁ f Biblical Means
"new moon, month" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, this is the wife of Shaharaim.
Hodiah הוֹדִיָה f & m Biblical Means
"majesty of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning "majesty, splendour" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is (probably) the name of a wife of
Ezra in the Old Testament. It is also borne by a few male biblical characters.
Hoglah חָגְלָה f Biblical Means
"partridge" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the daughters of
Zelophehad.
Hosanna f Biblical From the Aramaic religious expression
הושע נא (Hoshaʿ na) meaning
"deliver us" in Hebrew. In the New Testament this is exclaimed by those around
Jesus when he first enters Jerusalem.
Hosea הוֹשֵׁעַ m Biblical Variant English form of
Hoshea, though the name is spelled the same in the Hebrew text. Hosea is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Hosea. Written in the northern kingdom, it draws parallels between his relationship with his unfaithful wife and the relationship between God and his people.
Hoshea הוֹשֵׁעַ m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] From the Hebrew name
הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hosheaʿ) meaning
"salvation", from the root
יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save". In the Old Testament at
Numbers 13:16,
Moses gives the spy Hoshea the new name
Yehoshuaʿ (see
Joshua), which has a related origin. This name was also borne by an 8th-century BC king of Israel, who was the last ruler of that state before it was conquered by Assyria.
Huldah חוּלְדָה f Biblical Means
"weasel, mole" in Hebrew. This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to a prophetess.
Ichabod אִי־כָבוֹד m Biblical Means
"no glory" in Hebrew, from the roots
אִי (ʾi) meaning "not" and
כָּבַד (kavaḏ) meaning "to be glorious". In the Old Testament this is the grandson of
Eli and the son of
Phinehas. He was named this because his mother despaired that "the glory has departed from Israel" (
1 Samuel 4:21).
... [more] Iddo עִדּוֹ m Biblical From the Hebrew name
עִדּוֹ (ʿIddo), possibly derived from
עָדָה (ʿaḏa) meaning "to pass by". This is the name of a few characters in the Old Testament, including an obscure prophet who lived during the reign of
Solomon and the grandfather of the prophet
Zechariah.
Ira 1 עִירָא m English, Hebrew, Biblical Means
"watchful" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of King
David's priest. As an English Christian given name,
Ira began to be used after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where remained moderately common into the 20th century.
Isaac יִצְחָק m English, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, French, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin From the Hebrew name
יִצְחָק (Yitsḥaq) meaning
"he will laugh, he will rejoice", derived from
צָחַק (tsaḥaq) meaning "to laugh"
[1] [2] . The Old Testament explains this meaning, by recounting that
Abraham laughed when God told him that his aged wife
Sarah would become pregnant with Isaac (see
Genesis 17:17), and later Sarah laughed when overhearing the same prophecy (see
Genesis 18:12). When Isaac was a boy, God tested Abraham's faith by ordering him to sacrifice his son, though an angel prevented the act at the last moment. Isaac went on to become the father of
Esau and
Jacob with his wife
Rebecca.
... [more] Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָהוּ m English, Biblical From the Hebrew name
יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) meaning
"Yahweh is salvation", from the roots
יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, supposedly the author of the Book of Isaiah. He was from Jerusalem and probably lived in the 8th century BC, at a time when Assyria threatened the Kingdom of Judah. As an English Christian name,
Isaiah was first used after the Protestant Reformation.
Iscah יִסְכָּה f Biblical From the Hebrew name
יִסְכָּה (Yiska) meaning
"to behold". In the Old Testament this is the name of
Abraham's niece, mentioned only briefly. This is the basis of the English name
Jessica .
Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל m Biblical From the Hebrew name
יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Yishmaʿel) meaning
"God will hear", from the roots
שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[1] [2] [3] . In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Abraham. He is the traditional ancestor of the Arab people. Also in the Old Testament, it is borne by a man who assassinates
Gedaliah the governor of Judah. The author Herman Melville later used this name for the narrator in his novel
Moby-Dick (1851).
Ishmerai יִשְׁמְרַי m Biblical Means
"he guards me" in Hebrew, derived from
שָׁמַר (shamar) meaning "to guard". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Ishvi יִשְׁוִי m Biblical Means
"he resembles me" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of
Asher in the Old Testament.
Issachar יִשָּׂשׁכָר, Ἰσσαχάρ m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] Possibly means
"man of hire" or
"there is reward", from Hebrew
שָׁכַר (shaḵar) meaning "hire, wage, reward"
[2] . In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve sons of
Jacob (by
Leah) and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A justification for the name's meaning is given in
Genesis 30:18.
Ithiel אִיתִיאֵל m Biblical Possibly means
"God is with me" in Hebrew. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Ittai אִתַּי, אִיתַי m Biblical From a Hebrew name spelled variously
אִתַּי (ʾIttai) or
אִיתַי (ʾIṯai) meaning
"with me". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of King
David's mighty men.
Jaala יַעֲלָה m Biblical Means
"wild goat" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a servant of
Solomon.
Jaanai יַעֲנַי m Biblical Means
"he answers" in Hebrew, derived from
עָנָה (ʿana) meaning "to answer". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Jaasau יַעֲשָׂי m Biblical Means
"they will do" in Hebrew. This was the name of a descendant of Bani in the Old Testament.
Jabez יַעְבֵץ m Biblical Means
"sorrow" in Hebrew. This is the name of a character in the Old Testament who is blessed by God.
Jabin יָבִין m Biblical Means
"perceptive" in Hebrew. This name was borne by two kings of Hazor according to the Old Testament.
Jachin יָכִין m Biblical Means
"he establishes" in Hebrew, derived from
כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". This was the name of a son of
Simeon in the Old Testament. It was also the name of one of the two pillars that stood outside Solomon's Temple,
Boaz being the other.
Jacob יַעֲקֹב m English, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Jewish, Biblical From the Latin
Iacob, which was from the Greek
יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov). In the Old Testament Jacob (later called
Israel) is the son of
Isaac and
Rebecca and the father of the twelve founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was born holding his twin brother
Esau's heel, and his name is explained as meaning
"holder of the heel" or
"supplanter" [1] [2] , because he twice deprived his brother of his rights as the firstborn son (see
Genesis 27:36). Other theories claim that it is in fact derived from a hypothetical name like
יַעֲקֹבְאֵל (Yaʿaqovʾel) meaning
"may God protect" [3] .
... [more]