Biblical boy names range from top picks like Noah, Elijah and James to prophets like Isaiah, apostles like Peter and rare finds like Jabez, and this list gives a checked origin, meaning and biblical figure for 136 of them.
Biblical boy names have lasted for thousands of years, and many are still among the most popular names in the United States. Some come from the Hebrew of the Old Testament, some from the Greek and Latin of the New Testament, and a few from books that some traditions include and others do not.
We grouped the names by where they appear and by style: most-loved picks, patriarchs and the twelve tribes, leaders and kings, prophets, apostles and other New Testament names, strong and short names, rare names, more Hebrew names and forms in other languages. Every meaning and biblical description was checked against the name’s own Behind the Name entry. Then come nicknames, sibling and middle name pairings, and quick tests to help you choose.
Key Takeaways
Popular biblical boy names include Noah, Elijah, James, Ezra, Levi, Asher, Isaac and Caleb.
Among U.S. boys born in 2025, Noah ranked No. 2, James No. 6 and Elijah No. 7, according to the SSA.
Mateo (No. 8) is the Spanish form of Matthew, and Lucas (No. 9) is the Latin form behind Luke.
Many Hebrew names contain el (God) or a short form of Yahweh, which shapes their meanings.
Rare picks such as Jabez, Gershom and Zebedee come from minor biblical figures; read each story first.
Table of Contents
Biblical Boy Names at a Glance
Quick Answer
Favorite biblical boy names: Noah, Elijah, James, Ezra, Levi, Asher, Isaac and Caleb (most-loved picks); Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Benjamin (patriarchs); Samuel, Jonathan and Solomon (leaders and kings); Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jonah (prophets); Peter, Andrew, Thomas and Matthew (apostles); Gideon, Boaz and Titus (strong picks); Jabez, Gershom and Zebedee (rare); Eli, Ira and Jude (short).
Every origin label, meaning and biblical description on this page was checked against the name’s own entry on Behind the Name in October 2026. Where the reference calls a meaning uncertain, possible or debated, we print it that way.
These ten names are the ones most parents mean when they ask for biblical boy names today. Four of them are in the current U.S. top 10: among boys born in 2025, Noah ranked No. 2, James No. 6 and Elijah No. 7, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Two more top-10 names come from biblical names in other languages: Mateo (No. 8) is the Spanish form of Matthew, and Lucas (No. 9) is the Latin form of the Greek name that also gives us Luke.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Noah
Hebrew, biblical; English and more
From Hebrew Noach, “rest, repose”; in the Old Testament, the builder of the Ark and father of Shem, Ham and Japheth
Elijah
Hebrew, biblical; English
From Hebrew, “my God is Yahweh”; an Old Testament prophet in the Books of Kings who opposed King Ahab and Queen Jezebel
James
English, biblical
English form of Late Latin Iacomus, a variant of Iacobus (Jacob); borne by two apostles in the New Testament and by James, the brother of Jesus
Mateo
Spanish, Croatian
Spanish form of Matthew
Lucas
Latin; English, Spanish, French, Dutch and more
Latin form of the Greek Loukas, which is also the source of Luke
Ezra
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “help”; an Old Testament prophet and the author of the Book of Ezra
Levi
Hebrew, biblical; English, Dutch, German
Possibly “joined, attached”; in the Old Testament, the third son of Jacob and Leah and ancestor of the Levites
Asher
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “happy, blessed”; in the Old Testament, a son of Jacob by Zilpah and ancestor of one of the twelve tribes
Isaac
Hebrew, biblical; English, Spanish, French and more
From Hebrew Yitschaq, “he will laugh, he will rejoice”; in the Old Testament, the son of Abraham and Sarah
Caleb
Hebrew, biblical; English
Most likely from Hebrew kelev, “dog” (another theory reads “whole heart”); one of the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan
Most-loved biblical boy names, with the origin and meaning given by Behind the Name.
Several of these have been used in English for centuries. Behind the Name notes that names like Noah, Levi and Caleb came into English use after the Protestant Reformation, when Old Testament names spread well beyond Jewish families, and that the Puritans brought Caleb to America in the 17th century. For a wider mix of styles, browse our main list of baby boy names.
Old Testament Names: Patriarchs and the Twelve Tribes
The book of Genesis is full of names that still work for a baby today. This table covers the early generations (Enoch, Jared and Japheth), the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, and Jacob’s sons, whose names became the names of the tribes of Israel. Asher and Levi are in the top table, Gad is in the short-names table, and Naphtali and Issachar are in the rare-names table.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Enoch
Biblical
From Hebrew, “dedicated”; in Genesis, a son of Cain, and also a son of Jared and father of Methuselah
Jared
English, biblical
From Hebrew, “descent”; in the Old Testament, a close descendant of Adam
Japheth
Biblical
From Hebrew Yefet, “enlarged”; one of Noah’s three sons
Abraham
Hebrew, biblical; English, Spanish, French, Dutch
May mean “father of many,” or Abram plus hamon, “multitude”; the patriarch who led his family from Ur into Canaan
Ishmael
Biblical
Hebrew, “God will hear”; in the Old Testament, a son of Abraham and the traditional ancestor of the Arab peoples
Jacob
Hebrew, biblical; English, Dutch, Scandinavian
Usually explained as “holder of the heel” or “supplanter”; son of Isaac and Rebecca, later called Israel, father of the twelve tribal founders
Joseph
Hebrew, biblical; English, French, German
From Hebrew Yosef, “he will add”; Jacob’s eleventh son in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, the husband of Mary
Reuben
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “behold, a son”; the eldest son of Jacob and Leah
Simeon
Biblical; Bulgarian, Serbian
Greek Symeon, from Hebrew Shimon (the source of Simon); the second son of Jacob and Leah; in the New Testament, the man who blessed the infant Jesus
Judah
Biblical
From Hebrew Yehuda, probably “praise”; the fourth son of Jacob (by Leah) and ancestor of the tribe of Judah
Benjamin
Hebrew, biblical; English, French, German and more
From Hebrew Binyamin, “son of the south” or “son of the right hand”; Jacob’s twelfth and youngest son
Ephraim
Hebrew, biblical
Usually glossed as “fruitful”; a son of Joseph and Asenath and founder of one of the twelve tribes
Zebulun
Biblical
Linked to a Hebrew root read as “exalted house” or “dwell with” (the reference marks it uncertain); Jacob’s tenth son and sixth by Leah
Boy names from the patriarchs and the twelve tribes of Israel.
A few notes from the entries. Genesis gives two different men named Enoch, and Behind the Name records both. Abraham’s name was Abram first; the entry gives two readings of the longer name, and the short forms it lists are Abe, Bram and Avi. Jacob’s name is usually explained through the story of his birth, while another theory traces it to a longer name meaning roughly “may God protect.” Behind the Name also notes that the names Jacob and James share the same origin.
Joseph is one of the few names on this page with major figures in both Testaments: Jacob’s son in the Old Testament, and the husband of Mary and Joseph of Arimathea in the New.
Old Testament Names: Leaders, Judges and Kings
After Genesis, the Old Testament follows Moses and Aaron out of Egypt, Joshua into Canaan, the judges, and then the kings of Israel and Judah. Many of these names have a long English history, and Samuel, Jonathan and Josiah are familiar on playgrounds today.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Moses
Hebrew, biblical; English, Jewish
From Hebrew Moshe, most likely from Egyptian mes, “son” (the reference calls “drawn out” probably a folk explanation); led the Israelites out of Egypt
Origin unknown, possibly Egyptian; other theories give “high mountain” or “exalted”; Moses’ older brother and the first high priest
Joshua
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “Yahweh is salvation”; Moses’ companion, one of the twelve spies, and his successor
Eleazar
Biblical
Hebrew, “God has helped”; in the Old Testament, a son of Aaron
Obed
Biblical
Hebrew, “serving, worshipping”; several Old Testament men, including King David’s grandfather
Jesse
Biblical; English, Dutch, Finnish
From Hebrew Yishai, which may come from “gift” or “existence”; the father of King David
Samuel
Hebrew, biblical; English, Spanish, French and many more
From Hebrew Shemuel, “name of God” or “God has heard”; the last of Israel’s judges, who anointed Saul and David
Jonathan
Hebrew, biblical; English, French, German and more
Hebrew, “Yahweh has given”; the eldest son of King Saul and a close friend of David
Solomon
Hebrew, biblical; English, Jewish
From Hebrew Shelomo, from shalom, “peace”; king of Israel, son of David and Bathsheba, known for his wisdom
Josiah
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “Yahweh supports”; a king of Judah known for religious reforms
Hezekiah
Biblical
Roughly “Yahweh strengthens”; a king of Judah in the 8th and 7th centuries BC
Uriah
Biblical
Roughly “Yahweh is my light”; Uriah the Hittite, a warrior in King David’s army
Boy names from the leaders, priests and kings of the Old Testament.
Notice how many of these names include a form of the Hebrew name for God. Behind the Name explains that Joshua, Jonathan, Josiah and Hezekiah each combine a Hebrew word (save, give, support, strengthen) with a short form of Yahweh. Moses is a different case: the reference says it most likely comes from an Egyptian word for “son,” and that the popular “drawn out” explanation is probably a folk etymology.
Jesse and Obed belong to King David’s family line, along with Boaz in the strong-names table below. If you like old names with this kind of sturdy feel, our old fashioned boy names list goes deeper.
Old Testament Prophets
The prophets give some of the most popular biblical boy names of the past few decades. The major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) all have books named for them, and so do several of the twelve minor prophets.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Elisha
Biblical
Contracted from Hebrew Elishua, “my God is salvation”; the prophet who served Elijah and succeeded him
Isaiah
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “Yahweh is salvation”; one of the four major prophets, traditionally credited with the Book of Isaiah
Jeremiah
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “Yahweh will exalt”; a major prophet credited with the Book of Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “God will strengthen”; a major prophet and author of the Book of Ezekiel
Daniel
Hebrew, biblical; English, French, Spanish and many more
Hebrew, “God is my judge”; a prophet at the Babylonian court who interpreted the king’s dreams
Hosea
Biblical
English form of Hoshea, from the Hebrew root yasha, “to save”; one of the twelve minor prophets
Jonah
Hebrew, biblical; English
From Hebrew Yona, “dove”; the prophet of the Book of Jonah, swallowed by a fish
Micah
Biblical, English
Contracted form of Micaiah; one of the twelve minor prophets, author of the Book of Micah
Zechariah
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “Yahweh remembers”; an Old Testament prophet; in the New Testament, the father of John the Baptist
Malachi
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “my messenger” or “my angel”; the minor prophet of the Book of Malachi
Nathan
Hebrew, biblical; English, French
Roughly “he gave”; a prophet in King David’s court, and also a son of David
Nehemiah
Biblical
Roughly “Yahweh comforts”; the leader who oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon
Mordecai
Biblical, Hebrew
Persian in origin, roughly “servant of Marduk”; Esther’s cousin and foster father
Boy names from the Old Testament prophets and the books named after them.
Zechariah is one of the names that crosses both Testaments: the entry lists many Old Testament men by that name, including the prophet, and in the New Testament the father of John the Baptist. Nathan also shows up twice in the Old Testament, as the prophet at David’s court and as one of David’s sons. Mordecai’s entry says the name is Persian in origin; in the Book of Esther he uncovers a plot against the Persian king.
More prophets, including Joel, Amos, Nahum, Obadiah and Zephaniah, are in the short-names and rare-names tables further down.
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New Testament Boy Names: Apostles and the Early Church
The New Testament adds a different flavor: many names are Greek or Latin, because the early church grew across the Roman world. This first table covers the apostles. James, John and Jude are in other tables, and Behind the Name notes that some apostles may be one person under two names (Bartholomew and Nathanael, Thaddeus and Jude, Matthew and Levi).
Name
Origin
Meaning
Peter
Greek, biblical; English, German, Dutch and more
From Greek Petros, “stone,” translating the Aramaic Cephas; the apostle Simon Peter
Andrew
Greek, biblical; English
English form of Greek Andreas, from a word for “manly”; the first disciple and the brother of Simon Peter
John
Hebrew, biblical; English, Dutch, Scandinavian
From Hebrew Yochanan, “Yahweh is gracious”; John the Baptist and the apostle John
Philip
Greek, biblical; English, Dutch, Scandinavian
From Greek Philippos, “friend of horses”; one of the twelve apostles, and also Philip the Deacon
Bartholomew
Aramaic, biblical; English
From an Aramaic name, “son of Talmai”; an apostle, possibly the same person as Nathanael
Thomas
Aramaic, biblical; English, French, German and more
Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning “twin”; the apostle who doubted the resurrection until he saw for himself
Matthew
Hebrew, biblical; English
From Hebrew Mattithiah, “gift of Yahweh”; an apostle and former tax collector, traditionally credited with the first Gospel
Thaddeus
Aramaic, biblical; English
Greek form of an Aramaic name possibly meaning “heart, breast”; an apostle in Matthew’s Gospel, likely the same person as Jude
Simon
Hebrew, biblical; English, French, German and many more
New Testament Greek form of Shimon, linked to “to hear, to listen”; the apostle Simon Peter and the man who carried Jesus’s cross
Matthias
Greek, biblical; German, French, Dutch
Greek variant of Matthew; the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot
Nathaniel
English, biblical
Variant of Nathanael, Hebrew “God has given”; Nathanael is an apostle, probably another name for Bartholomew
Boy names of the apostles.
The second table covers other New Testament men: Paul’s companions, people Jesus met in the Gospels and people from the Book of Acts. Several are Roman names: Felix, Rufus and Cornelius all have Latin roots, and Jason is also the name of the Argonaut of Greek myth.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Barnabas
Aramaic, biblical; English (rare), German (rare)
Possibly “son of the prophet”; the Book of Acts gives “son of encouragement”; a companion of Paul on his journeys
Silas
Biblical; English, Greek, Danish, German
Probably a short form of Silvanus, or a Greek and Latin form of Saul; a companion of Saint Paul
Timothy
Greek, biblical; English
From Greek Timotheos, “honoring God”; Paul’s companion and the recipient of two of his letters
Stephen
Greek, biblical; English
From Greek Stephanos, “crown, wreath”; a deacon regarded as the first Christian martyr
Lazarus
Biblical; English (African)
Latinized form of Greek Lazaros, from Eleazar; Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha
Nicodemus
Greek, biblical
From Greek Nikodemos, “victory of the people”; helped Joseph of Arimathea entomb Jesus
Cornelius
Ancient Roman, biblical; English, Dutch, German
A Roman family name, possibly from Latin cornu, “horn”; a centurion in Acts, traditionally the first Gentile convert
Felix
Ancient Roman, biblical; German, English, Scandinavian and more
Latin, “lucky, successful”; the governor of Judea who imprisoned Paul
Rufus
Ancient Roman, biblical; English
Latin, “red-haired”; a man mentioned in one of Paul’s letters
Jason
Greek, biblical; English, French
From Greek Iason, related to healing; in the New Testament, a man who sheltered Paul and Silas (also the Argonaut of Greek myth)
Zacchaeus
Biblical
Greek form of Zaccai; a tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus
Other New Testament boy names.
If you love the Latin feel of these names, Lucas, Mark and Paul (in other tables) are close cousins. Our Italian boy names list has more names with Latin roots.
Strong and Short Biblical Boy Names
“Strong” is about style, not meaning: these are names with a bold sound and a well-known biblical story behind them. Judges, kings, a high priest and two archangels all appear here. The meanings come straight from each entry, and a few are quite plain (Titus, for example, is a Roman given name of unknown meaning).
Name
Origin
Meaning
Gideon
Hebrew, biblical; English, Dutch
Hebrew, “feller, hewer”; a judge and hero who led a small Israelite force against the Midianites
Samson
Hebrew, biblical; English, French
From Hebrew Shimshon, linked to shemesh, “sun”; the judge and strongman of the Old Testament
Boaz
Hebrew, biblical; Dutch
Hebrew, “swiftness”; the man who marries Ruth; also the name of a pillar of Solomon’s Temple
David
Hebrew, biblical; English, Welsh, Spanish and many more
Linked to a Hebrew root meaning “beloved” or “uncle”; the second and greatest king of Israel
Abner
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “my father is a light”; Saul’s cousin and the commander of his army
Cyrus
Old Persian, biblical; English
Latin form of Greek Kyros, from Old Persian Kurush, possibly “young” or “one who humbles an enemy”; the Persian king who let the Jewish exiles return
Titus
Ancient Roman, biblical; English, German
A Roman given name of unknown meaning; Paul’s companion and the first bishop of Crete
Michael
Hebrew, biblical; English, German and many more
Hebrew, “who is like God?”; an archangel in the Books of Daniel and Revelation
Gabriel
Hebrew, biblical; French, Spanish, English and many more
Hebrew, “God is my strong man”; the angel who interprets Daniel’s visions and announces the births of John and Jesus
Zadok
Biblical
Hebrew, “righteous”; the high priest under David and Solomon who anointed Solomon
Strong-sounding biblical boy names.
Short biblical names are easy to spell, easy to say and pair well with a longer middle name. Every name in the next table has three or four letters.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Adam
Hebrew, biblical; English and many more
Hebrew, “man,” possibly from a root meaning “to be red”; the first man in Genesis
Abel
Hebrew, biblical; English, Spanish, French and more
From Hebrew Hevel, “breath”; the second son of Adam and Eve
Seth
Hebrew, biblical; English
Roughly “placed” or “set”; the third named son of Adam and Eve
Shem
Biblical
Hebrew, “name”; a son of Noah and the ancestor of the Semitic peoples
Gad
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “fortune, luck”; a son of Jacob by Zilpah; also a prophet in King David’s time
Asa
Hebrew, biblical
Possibly “healer”; the third king of Judah
Job
Biblical; Dutch
From Hebrew Iyyov, roughly “persecuted, hated”; the central figure of the Book of Job
Joel
Hebrew, biblical; English, Spanish, Portuguese and more
Hebrew, “Yahweh is God”; the minor prophet of the Book of Joel
Amos
Hebrew, biblical; English
From a Hebrew word for “load, burden”; the minor prophet of the Book of Amos
Saul
Hebrew, biblical; Jewish
Hebrew, “asked for, prayed for”; the first king of Israel; also Paul’s original name
Eli
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “ascension”; the high priest who took the young Samuel into his service
Ira
Hebrew, biblical; English
Hebrew, “watchful”; a priest of King David
Jude
English, biblical
Variant of Judas; the second apostle named Judas, traditionally credited with the Epistle of Jude
Mark
Latin, biblical; English, Russian, Dutch and more
A form of the Latin name Marcus; Saint Mark, traditionally credited with the second Gospel
Luke
Greek, biblical; English
From Greek Loukas, probably “from Lucania” (a region of southern Italy); the physician who traveled with Paul
Paul
Latin, biblical; English, French, German and more
From the Roman name Paulus, Latin “small”; Saint Paul, originally named Saul, writer of many New Testament letters
Short biblical boy names with three or four letters.
Some short names have meanings you may want to think about. Job’s entry gives “persecuted, hated,” and Amos means “load, burden.” Others are simple and warm: Noah’s “rest” is in the top table, Abel’s means “breath,” and Ira means “watchful.” Short names also work well as middle names; see our middle names guide for ideas.
Rare and Unique Biblical Boy Names
If you want a name from the Bible that few classmates will share, look at the minor characters, the tribal founders who rarely show up on birth lists, and the books outside the standard Protestant canon. Tobias, Raphael and Uriel come from writings that Behind the Name labels apocryphal (the Book of Tobit, which some churches include as deuterocanonical, and the Book of Enoch).
Name
Origin
Meaning
Jabez
Biblical
Hebrew, “sorrow”; an Old Testament man who is blessed by God
Gershom
Biblical
Probably Hebrew “exile”; the Book of Exodus explains it as “a stranger there”; a son of Moses
Benaiah
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “Yahweh has built”; numerous Old Testament men
Gamaliel
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “my reward is God”; in the New Testament, a Jewish priest and scholar who taught Paul
Onesimus
Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Onesimos, roughly “beneficial, profitable”; Saint Onesimus, connected with Paul’s letter to Philemon
Jairus
Biblical
Greek form of Jair; in the New Testament, the father whose young daughter Jesus brings back to life
Zebedee
Biblical
Greek form of Zebadiah; the father of the apostles James and John
Phinehas
Biblical
Etymology uncertain: probably from an Egyptian name possibly meaning “Nubian,” or Hebrew “serpent’s mouth”; a grandson of Aaron
Reuel
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “friend of God”; another name for Jethro in the Old Testament
Jethro
Biblical
From Hebrew Yitro, from a word for “abundance”; the Midianite priest who sheltered Moses and father of Zipporah
Lemuel
Biblical; English
Hebrew, roughly “for God”; a king briefly mentioned in the Book of Proverbs
Hiram
Phoenician, biblical; English
From Phoenician Hirom, roughly “exalted brother”; a king of Tyre in the Old Testament
Zephaniah
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “Yahweh has hidden”; the minor prophet of the Book of Zephaniah
Nahum
Biblical
From a Hebrew root meaning “to comfort, to console”; the minor prophet of the Book of Nahum
Obadiah
Biblical
Hebrew, “servant of Yahweh”; the minor prophet of the Book of Obadiah
Philemon
Greek, biblical
From Greek philema, “kiss,” so “affectionate”; the man who received one of Paul’s letters
Naphtali
Biblical
Hebrew, roughly “my struggle, my strife”; a son of Jacob by Bilhah and ancestor of one of the twelve tribes
Issachar
Biblical
Possibly “man of hire” or “there is reward”; a son of Jacob by Leah and founder of one of the twelve tribes
Tobias
Biblical; German, English, Scandinavian
Greek form of Tobiah (from Hebrew tov, “good,” plus Yahweh); the son of Tobit in the Book of Tobit (Apocrypha / Deuterocanon)
Raphael
Hebrew, biblical; German, English
Hebrew, roughly “God heals”; the archangel who travels with Tobias in the Book of Tobit (Apocrypha / Deuterocanon)
Uriel
Hebrew, biblical
Hebrew, “God is my light”; an archangel named only in the Apocrypha, for example the Book of Enoch
Rare and unique biblical boy names.
A gentle tip: read the full story behind a rare name before you commit. Jabez is listed with the meaning “sorrow,” and Phinehas has an uncertain origin. Some parents love the story and some prefer a different meaning; either choice is fine. More one-of-a-kind ideas are in our unique boy names list.
Hebrew Boy Names From the Bible
Most Old Testament names are Hebrew, so almost every table above is a list of Hebrew boy names. This section gathers a few more Hebrew names, including two Hebrew forms of famous biblical names, that did not fit the other groups.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Ethan
Hebrew, biblical; English, French
From Hebrew Etan, “solid, enduring, firm”; Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man traditionally credited with Psalm 89
Abiel
Biblical
Hebrew, “God is my father”; the grandfather of King Saul
Hebrew, “flock of God”; the man who married Saul’s daughter Merab
Jedidiah
Biblical
Hebrew, “beloved of Yahweh”; the name the prophet Nathan gave to Solomon
Emmanuel
Hebrew, biblical; French, English
Hebrew, “God is with us”; given in the Old Testament as the foretold name of the Messiah
Yosef
Hebrew
Hebrew form of Joseph
Moshe
Hebrew
Hebrew form of Moses
More Hebrew boy names with a biblical source.
The pattern you see across the Hebrew names is worth knowing: el means God (Abiel, Adriel, Ezekiel, Daniel), and yah or iah is a short form of Yahweh (Jedidiah, Josiah, Isaiah). Behind the Name lists these elements on each entry, so you can read the meaning straight from the parts.
Biblical Boy Names in Other Languages
Many families choose a biblical name in the form used in their own language or heritage. Mateo and Lucas, already in the top table, are good examples. Each name below has its own entry that names the biblical source.
Name
Origin
Meaning
Elias
Portuguese, German, Scandinavian, Dutch, Greek and more
Form of Elijah used in many languages, and the form in the Greek New Testament
Jonas
Scandinavian, German, Dutch, French
Greek form of Jonah, used in some English translations of the New Testament
Santiago
Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish santo, “saint,” plus Yago, an old Spanish form of James: “Saint James”
Pedro
Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Peter
Pablo
Spanish
Spanish form of Paulus (Paul)
Ezequiel
Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Ezekiel
Matteo
Italian
Italian form of Matthew
Giovanni
Italian
Italian form of Iohannes (John)
Jakob
German, Scandinavian, Dutch, Slovene
Form of Jacob (or James) used in several languages
Ivan
Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Czech and many more
Newer form of the Old Church Slavic Ioannu, from Greek Ioannes (John)
Evan
Welsh, English
Anglicized form of Ifan, a Welsh form of John
Ian
Scottish, English
Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Iain, ultimately from John
Biblical names in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Scandinavian, Slavic, Welsh and Scottish forms.
John alone has given rise to Giovanni, Ivan, Evan and Ian, as well as Jack, which Behind the Name lists as a medieval diminutive of John. Spanish and Portuguese forms are popular across the Americas; see our Hispanic boy names list for more. Some forms of biblical names in other languages carry accent marks, so if you choose one, decide early how you will spell it, since U.S. paperwork does not always carry accents.
Nicknames, Sibling Sets and Middle Name Pairings
Biblical boy names are rich in nicknames, and the ones below are all listed on the full name’s own entry. Benjamin gives Ben and Benji; Jacob gives Jake and Coby; Joseph gives Joe and Joey; Abraham gives Abe and Bram; Samuel gives Sam and Sammy; David gives Dave and Davy; Jonathan gives Jon and Jonny; Nathan gives Nat and Nate.
A few more: Ezekiel shortens to Zeke, Joshua to Josh, Gabriel to Gabe, Michael to Mike, Thomas to Tom, Matthew to Matt, Andrew to Andy or Drew, Timothy to Tim, Stephen to Steve, Peter to Pete, Philip to Phil or Pip, Thaddeus to Tad or Thad, Barnabas to Barney, Tobias to Toby, Isaac to Ike, Cyrus to Cy and Caleb to Cale. James has a long list, including Jim, Jimmy and Jay. Elijah’s entry lists Eli as a diminutive, though Eli is also a separate biblical name in its own right.
Sibling sets. Matching by story works well: Peter and Andrew (brothers and apostles); Jacob and Joseph (father and son); Moses and Aaron (brothers); Elijah and Elisha (prophet and successor); Reuben, Levi and Judah (sons of Jacob); Michael and Gabriel (archangels). For a sister, our same-day list of biblical girl names has checked meanings too.
Middle name pairings. Pair a longer first name with a short middle name, or the reverse. A few built only from names on this page: Elijah James, Ezekiel John, Benjamin Asa, Isaac Jude, Josiah Paul, Gideon Mark, Malachi Eli, Asher Luke, Nathaniel Ira and Tobias Seth.
How to Choose a Biblical Boy Name
Once you have a shortlist, a few quick tests can help you pick:
Read the story: every biblical name comes with a person and a story. Read the description in the table and decide whether it is one you want to share with your son.
Check the meaning: most meanings are positive, but a few are not (Jabez, “sorrow”; Job, “persecuted, hated”), and some are uncertain. Pick one you are comfortable explaining.
Think about popularity: Noah, James, Elijah, Mateo and Lucas are all in the 2025 U.S. top 10, according to the SSA. If you want a name your son will rarely share, look at the rare table.
Say it with your last name: long names like Bartholomew or Zechariah can sound grand with a short surname and heavy with a long one.
Check the initials: write the first, middle and last initials together and make sure they do not spell a word you would rather avoid.
Consider family and faith: a biblical name can honor a relative, a tradition or simply a story you love.
If you like the idea of a meaningful family name, our Bible quotes about family page may help you think about what you want the name to say.
Biblical boy names cover a wide range: top picks like Noah, Elijah and James; patriarchs like Abraham, Jacob and Joseph; kings and leaders like Samuel and Solomon; prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel; apostles like Peter, Andrew and Thomas; strong names like Gideon and Boaz; short names like Eli and Jude; rare names like Jabez and Gershom; and forms in other languages like Mateo, Santiago and Giovanni. Shortlist a few, read each story and meaning, say each one with your last name, and choose the one that still feels right a week later.
Among U.S. boys born in 2025, Noah ranked No. 2, James No. 6 and Elijah No. 7, according to the Social Security Administration. Mateo, the Spanish form of Matthew, was No. 8, and Lucas, the Latin form behind Luke, was No. 9. Other familiar biblical boy names include Ezra, Levi, Asher, Isaac, Caleb, Benjamin and Samuel.
What is a strong biblical name for a boy?
Names with a bold sound and a well-known story include Gideon, a judge who led a small army; Samson, the strongman; Boaz, which means swiftness; David, the king; Abner, the army commander; and Michael and Gabriel, the archangels. Cyrus, Titus and Zadok are strong, less common choices with clear biblical roots.
What are some unique biblical boy names?
Uncommon choices include Jabez, Gershom, a son of Moses; Benaiah; Gamaliel, Paul’s teacher; Onesimus; Jairus; Zebedee, the father of James and John; Reuel; Lemuel; Hiram; and Zephaniah. Tobias and Raphael come from the Book of Tobit, which some churches include in the Bible and others treat as apocryphal.
What biblical boy name means gift from God?
Several do. Matthew comes from a Hebrew name meaning gift of Yahweh, and Mateo and Matteo are its Spanish and Italian forms. Nathaniel is a variant of Nathanael, which means God has given. Jonathan means Yahweh has given, and Nathan means roughly he gave. Each meaning here comes from the name’s entry on Behind the Name.
Is Mateo a biblical name?
Mateo is the Spanish form of Matthew, the apostle and former tax collector traditionally credited with the first Gospel. So it is a form of a biblical name rather than a name printed in English Bibles. Mateo ranked No. 8 among U.S. boys born in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
What are some short biblical boy names?
Short biblical boy names with three or four letters include Eli, Ira, Asa, Gad, Job, Abel, Adam, Seth, Shem, Joel, Amos, Saul, Jude, Mark, Luke and Paul. They are easy to spell and work well as first names or as middle names next to a longer first name.
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