Biblical Baby Boy Names: From Aaron to Zechariah

The Ultimate List of Biblical Boy Names and Meanings

Newborn Baby Boy Sleeping

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A name commonly represented a person's personality or reputation in Bible times. Names were chosen to reflect the child's character or express the parents' dreams or wishes for the child. Hebrew names often had familiar, easy-to-understand meanings.

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently gave their children names that were symbolic of their prophetic ministry. Hosea named his son Lo-ammi, which means “not my people,” because he said the people of Israel were no longer the people of God.

Nowadays, parents continue to treasure the ancient tradition of choosing a name from the Bible—a name that will hold particular significance for their child. This comprehensive list of biblical baby boy names draws together actual names in Scripture and names derived from biblical words, including the language, origin, and meaning of the name (see also Baby Girl Names).

Biblical Baby Boy Names: From Aaron to Zechariah

A

Aaron (Hebrew) - Exodus. 4:14 - a teacher; lofty; mountain of strength.

Abel (Hebrew) - Genesis 4:2 - vanity; breath; vapor; a city; mourning.

Abiathar (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 22:20 - excellent father; father of the remnant.

Abijah (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 7:8 - the Lord is my father.

Abner (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 14:50 - father of light.

Abraham (Hebrew) - Genesis 17:5 - father of a great multitude.

Abram (Hebrew) - Genesis 11:27 - high father; exalted father.

Absolom (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 15:2 - father of peace.

Adam (Hebrew) - Genesis 3:17 - earthy; red.

Adonijah (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 3:4 - the Lord is my master.

Amariah (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 24:23 - the Lord says; the integrity of the Lord.

Amaziah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 12:21 - the strength of the Lord.

Amos (Hebrew) - Amos 1:1 - loading; weighty.

Ananias (Greek, from Hebrew) - Acts 5:1 - the cloud of the Lord.

Andrew (Greek) - Matthew 4:18 - a strong man.

Apollos (Greek) - Acts 18:24 - one who destroys; destroyer.

Asa (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 15:9 - physician; cure.

Asaph (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 6:39 - who gathers together.

Asher (Hebrew) - Genesis 30:13 - happiness.

Azariah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 4:2 - he that hears the Lord.

B

Barak (Hebrew) - Judges 4:6 - thunder, or in vain.

Barnabas (Greek, Aramaic) - Acts 4:36 - son of the prophet, or of consolation.

Bartholomew (Aramaic) - Matthew 10:3 - a son that suspends the waters.

Baruch (Hebrew) - Nehemiah. 3:20 - who is blessed.

Benaiah (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 8:18 - son of the Lord.

Benjamin (Hebrew) - Genesis 35:18 - son of the right hand.

Bildad (Hebrew) - Job 2:11 - old friendship.

Boaz (Hebrew) - Ruth 2:1 - in strength.

C

Cain (Hebrew) - Genesis 4:1 - possession, or possessed.

Caleb (Hebrew) - Numbers 13:6 - a dog; a crow; a basket.

Camon (Latin) - Judges 10:5 - his resurrection.

Christian (Greek) - Acts 11:26 - follower of Christ.

Claudius (Latin) - Acts 11:28 - lame.

Cornelius (Latin) - Acts 10:1 - of a horn.

D

Daniel (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 3:1 - judgment of God; God my judge.

David (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 16:13 - well-beloved, dear.

Demetrius (Greek) - Acts 19:24 - belonging to corn, or to Ceres.

E

Ebenezer (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 4:1 - stone or rock of help.

Eleazar (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:25 - the Lord will help; court of God.

Eli (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 1:3 - the offering or lifting up.

Elijah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 17:1 - God the Lord, the strong Lord.

Eliphaz (Hebrew) - Genesis 36:4 - the endeavor of God.

Elisha (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 19:16 - salvation of God.

Elkanah (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:24 - God the zealous; the zeal of God.

Emmanuel (Latin, Hebrew) - Isaiah 7:14 - God with us.

Enoch (Hebrew) - Genesis 4:17 - dedicated; disciplined.

Ephraim (Hebrew) - Genesis 41:52 - fruitful; increasing.

Esau (Hebrew) - Genesis 25:25 - he that acts or finishes.

Ethan (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 4:31 - strong; the gift of the island.

Ezekiel (Hebrew) - Ezekiel 1:3 - the strength of God.

Ezra (Hebrew) - Ezra 7:1 - help; court.

F

Felix (Latin) - Acts 23:24 - blessed; merry; fortunate; good; pleasant, desirable, happy.

Festus (Latin) - Acts 24:27–25:1 - festive; belonging to the feast.

Fortunatus (Latin) - 1 Corinthians 16:17 - fortunate; lucky.

G

Gabriel (Hebrew) - Daniel 9:21 - God is my strength.

Gera (Hebrew) - Genesis 46:21 - pilgrimage, combat; dispute.

Gershon (Hebrew) - Genesis 46:11 - his banishment; the change of pilgrimage.

Gideon (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - he that bruises or breaks; a destroyer.

H

Habakkuk (Hebrew) - Habakuk. 1:1 - he that embraces; a wrestler.

Haggai (Hebrew) - Ezra 5:1 - feast; solemnity.

Haman (Hebrew) - Esther 10:7 - mother; fear of them; alone, solitary.

Hosea (Hebrew) - Hosea 1:1 - savior; safety.

Hur (Hebrew) - Exodus 17:10 - liberty; whiteness; hole.

I

Immanuel (Hebrew) - Isaiah 7:14 - God with us.

Ira (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 20:26 - watchman; making bare; pouring out.

Isaac (Hebrew) - Genesis 17:19 - laughter.

Isaiah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 19:2 - the salvation of the Lord.

Ishmael (Hebrew) - Genesis 16:11 - God that hears.

Issachar (Hebrew) - Genesis 30:18 - reward; recompense.

Ithamar (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:23 - island of the palm-tree.

J

Jabez (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 2:55 - sorrow; trouble.

Jacob (Hebrew) - Genesis 25:26 - cheater; that supplants, undermines; the heel.

Jair (Hebrew) - Numbers 32:41 - my light; who diffuses light.

Jairus (Hebrew) - Mark 5:22 - my light; who diffuses light.

James (Hebrew) - Matthew 4:21 - same as Jacob.

Japheth (Hebrew) - Genesis 5:32 - enlarged; fair; persuading.

Jason (Hebrew) - Acts 17:5 - he that cures.

Javan (Hebrew) - Genesis 10:2 - deceiver; one who makes sad.

Jeremiah (Hebrew) - 2 Chronicles 36:12 - exaltation of the Lord.

Jeremy (Hebrew) - 2 Chronicles 36:12 - exaltation of the Lord.

Jesse (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 16:1 - gift; oblation; one who is.

Jethro (Hebrew) - Exodus 3:1 - his excellence; his posterity.

Joab (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 26:6 - paternity; voluntary.

Joash (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - who despairs or burns.

Job (Hebrew) - Job 1:1 - he that weeps or cries.

Joel (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 8:2 - he that wills or commands.

John (Hebrew) - Matthew 3:1 - the grace or mercy of the Lord.

Jonah (Hebrew) - Jonah 1:1 - a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer.

Jonathan (Hebrew) - Judges 18:30 - given of God.

Jordan (Hebrew) - Genesis 13:10 - the river of judgment.

Joseph (Hebrew) - Genesis 30:24 - increase; addition.

Joshua (Hebrew) - Exodus 17:9 - a savior; a deliverer; the Lord is Salvation.

Josiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 13:2 - the Lord burns; the fire of the Lord.

Josias (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 13:2 - the Lord burns; the fire of the Lord.

Jotham (Hebrew) - Judges 9:5 - the perfection of the Lord.

Judas (Latin) - Matthew 10:4 - the praise of the Lord; confession.

Jude (Latin) - Jude 1:1 - the praise of the Lord; confession.

Justus (Latin) - Acts 1:23 - just or upright.

K

Kamon (Latin) - Judges 10:5 - his resurrection.

Kemuel (Hebrew) - Genesis 22:21 - God hath raised up.

Kenan (Hebrew) - Genesis 5:9–14 - buyer; owner.

Kerioth (Hebrew) - Jeremiah 48:24 - the cities; the callings.

L

Laban (Hebrew) - Genesis 24:29 - white; shining; gentle; brittle.

Lazarus (Hebrew) - Luke 16:20 - assistance of God.

Lemuel (Hebrew) - Proverbs 31:1 - God with them, or him.

Levi (Hebrew) - Genesis 29:34 - associated with him.

Lucas (Greek) - Colossians 4:14 - luminous; white.

Luke (Greek) - Colossians 4:14 - luminous; white.

M

Malachi (Hebrew)- Malachi 1:1 - my messenger; my angel.

Manasseh (Hebrew) - Genesis 41:51 - forgetfulness; he that is forgotten.

Marcus (Latin) - Acts 12:12 - polite; shining.

Mark (Latin) - Acts 12:12 - polite; shining.

Matthew (Hebrew) - Matthew 9:9 - given; a reward.

Matthias (Hebrew) - Acts 1:23 - the gift of the Lord.

Melchizedek (Hebrew, German) - Genesis 14:18 - king of justice; king of righteousness.

Micah (Hebrew) - Judges 17:1 - poor; humble.

Michael (Hebrew) - Numbers 13:13 - poor; humble.

Mishael (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:22 - who is asked for or lent.

Mordecai (Hebrew) - Esther 2:5 - contrition; bitter; bruising.

Moses (Hebrew) - Exodus 2:10 - taken out; drawn forth.

N

Nadab (Hebrew) - - Exodus 6:23 - free and voluntary gift; prince.

Nahum (Hebrew) - Nahum 1:1 - comforter; penitent.

Naphtali (Hebrew) - Genesis 30:8 - that struggles or fights.

Nathan (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 5:14 - given; giving; rewarded.

Nathanael (Hebrew) - John 1:45 - the gift of God.

Nehemiah (Hebrew) - Nehemiah. 1:1 - consolation; repentance of the Lord.

Nekoda (Hebrew) - Ezra 2:48 - painted; inconstant.

Nicodemus (Greek) - John 3:1 - victory of the people.

Noah (Hebrew) - Genesis 5:29 - repose; consolation.

O

Obadiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 18:3 - servant of the Lord.

Obed (Hebrew) - Ruth 4:17 - a servant; workman.

Onesimus (Latin) - Colossians 4:9 - profitable; useful.

Othniel (Hebrew) - Joshua 15:17 - lion of God; the hour of God.

P

Paul (Latin) - Acts 13:9 - small; little.

Peter (Greek) - Matthew 4:18 - a rock or stone.

Philemon (Greek) - Philippians 1:2 - loving; who kisses.

Philip (Greek) - Matthew 10:3 - warlike; a lover of horses.

Phineas (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:25 - bold aspect; face of trust or protection.

Q

Quartus (Latin) - Romans 16:23 - fourth.

R

Reuben (Hebrew) - Genesis 29:32 - who sees the son; the vision of the son.

Raamah (Hebrew) - Genesis 10:7 - greatness; thunder; some sort of evil.

Rufus (Latin) - Mark 15:21 - red.

S

Samson (Hebrew) - Judges 13:24 - his sun; his service; there the second time.

Samuel (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 1:20 - heard of God; asked of God.

Saul (Hebrew) - 1 Samuel 9:2 - demanded; lent; ditch; death.

Seth (Hebrew) - Genesis 4:25 - put; who puts; fixed.

Shem (Hebrew) - Genesis 5:32 - name; renown.

Silas (Latin) - Acts 15:22 - three, or the third; woody.

Simeon (Hebrew) - Genesis 29:33 - that hears or obeys; that is heard.

Simon (Hebrew) - Matthew 4:18 - that hears; that obeys.

Solomon (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 5:14 - peaceable; perfect; one who recompenses.

Stephen (Greek) - Acts 6:5 - crown; crowned.

T

Thaddaeus (Aramaic) - Matthew 10:3 - that praises or confesses.

Theophilus (Greek) - Luke 1:3 - friend of God.

Thomas (Aramaic) - Matthew 10:3 - a twin.

Timothy (Greek) - Acts 16:1 - honor of God; valued of God.

Titus (Latin) - 2 Corinthians 2:13 - pleasing.

Tobias (Hebrew) - Ezra 2:60 - the Lord is good.

U

Uriah (Hebrew) - 2 Samuel 11:3 - the Lord is my light or fire.

Uriel (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 6:24 - the Lord is my light or fire.

Uzziah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 15:13 - the strength, or kid, of the Lord.

V

Victor (Latin) - 2 Timothy 2:5 - victory; victor.

Z

Zacchaeus (Hebrew) - Luke 19:2 - pure; clean; just.

Zachariah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 14:29 - memory of the Lord

Zebadiah (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles 8:15 - portion of the Lord; the Lord is my portion.

Zebedee (Greek) - Matthew 4:21 - abundant; portion.

Zechariah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 14:29 - memory of the Lord.

Zedekiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 22:11 - the Lord is my justice; the justice of the Lord.

Zephaniah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 25:18 - the Lord is my secret.

Zerubbabel (Hebrew) - 1 Chronicles. 3:19 - a stranger at Babylon; dispersion of confusion.

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Fairchild, Mary. "Biblical Baby Boy Names: From Aaron to Zechariah." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/christian-baby-boy-names-700280. Fairchild, Mary. (2021, February 8). Biblical Baby Boy Names: From Aaron to Zechariah. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/christian-baby-boy-names-700280 Fairchild, Mary. "Biblical Baby Boy Names: From Aaron to Zechariah." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/christian-baby-boy-names-700280 (accessed March 19, 2024).