Biblical boys names have been giving sons strong, story-rich identities for thousands of years, and this list of 143 of them spans everything from chart-toppers to overlooked Old Testament finds.
You’ll find names organized into seven categories—popular, traditional, unique, short, long, strong, and vintage—so you can zero in on the style that fits your family without wading through names that don’t match your vision.
28 Popular biblical boys names
These 28 names appear regularly on U.S. birth certificate lists, which means they’re familiar and easy to spell without feeling worn out.
- Noah NOH-ah
Hebrew rest; comfort - Elijah eh-LY-jah
Hebrew my God is Yahweh - James JAYMZ
Hebrew via Latin supplanter; English form of Jacob - Benjamin BEN-jah-min
Hebrew son of the right hand - Samuel SAM-yoo-el
Hebrew God has heard - Levi LEE-vy
Hebrew joined; attached - Daniel DAN-yel
Hebrew God is my judge - Matthew MATH-yoo
Hebrew via Greek gift of God - Joseph JOH-zef
Hebrew God will add or increase - David DAY-vid
Hebrew beloved - Josiah joh-ZY-ah
Hebrew God supports and heals - Isaac EYE-zak
Hebrew he will laugh - Ezra EZ-rah
Hebrew help; helper - Micah MY-kah
Hebrew who is like God - Aaron AIR-on
Hebrew high mountain; exalted - Caleb KAY-leb
Hebrew faithful; wholehearted; dog - Jonah JOH-nah
Hebrew dove - Simon SY-mon
Hebrew via Greek he has heard - Nathaniel nah-THAN-yel
Hebrew God has given - Gideon GID-ee-on
Hebrew mighty warrior; one who cuts down - Solomon SOL-oh-mon
Hebrew peace - Tobias toh-BY-as
Hebrew via Greek God is good - Amos AY-mos
Hebrew carried by God; burden-bearer - Silas SY-las
Hebrew via Latin man of the forest; of the woods - Malachi MAL-ah-ky
Hebrew my messenger; my angel - Abel AY-bel
Hebrew breath; vapor - Seth SETH
Hebrew appointed; placed - Eli EE-ly
Hebrew my God; ascended; high
26 Traditional biblical boys names
These 26 names have been passed down through generations of English-speaking families and carry a classic, timeless weight that rarely dates.
- Adam AD-um
Hebrew man; formed from the earth - Andrew AN-droo
Greek strong and manly - Barnabas BAR-nuh-bus
Aramaic son of encouragement - Bartholomew bar-THOL-uh-myoo
Aramaic son of Tolmai - Cornelius kor-NEEL-yus
Latin horn; Roman centurion baptized by Peter - Darius duh-RY-us
Persian possessor of goodness - Emmanuel ih-MAN-yoo-ul
Hebrew God is with us - Enoch EE-nuk
Hebrew dedicated; consecrated - Ephraim EE-free-um
Hebrew fruitful; doubly fruitful - Ezekiel ih-ZEE-kee-ul
Hebrew God will strengthen - Felix FEE-liks
Latin happy; fortunate - Gershom GUR-shum
Hebrew a stranger there; sojourner - Hosea hoh-ZAY-uh
Hebrew salvation; deliverance - Jabez JAY-bez
Hebrew he causes pain; born in sorrow - Jacob JAY-kub
Hebrew supplanter; one who follows at the heel - Jedediah jed-uh-DY-uh
Hebrew beloved of the Lord - Jeremiah jair-uh-MY-uh
Hebrew the Lord will exalt - Jesse JES-ee
Hebrew gift; the Lord exists - Joel JOH-ul
Hebrew the Lord is God - John JON
Hebrew the Lord is gracious - Judah JOO-duh
Hebrew praised; let him be praised - Luke LOOK
Greek man from Lucania; light - Mark MARK
Latin of Mars; warlike - Moses MOH-zuz
Hebrew drawn out of the water - Peter PEE-ter
Greek rock; stone - Philip FIL-ip
Greek lover of horses
23 Unique biblical boys names
These 23 names come straight from scripture but rarely show up on modern birth records, making them a genuine way to give your son a one-of-a-kind name with deep roots.
- Abner AB-ner
Hebrew father of light; commander of Saul’s army - Absalom AB-sah-lum
Hebrew father of peace; son of King David - Adriel AY-dree-el
Hebrew flock of God; son-in-law of King Saul - Amaziah am-ah-ZY-ah
Hebrew strength of the Lord; king of Judah - Asher ASH-er
Hebrew happy, blessed; son of Jacob - Boaz BOH-az
Hebrew swiftness, strength; kinsman-redeemer of Ruth - Cyrus SY-rus
Hebrew, Persian sun; Persian king who freed the Israelites - Eleazar el-ee-AY-zer
Hebrew God has helped; son of Aaron the priest - Ethan EE-than
Hebrew strong, enduring, firm - Gad GAD
Hebrew fortune, luck; son of Jacob - Hezekiah hez-eh-KY-ah
Hebrew God is my strength; righteous king of Judah - Ira EYE-rah
Hebrew watchful; one of David’s mighty warriors - Joab JOH-ab
Hebrew the Lord is father; commander of David’s army - Lemuel LEM-yoo-el
Hebrew devoted to God; king mentioned in Proverbs - Nahum NAY-hum
Hebrew comfort, consolation; minor prophet of the Old Testament - Obadiah oh-bah-DY-ah
Hebrew servant of the Lord; minor prophet of the Old Testament - Phineas FIN-ee-us
Hebrew oracle; zealous grandson of Aaron - Reuben ROO-ben
Hebrew behold, a son; firstborn son of Jacob - Thaddeus THAD-ee-us
Hebrew, Aramaic heart, courageous; one of the twelve apostles - Uriah yoo-RY-ah
Hebrew God is my light; loyal soldier under King David - Zebedee ZEB-eh-dee
Hebrew gift of God; father of apostles James and John - Zebulun ZEB-yoo-lun
Hebrew dwelling, honor; son of Jacob and Leah - Zephaniah zef-ah-NY-ah
Hebrew God has hidden; minor prophet of the Old Testament
18 Short biblical boys names
Each of these 18 names is two syllables or fewer, which means they pair well with longer last names and tend to stick in people’s minds immediately.
- Asa AY-sah
Hebrew healer; king of Judah in the Old Testament - Barak BAIR-ak
Hebrew lightning; Israelite military commander in Judges - Dan DAN
Hebrew he judged; son of Jacob and Bilhah - Elon EE-lon
Hebrew oak tree; judge of Israel in the Old Testament - Ham HAM
Hebrew hot or warm; son of Noah - Hiram HY-rum
Hebrew exalted brother; king of Tyre allied with Solomon - Jair JAY-er
Hebrew he enlightens; judge of Israel in Judges - Joram JOR-um
Hebrew the Lord is exalted; king of Israel - Lot LOT
Hebrew covering or veil; nephew of Abraham - Nahor NAY-hor
Hebrew snorting; grandfather of Abraham - Nun NUN
Hebrew fish; father of Joshua - Omri OM-ree
Hebrew my sheaf; king of Israel in First Kings - Peleg PEE-leg
Hebrew division; descendant of Shem in Genesis - Ram RAM
Hebrew exalted; ancestor of David in the Old Testament - Shem SHEM
Hebrew name or renown; eldest son of Noah - Titus TY-tus
Latin title of honor; companion and co-worker of Paul - Uri YOO-ree
Hebrew my light or flame; father of Bezalel - Uz UZ
Hebrew wooded or fertile; son of Aram in Genesis
11 Long biblical boys names
These 11 names stretch to three syllables or more and bring a ceremonial, full-bodied feel that often comes with a great built-in nickname.
- Abimelech ah-BIM-eh-lek
Hebrew my father is king - Abiathar ah-BY-ah-thar
Hebrew father of abundance - Jehoshaphat jeh-HOSH-ah-fat
Hebrew God has judged - Zechariah zek-ah-RY-ah
Hebrew God has remembered - Melchizedek mel-KIZ-eh-dek
Hebrew king of righteousness - Methuselah meh-THYOO-zeh-lah
Hebrew his death shall bring judgment - Jehosheba jeh-HOSH-eh-bah
Hebrew God is her oath - Ahasuerus ah-haz-yoo-EE-rus
Hebrew mighty man; Persian king name - Nebuchadnezzar neb-yoo-kad-NEZ-er
Babylonian may the god Nabu protect my heir - Theophilus thee-OF-ih-lus
Greek friend or lover of God - Abednego ah-BED-neh-go
Babylonian servant of the god Nebo
19 Strong biblical boys names
These 19 names carry meanings tied to power, leadership, and courage—drawn from warriors, kings, and prophets whose stories are still told today.
- Abram AY-brum
Hebrew exalted father; original name of Abraham - Ahab AY-hab
Hebrew father’s brother; king of Israel - Ananias an-uh-NY-us
Greek, Hebrew God has been gracious - Aquila AK-wih-luh
Latin eagle; New Testament companion of Paul - Cain KAYN
Hebrew acquired; firstborn son of Adam and Eve - Cleopas KLEE-oh-pas
Greek glory of the father - Dathan DAY-thun
Hebrew belonging to a spring or fountain - Eliab ee-LY-ab
Hebrew my God is father - Elisha ee-LY-shuh
Hebrew my God is salvation - Gershon GUR-shun
Hebrew a stranger there; son of Levi - Hananiah han-uh-NY-uh
Hebrew God has been gracious - Ittai IT-ay
Hebrew near; with me; loyal warrior of David - Japheth JAY-feth
Hebrew may he expand; son of Noah - Joash JOH-ash
Hebrew given by the Lord; king of Judah - Josaphat JOS-uh-fat
Hebrew God has judged - Lazarus LAZ-uh-rus
Hebrew, Greek God is my help; raised by Jesus - Meshach MEE-shak
Hebrew, Babylonian who is what Aku is; companion of Daniel - Shadrach SHAY-drak
Babylonian, Hebrew command of Aku; fiery furnace survivor - Zaccheus zak-EE-us
Hebrew, Greek pure; clean; tax collector visited by Jesus
18 Vintage biblical boys names
These 18 names were common in earlier centuries but have since faded, putting them in the sweet spot of feeling fresh again while still carrying centuries of history behind them.
- Abijah ah-BY-jah
Hebrew my father is Yahweh - Ahimelech ah-HIM-eh-lek
Hebrew my brother is king - Abihu ah-BY-hyoo
Hebrew he is my father - Amram AM-ram
Hebrew exalted nation or mighty people - Benaiah beh-NAY-ah
Hebrew Yahweh has built - Bildad BIL-dad
Hebrew son of contention or strife - Eliud eh-LY-ud
Hebrew my God is majestic - Elnathan el-NAY-than
Hebrew God has given - Heber HEE-ber
Hebrew one who passes over; associate - Ichabod IK-ah-bod
Hebrew the glory has departed - Jotham JOH-tham
Hebrew Yahweh is perfect - Mahlon MAH-lon
Hebrew sickly or weak - Matthan MAT-than
Hebrew gift of God - Naphtali NAF-tah-ly
Hebrew my wrestling or struggle - Pelatiah pel-ah-TY-ah
Hebrew Yahweh has delivered - Shemaiah sheh-MAY-ah
Hebrew Yahweh has heard - Zadok ZAY-dok
Hebrew righteous or just - Ziba ZY-bah
Hebrew plantation or post
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a name biblical?
A biblical name is one that appears in the Old or New Testament, either as a person, place, or meaningful word used in scripture. Some names come directly from Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic originals, while others are anglicized versions that developed over centuries of translation.
Are biblical boys names still popular in the United States?
Yes—names like Noah, Elijah, and Levi have ranked in the U.S. top 20 for several years running, showing that biblical names remain a mainstream choice. Even less common biblical names have seen renewed interest as parents look for names with meaning and history.
What is the most popular biblical boy name right now?
Noah has held a top-five spot on the Social Security Administration’s name charts for over a decade, making it the most consistently popular biblical boy name in the U.S. Elijah and Levi are close behind and have both cracked the top 10 in recent years.
What are some short biblical boys names that are easy to use?
Names like Eli, Seth, Asa, and Joel are all one or two syllables, appear in scripture, and work well with almost any last name. They’re simple to pronounce and spell, which makes life easier for both the child and everyone around them.
Can I use a biblical name even if my family isn’t religious?
Absolutely—many parents choose biblical names purely for their sound, history, or cultural resonance rather than for religious reasons. Names like Adam, Nathan, and Simon have been so widely used across cultures that they function comfortably as secular names.
What are some unique biblical boys names that almost nobody uses?
Names like Zephaniah, Eliab, Jotham, and Amaziah appear in scripture but are virtually absent from modern birth records, giving them a genuinely rare quality. They offer strong meanings and real historical grounding without the risk of your son sharing his name with three classmates.