By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 42 pages
of 42
Hebrew
"lightning"
An Old Testament warrior whose name still sounds tough.
"my witness"
A possibility for parents seeking a Hebrew name with an English-language sound.
Hebrew variation of Chazaiah
"God has seen"
With more parents turning to biblical names like Ezekiel and Isaiah, this could prove a quasi-unique alternative in a similar -- if more Orthodox -- vein.
"he establishes"
A son of Simeon in the Old Testament whose name is largely unknown in modern times -- though that may change as parents look for a substitute for the overused Jacob and Jadon.
"he who defends"
Hebrew name with a bright sheen.
"God is gracious"
More modern options: Shaw, Shay, or even Sean.
Diminutive of Talia, Hebrew
"gentle dew from heaven"
Tallie is a seldom-heard nickname name that, with the ascendance of Hallie and Callie, we might just be hearing more of. In Colonial times, Tallie was also a nickname for Natalie.
"light, splendor"
Lovely name that's been overshadowed by sister ZAHARA, which was chosen by Brad and Angelina for their oldest daughter.
Variation of Otho
"wealth, fortune"
Possibly created as an elaboration of Otho or Otto, Othello is almost exclusively associated with Shakespeare's 1603 tragedy of the same name. Borne by a Moorish General who is tricked and…
"God is my father"
Abijah is a truly unusual, truly unisex, truly appealing biblical name. There were several male Abijahs in the Bible, one of them, known as Abijah of Judah, was the fourth king of the House of David,…
"forecaster"
All too likely to be confused with the ultratrendy Nevaeh.
Akkadian
"who is what Aku is?"
Derived from Aku, the name of the Babylonian god of the moon. In the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament this is the Babylonian name of Mishael, one of the three men cast into a furnace but saved by…
"joy of the Lord"
Gila and its variants have joyous meanings in Hebrew, but other kids might connect them to the monster.
"light or fire of God"
The name of an angel in the Zohar, Nuriel is related to the Arabic name Nur.
"my delight is in her"
Hephzibah is an Old Testament name that came into use in the 17th century, but is not often used today. It does have less formal nicknames Eppie and Hepsie, which seem revivable. Hephzibah "Eppie"…
"not exalted"
Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a…
Hebrew variation of Margaret
"pearl"
This unusual variation of Margaret is the real first name of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. It can make a distinctive way to honor an ancestral Margaret or a different long form for such nicknames as…
Hebrew variation of Isaac
Has taken on a musical tone via the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman.
"gift of God"
This female form of Nathan can be pronounced with three syllables or four, and could make an interesting alternative to Natalia.
Biblical place name, Hebrew
"face of God"
This rare Biblical place name refers to a river bank in Jordan where Jacob wrestled with an angel and changed his name to Israel.
