Hebrew Names for Boys

The name of several minor characters in the Old Testament, including a leader of the Tribe of Simeon and a priest involved in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, Elioenai is a rare Biblical choice.
 
Elionenai has the spiritual meaning of "my eyes look to Yahweh" or "my eyes look towards God" and despite its rarity, it has familiar sounds. It could make an interesting alternative to Malachi or Elias — and a way to nicknames Nai, Leo, and Elio. 
 
The name was given to 12 babies in a recent year: the highest number on record.

Elioenai

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. 

Hazaiah

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.

Jachin

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 manipulated by the cunning Iago, Othello is also the name of a classic board game.
 
The name has been appearing in the US stats since the early 20th-century and is given to a small handful of babies most years. The most recent count saw it given to 16 babies: the highest number in over a century. We've spotted at least one birth announcement for an Othello in 2026 saw far, with "Ottie" given as an everyday nickname. 
 
The exact meaning of the name is unknown, as it may relate to a Roman family name of unknown origins (borne by emperor Marcus Salvius Otho), or to the Germanic Otto, Odo, or Odilio meaning "wealth, fortune" or "heritage", perhaps via the Greek form, Othon. Additionally, it could have been inspired by the Biblical Othniel, another name with uncertain etymology, though "strength of God" or "lion of God" are often suggested.

Othello

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, and also a couple of females. 
 A Colonial era favorite with an energetic, modern aura, Abijah is a possible Elijah replacement. A short form found in historical records: Bige, though Abe can work too.

Abijah

Simply a Dutch and German form of Mike, said the same. 

Maik

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 God. Meshach Taylor is an actor who has been featured on several sitcoms.

Meshach

The name of an angel in the Zohar, Nuriel is related to the Arabic name Nur.

Nuriel

With the familiar feel of Raphael, Gabriel, and Daniel, Roniel blends the elements ron and El to create a name with an uplifting feeling. Predominantly used in Brazil and the Philippines, it is most often used as a masculine name, with boxer Roniel Iglesias being a notable bearer.

Roniel

Has taken on a musical tone via the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman. 

Yitzhak

Adlai is an Old Testament name long associated with 1950's liberal presidential candidate Stevenson, who was named after his grandfather, who was Grover Cleveland's vice president in the nineteenth century. Now it's an unusual Biblical choice ripe for rediscovery.
 In the Bible, Adlai was a minor character, the father of one of King David's herdsmen. Adlai is a contracted form of the Hebrew name Adaliah.

Adlai

Edison's middle name is a fabulous option for parents looking for something with history and a soft sound. This could be the name you're looking for if you like Tesla's scientific pedigree but think that it has become too corporate with the advent of Elon Musk's company.

Alva

The name of the 44th president, which he inherited from his Kenyan father, is related to the Swahili word "baraka," meaning "blessing," derived from the Arabic "baracka." It is linked, through the Semitic root, to the Hebrew name Baruch. Barack is also sometimes an alternate spelling of the Hebrew name Barak, which stems from the Semitic word for "lightning." Barack Obama may have found it a difficult name to grow up with, but the same won't be true for the many babies starting to be given that name. Other parents are being inspired to use Obama, which is a common surname among the Luo people of East Africa meaning "to lean or bend." 

Barack

Obscure Old Testament name that rhymes with (and might be a substitute for) Nathan. 

Dathan

This Hebrew form of Ethan is commonly heard in Israel.  Other forms are Eitan and Eytan

Etan

A surprisingly rare choice, given the popularity of Ezekiel, Elias, Ezra, and Ozias, this name is a form of the Hebrew Hezekiah, found in the Greek Bible, and in some English translations. Borne by an influential king in the Old Testament king, Ezekias derives from Hizqyahu meaning "Yahweh strengthens" or "God gives me strength".
 
In Greek, the name would be pronounced as ehz-uh-KEE-as, whereas in English, it might be eh-ZEE-kee-us or ehz-uh-KYE-us. First appearing in the US stats back in 2011, a more recent year saw it given to just 8 boys.

Ezekias

A modern invention with the feel of a Biblical name, Jetziel likely takes inspiration from Jahzeel ("God will divide"), Jasiel ("God is my maker"), Jehiel ("God will live"), and Yechezkel or Ezekiel ("God will strengthen"). Additionally, it may draw on cool names Jett ("intense black", "stream"), Jetson (ultimately from Judson and Jordan, "descend, flow down"), or Jethro ("abundance") lending it the meanings "God will descend, stream down" or "God is abundant".
 
Currently used quietly in the US and Mexico, Jatziel and Yetziel may be alternative spellings.

Jetziel

An unusual, sensitive, and gently attractive Hebrew name. 

Koren

A spelling variation of the Biblical Micaiah, which could get you nickname Mac over Mickey.

Macaiah

Rarely used biblical choice -- he's a son of Jacob -- with a bit of a white-bearded image. 

Naphtali

Hebrew boy names have been in continual use for thousands of years, and with good reason: such 

 are all Hebrew boys’ names. In fact, many of the most widely-used boys’ names in English-speaking countries are Hebrew in origin, include recent Number one names Noah and Jacob. 

Along with Noah and Jacob, other 

 include Adam, Asher, Caleb, Elijah, Isaac, Levi, Nathan, and Samuel. 

origins include James, Joseph, and John.



 popular in Israel include Uri — especially among Jewish Israelis — Ariel, Noam, and Eitan.


But some Hebrew boy names are still far off the beaten track. 

Hebrew boy names including meaning and popularity, with Old Testament boy names such as Isaac and Moses and top Hebrew boy names such as Noah and Jacob. (Page 17)

Hebrew Boy Names