Names That Mean God

This particular spelling was chosen by Will Ferrell for his son, brother to Magnus. These names are both popular in Sweden, birthplace of their mother, Viveca Paulin.


Mattias

Eliyahu is the Hebrew form of the increasingly popular Biblical prophet name Elijah, also found in forms Elias and Eli.  There were 100 boys given the name Eliyahu in the U.S. in 2012.  Its upside is that it's one of the most distinctive forms of the name, but that final yahoo may prove difficult.

Eliyahu

Variation of Johan that may simplify pronunciation for English speakers.

Yohan

Some might think a girl named Liz on her birth certificate would feel deprived of her full identity, but in a time when mini names like Liv, Kit, Tru, Kai, Lou, and Bea are in style, Liz feels substantial enough that its bearer won't feel bereft.
 
A solid, succinct nickname, it was famously borne by actress Elizabeth Taylor, while plenty of others have used it professionally, even if they were born Elizabeth. A few noteworthy Liz's include actress and disability rights activist Liz Carr, politician Liz Truss, presenter Liz Bonnin, and actress Liz Fraser.
 
Liz ranks as a stand-alone choice in the Netherlands, pronounced LEEZ.

Although this is an ancient Old Testament name, it has a pleasant contemporary feel that might appeal to today's parents, who might just as easily use it for a girl. It was one of the fastest rising names for boys in the UK in a recent year. 

Lael

Probably best associated with the rapper XXXTentacion, Jahseh is a modern invented name which combines the Hebrew word for God, Yah (as seen in Elijah), with the Jamaican Patois word "seh", meaning 'say', to create a name which means "God Speaks".
 
"Jah Seh" is used as an affirmation among Jamaican Christians that God will help them in their time of need and the phrase was celebrated by Bob Marley in his song, "So Jah Seh". With other worship-adjacent word names such as Saint, Shepherd, Chosen, and Palmer on the rise, Jahseh also saw increased use in 2023, when it was given to nearly 200 boys in the US.
 
The name first made an appearance in the US rankings in 2018 and it spiked in popularity the following year. This was likely due to the murder of American rapper, XXXTentacion, who was born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy. A controversial figure with a large fanbase, XXXTentacion was known for his emotionally honest and sometimes shocking lyrics. The name dipped in popularity from 2020 onwards, but, as of 2023, its on the rise again, with the trial of XXXTentacion's murderers potentially putting the name back on parent's minds.

Jahseh

The authentic Biblical form of a name that has become even more popular alongside Jaden, Jayden, Jaidan et al. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, whose children are named creatively after their parents as Willow and Jaden, helped launch the trend. This spelling peaked at Number 372 in 2003, though it has dropped drastically in usage over the last decade.

Jadon

The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.

Micaela

A condensed version of Elizabeth made more familiar by The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo's Lisbeth Salander.

Lizbeth

Makes a Biblical favorite new and interesting.

Danilo

Will this old-fashioned nickname make a comeback, now that Jane has shed her "plain" image? Janie is cute and approachable, and would stand as well on the birth certificate as Josie and Jessie do now.
 
Spanish speakers pronounce Janie with an H sound at the beginning.

Janie

The first name of Ethiopian supermodel Liya (pronounced like Leah) Kebede is also a Russian variation of Lia and Lily.  Rather than using Liya, English speakers will do better to call a child Leah or Lia.

Liya

Traditionally a masculine Italian boy name, a diminutive to Giovanni, equivalent to Johnny, it has started to be used for girls in the US, with nearly 200 being given this appellation in 2024. 
 
While the <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">gender neutral names</a> trend is familiar in the US, beware that it hasn't spread internationally. A female Gianni travelling through Europe is likely to be met with more confusion than she might be at home.
 
Usually pronounced JAHN-nee, English speakers may well say jee-AHN-ee if use of Gianna is anything to go by.

Gianni

David plus Damian (or David plus Ian or David plus Darrian)  equals this hybrid name. It has been in and out of the US Top 1000 since 2004, though both this spelling and alternative Davion were out of favor in 2023. Davian Clarke is a Jamaican Olympic athlete. 

Davian

Biblical name from the Old Testament, Jeriah is one of the remaining rare names that just might catch on. Maybe about the time Jerry is ready for a comeback.

Jeriah

An obscure Biblical choice that is gradually growing more popular in the US, Zabdiel could fit in well with other trending choices such as Adriel, Gabriel, Aziel, Uriel, and Castiel. 
 
In the Bible, Zabdiel is the name of two minor figures: the father of Jashobeam, one of David's warriors, and an overseer of captives returned from Babylon. Zabdiel has also been borne by two significant American physicians, Zabdiel Boylston who introduced smallpox inoculation into American colonies, and his son of the same name, a Civil War surgeon. 
 
A popular choice in Puerto Rico, Zabdiel has nearly triple in use in the US since 2020. Given to around 170 boys each year, some of its recent popularity might be attributed to music artist, Zabdiel de Jesús.

Zabdiel

Dottie and Dot are old Dorothy nicknames that some cutting-edge Brits are bringing back to fashion. It's been half a century since Dottie ranked on its own in this country, one of those nickname names that flourished in the 1890's.
 Probably the most prominent bearer of the name was the seminal country music singer Dottie West--born Dorothy, of course. In the movie A League of Their Own, Geena Davis's leading character Dottie Hinson was based on real life women's pro baseball player Dottie Kamenshek.
 Dot can make an adorable middle name--if your last name isn't Com.

Dottie

Eliot

Bodi is a succinct and friendly looking name, with a number of possible origins. One one hand, it could be a diminutive of the Hungarian Boldizsár, which ultimately derives from the Babylonian Belshazzar or Balthazar, in turn lending it a regal quality.
 
Alternatively, it could derive from a number of Slavic names, such as Božidar, meaning "divine gift" or Bogdan, meaning "given by God". As Slavic translations of Theodore and Theodotus, Bodi, in a way, feels like an equivalent to the English Teddy.
 
Another possibility is that it is a modern variation on the Sanskrit Bodhi, and it is likely that this is the reason for its increased usage in the US. An obscure choice before the 2000s, Bodi began to see more significant use in the mid-2010s, around the same time that Bodhi - and similar Bodie - were accelerating up the charts. By dropping the H, parents may feel like they're separating the name from its spiritual ties, while still keeping hold of that interesting -i ending.

Bodi

This name has recently come on the radar via rising actor Dev Patel, who made his mark in Slumdog Millionaire and then in Lion and is also the name of the lead character played by Aziz Ansari in his sitcom Master of None. It could catch on here, at a time when parents are importing other three-letter names like Liv.

Names that mean God are plentiful, as God and all things related to a supreme power are at the root of the creation of many names.

Isabella, a variation of Elizabeth, is the top girl name meaning God. Along with Isabella, 

girl names in the US Top 1000 meaning God

 include Elizabeth, Danielle, Gabrielle, Samantha, Michaela, and Jane.



Elizabeth and Jane have dozens of popular variations that also mean God, including Elsie, Eliza, Elise, Janet, Jean, and Joan.



Elijah is the most popular boy name that means God. Along with Elijah, other 

 include Daniel, Matthew, Jack, Jeremy, Nathaniel, Caleb, Samuel, Oscar, and Shane.



John and Michael, two of the most widely-used male names of the last several centuries in the Western World, have God in their meanings.



Here is our full roster of names that mean God, ordered by current popularity on Nameberry.

Baby names for girls and boys that mean god or names that have meanings related to God, with meanings, origins, and popularity. (Page 11)

873+ Names That Mean God