Names That Mean God

A beautiful Indian girl name to add to the growing list of obscure but alluring "El-" names for girls.

Elahi

Three syllables in only four letters is quite a feat, but that's exactly what you get with Ilia, a versatile, unisex option with various origins. It could derive from the Greek Iliana, which could denote someone from Illium, or it could be a feminine form of Ilian, a form of Elijah. Alternatively, it is a Basque form of Julia, or a Bulgarian feminine form of Ilya, with again links back to Elijah. Currently a gender neutral option in the US, it may be exclusively masculine elsewhere. 


Ilia

The young male star Shia LaBeouf has given this name a male image, but many would consider its sound soft and feminine.

Shia

An energetic name with an embroidered feel. 

Danya

Elroi can be considered a variation of Leroy, which uses the Spanish "El" instead of the French "Le", and the Roi spelling over the Roy option, either to make the pronunciation clearer, to mirror French Eloi, or just to be different. In this case, the name would mean "the king".
 
Alternatively, it is a Hebrew compound name, blending El with Roi, to form one name that means "God is my shepherd" or "God is my sight", depending on which etymological root you follow. 
 
The name is given to just 5 girls and 10 boys in the US each year, and while Elroy was once popular in the 20th century, use of it has significantly declined too.

Elroi

A modern Hebrew form of Eliya or Elijah that coincides with a variation of the Arabic girl name Alya and a Russian short form of Eleanor. 

Elya

Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesl is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse, Freya, Soren, and Heidi, it leans more towards being international and European chic. 

 Many people associate the name with Liesl von Trapp, the eldest daughter in The Sound of Music, who is "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", as her song famously says. Also spelled Liesel, it might additionally be associated with the popular novel, The Book Thief.

Liesl

With Lazarus heating up, this slimmer Eastern European form will likely see an uptick in use.

Lazar

As parents go searching for alternatives to the unstoppable Mateo/Matteo duo, Mattia stands out as a worthy option. Same handsome, alluring feel, for a fraction of the popularity. Buy now!

Mattia

This variation of Biblical Michael was a fast riser in 2022, given to 91 baby boys compared to 13 in 2021. The Maikel spelling is used in the Dominican Republic.

Maykel

Adel might be considered a spelling variation of Adele, derived from the Germanic element adal meaning "noble", with the final '-e' removed to make it more concise and less girly. Alternatively, it could be an anglicization of the Hungarian form of Adela, usually spelled as Adél.
 
It also has its roots in Hebrew, combining ad</e> meaning "eternity" with el signifying God, to give the name a very spiritual meaning. 
 
Adel is also used as a masculine name, deriving from Arabic to mean "just and honest" and from the same Germanic element mentioned above, and is used as a standalone name, or as a short form of Adelbert/o.

Adel

A feminine form of Adriel, a Biblical name that has soared up the US charts in the 2020s . A possible successor to Adrienne and Danielle or an alternative to Arielle and Adeline, Adrielle was give to 35 girls in a recent year, while alternative forms Adriella, Adriel, Adriela, Adrielly, and Adriely were chosen for around 80 girls collectively. 

Adrielle

Shiva is one of the principle deities of Hinduism. Shiva is the powerful god of both destruction and resurrection but is also associated as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts. Shiva's wife is Parvati, the mother goddess of creation.

Shiva

Little-used name borne by several biblical figures including a king. It would make an unexpected way to get the nickname Eli - or Kim.

Eliakim

Oh, the many spellings of Rafaella. Those with Fs and double-Ls denote Italian origins, while an F and a single L is Spanish and Portuguese. The original Hebrew form is Raphaela.
 
Rafaela is the most common spelling, followed by Rafaella. But perhaps surprisingly, none of the various spellings are in the US Top 1000. 
 
Jemima Kirke used the Rafaella spelling for her daughter.

Rafaella

A bright sounding name with a serious and spiritual meaning, Ezelio is a form of Eselias, itself the Greek variation of Hebrew Atsalyahu. It ranked in the US data for the first time in 2024, when it was given to 53 boys.
 
Some sources suggest Ezelio comes from Ezell, contracted from of Ezekiel.

Ezelio

An international name that, while short and simple, sounds strong and distinctive, stylish and sweet all at once. It may appeal to those who want a name that works in multiple languages, while also feeling fresh and charming.
 
From its Sanskrit roots, Manu means "thinking, wise", while in Hindu tradition is a title of the progenitor of humans. In Polynesian languages, such as Hawaiian and Māori, it means "bird". 
Alternatively, it is the Finnish form of Magnus (meaning "greatest"), while in Spanish, German, French and English, it is a diminutive for the Hebrew names Emmanuel and its variations, giving it the spiritual meaning "God is with us".
 
From its Akan and Ghanaian roots, it refers to a second born child and may also be spelled as Mǎnu.

Manu

Gabe ranked in the Top 1000 from 1880 until 1905, when it fell into obscurity.  There are fewer than 100 boys named Gabe, just plain Gabe, each year in the US, compared with over 10,000 named Gabriel. Our advice: Go with the crowd and choose the angelic long form, and then call him Gabe if you want to.

Gabe

Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.

Jeanne

An unusual Biblical name with modern appeal, borne by the father of Gideon, a king of Judah, and a son of King Ahab of Israel.

Joash

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 23)

873+ Names That Mean God