873+ Names That Mean God

Diminutive of Matthijs, the Dutch form of Matthew.

Tew many conflicting word spellings.

A widely used Hebrew form of Joseph, with a sophisticated and continental air.

A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.

The most common form of Elizabeth in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, spelled Alžběta or Alžbeta.

Usually pronounced to rhyme with nice — though others may rhyme it with Jace — Thijs is a popular Dutch name short for that country's form of Matthew. Matt Lauer's half-Dutch son is called Thijs.

The prefix La- was historically used by the Free Blacks of New Orleans in the nineteenth century to indicate paternity. Thus, someone named Lashawn was the son of Shawn, a phonetic spelling of Sean, the Irish variation of John.

More orthodox spelling of a name that also appears as Hazaiah and Hazaia. An obscure Biblical choice that has some modern zest.

A name mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament.

Sweet and bright international form of Josephine, used in many European countries with various pronunciations of the initial J. A notable bearer is Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina spy during World War II.

Samael is an archangel in Talmudic lore — a figure who is the accuser, seducer, and destroyer. He is often made to resemble Satan, although his jobs are not all necessarily evil (such as destroying sins).

This classic, handsome Arabic name — cognate of the Hebrew Ishmael — was chosen by Tan and Rob France for their son born in 2021. Ismail is the preferred spelling in England, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey, while Ismael ranks higher in countries with native Spanish speakers, including the US.

This classic Italian Samuel variation is just as compelling as the original, especially if you have Italian heritage.

Slovene mini name that was once short for names like Doroteja and Mateja, but now is more popular independently.

Nickname form Gaber is currently the more fashionable variation in Slovenia.

The name of several people in the Old Testament, including a son of David. Eliphalet is a variant spelling.

A lively, though obsolete, short form of Elizabeth. Bep is perhaps best known as the name of Elisabeth "Bep" Voskuijl, the Dutch woman who sheltered Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam during World War II.

In Germany, Jannis outranks its parent name, Johannes. Virtually no American babies were given the name in the last year on record.

Iraia is one of those rare names that exists as a male form in one culture -- in this case, Maori -- and in a female form with a totally different meaning and derivation. New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement, who is a descendant of the progressive Wairarapa chief Iraia Te Whaiti, named his son Sophocles Iraia.

Has never left its native milieu.