Names That Mean God

Emmanuela is the feminine form of Emmanuel, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God is with us.' This elegant name carries biblical significance as Emmanuel is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah as a name for the Messiah. Less common than its masculine counterpart or the variant Emmanuelle, Emmanuela maintains a graceful, sophisticated quality with international appeal. While relatively rare in English-speaking countries, it has more presence in Latin and Mediterranean communities. The name offers several friendly nicknames including Emma, Ella, Manu, or Manuela, giving its bearer versatility throughout life. Emmanuela combines classical dignity with a melodic quality that makes it both distinctive and timeless.

Emmanuela

Kano

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. 

Lashawn

A form of Matthew with a sound that is has both gentleness and flair. Well used in its native Romania, it is also in the UK Top 500. 

Matei

One of the seven archangels listed in the Book of Enoch, Ramiel is considered to be the angel of hope, guiding faithful souls to heaven and watching over those who will be resurrected. He was fictionalised in Neil Gaiman’s comic series The Sandman.
Ramiel feels like a thoroughly on-trend choice, and an interesting twist on familiar Biblical names like Daniel and Gabriel.

Ramiel

Michelina Matelli was a wealthy Italian woman who became a nun. She was made Saint Michelina in the 1700s.

Michelina

Rida is a name indirectly mentioned in the Quran.  While it can be used for both girls and boys, in English-speaking countries its similarity to the more common Rita makes it more appropriate for girls.

Rida

A form of the Arabic name Zaki, a variation of the Biblical Zaccai, or a contracted form of Zechariah, Zakiah is used as a unisex name in the US. Given to a small handful of babies each year, it is used fairly evenly on both sexes.

Zakiah

This shortened form of Zephaniah makes an original Old Testament choice. It might plausibly make an honor name for Stephen or Stephan, and comes with the appealing short form Zeph.

Zephan

After a century of association with horses and cows, this name just could be ready for revival by a fearless baby namer -- after all, it did happen to Jessie and Becky. 
 Bessie has been in use since the seventeenth century and is found as characters in Jane Eyre and in Sean O'Casey's play The Plough and the Stars. More recently, she was an animated automotive character in the movie Cars.
 On the popularity lists until 1975, Bessie was a Top 25 name from 1880 to 1906, reaching Number 9 in 1889. Notable namesakes include the great blues singer Bessie Smith, and Bessie Coleman, the first African-American female aviator.
 And if you want to go more refined, you could simplify to Bess.

Bessie

Usually derived from the Gavriel — the Hebrew form of Gabriel — Gavi is a cool, casual, and versatile nickname. Notably borne by Spanish footballer Gavi (Pablo Martín Páez Gavira), in this case it may be derived from Gaviria, a Basque name, possibly meaning "town with the blacksmith's hammer". In this case it might be said as gah-bee.

Gavi

This name appears frequently in the Old Testament, notably as the Hebrew name of Shadrach.

Hananiah

Sounds like Horace, looks like the head of a hawk on the body of a human. 

Horus

From obscure male biblical boy's name to unisex favorite, Jadon/Jaden, in all its variations, has had a meteoric rise in popularity, building on Jade and Jada, plus the trendy en ending. 

Jaden

A nickname-y choice with a touch of vintage charm, Jeannie is ultimately a feminine diminutive form of the classic John, via Johanna and Jean. With sounds reminiscent of magical genies and of genius, Jeannie (or sleeker Jeanie) might just have the energy to climb back up the charts, as Joni and Joanie have done.
 
Fitness influencer Alice Liveing named her daughter Jeannie Isabella in 2025, which might remind parents of the name. In a recent count, however, it was given to 22 girls while Jeanie was given to 16.

Jeannie

As a male name, Joni is a nickname for Jon or Jonathan, akin to Johnny or Jonny. It's more commonly used as a girl name, where it originated as a nickname for Joan.

Joni

To most English speakers, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan, the daughter played by Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love, and another name for Grandma, however, it is also a diminutive of Nancy and Anna (meaning "grace"), of Ioanna or Joanna (meaning "God is gracious"), and of a whole variety of similar sounding choices, such as Diana, Oriana, Fernanda, and Inanna.
 
As a Hawaiian name, Nana may derive from Puna meaning "spring" (as in the season) or from nani meaning "beauty". Additionally, it is used as a Japanese name, meaning "vegetables, greens", and a (unisex) Akan title for a monarch. 
 
Nana is currently in the England and Wales Top 1000 for boy boys and girls.

Nana

A partially anglicized form of two Scottish names — Seònaid or Seonag — Seona can be pronounced as SHAW-nuh or SHO-nuh. Since Seònaid (SHAW-nat) is a Scottish variation of Janet and Seonag (SHO-nak) is a variant of Joan, they share the same roots, meaning Seona is ultimately a Scottish feminine form of John.
 
More popularly appearing as Shona, a notable bearer is art administrator Seona Reid DBE. 
 
While SHAW-nuh and SHO-nuh are the more traditional pronunciations, see-o-nuh is sometimes used, either as a reinterpretation of the name, or if it is being used as an alternative spelling of Siona or Ciona.

Seona

Yoadan is the Amharic form of the biblical name Jehoaddan — a queen of Israel. Yoadan debuted on the charts in 2021, likely due to Ethiopian influencer Yoadan Ephrem.

Yoadan

Likely inspired by Isaiah, Azariah, and similar, with a bit of Maia and Kaia thrown in too, Zaiah is a quietly used unisex option. Stevie Wonder named his daughter Zaiah in 2013. 
 
The name could also take inspiration from Zaya meaning "fate, destiny" in Mongolian, or "victory" in Sanskrit and Burmese, or the Arabic Ziya meaning "splendor".

Zaiah

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 28)

873+ Names That Mean God