Names That Mean God

Zeke is a casual form of the name Ezekiel, an important prophet from the Old Testament. How well Zeke holds up depends on the boy: it could be a cooler alternative of Zack, or it could prove too close to "geek." Both Zeke and Ezekiel lag behind in popularity on the UK charts.
 On Sons of Anarchy, Zeke is spelled Zeek. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot goes by Zeke.

Zeke

This quintessentially common last name makes a distinctive if  first, given to more than 230 babies in the US in the most recent year counted. It has doubled in use over the last decade.

Jones

Naya is a multi-cultural name that might be related to Nia and Naia but is also a name on its own. The Sanskrit and Hebrew meanings noted above are the most common. It may also be an Arabic name related to music.

Naya Rivera was a popular actress on Glee whose life and tragic drowning death helped popularize the name.

Naya

Popularized by Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Jr., Teddy is a sweet but substantial choice, similar in style to the likes of Charlie, Freddie, and Bertie. Appearing in the US Top 1000 for most of the 20th-century, it disappeared in the 90s, but, as of 2023, it has been back in the charts. 
 
Traditionally used as a nickname for Edward and Theodore, Teddy is of course associated with the cuddly teddy bear (named for the president), meaning "bear" names like Arthur might even get you to Teddy. Additionally, it could work for rarer choices like Tancred, Thaddeus, Endymion, and Edgar. 
 
Hugely popular in England and Wales, Teddy appeared in the Top 50 in a recent year.

Teddy

This name, which is the Spanish version of the Hebrew name of one of the archangels, Yehudiel, appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2008 and has been on and off the charts since. Angel-esque boy names ending in L are especially stylish right now, meaning we may see Yadiel continue to climb.
 Yadiel Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional baseball player.

Yadiel

This most proper form of the name shot up the charts in the nineties, only to sink just as precipitously, supplanted by upstarts Makayla and McKayla ad infinitum. The Michaela version retains some elegance as the closest feminine form to the original.

Michaela

Melodic and stylish, Elani blends the lani ending of Hawaiian names like Alani, Kalani and Leilani, with the sounds and beginning of choices like the Hebrew Eliana, the Greek Eleni, and the classic Eleanor. 
 
The name entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2024, coming in at #989. Given to 260 girls, it might be one to watch out for.

Elani

Despite being associated with male characters in the Bible, Anaiah is much more common for girls in the US. In Puerto Rico, Anaiah ranks in the Top 100.

Anaiah

This international variant of the popular Jeremiah refreshes the Old Testament name by lending it the stylish -s ending of Silas, Ozias, and Amias. Popular in Czechia and Puerto Rico, Jeremias entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.
 
Pronounced as yeh-reh-MEE-as in German, YEH-reh-mee-ahs in Finnish, kheh-reh-MEE-as in Spanish, and zheh-reh-MEE-as in Portuguese, it is possible English speakers may choose to use the jeh-reh-MIE-us pronunciation. 
 
The name had lingered towards the very bottom of the US charts until 2024 when it became a fast rising choice, climbing more than 180 places in a year. Chosen for 314 babies, popular short forms include Jarkko, Jere, Jarmo, Jez, and Jem, though Remi could work too.

Jeremias

Arisbeth is a name that feels poetic and fantastical like Arwen or Amoret, but equally familiar and sunny, like Marisol. It is in fact a name used primarily in Mexico and by Hispanic parents in the US, who've made it one of the hottest unique names.
 
The name can be considered either a variation of Elizabeth, or as a compound name, blending Ariel (or any other Ari- beginning name) with the classic Elizabeth. Playing around with this could give you different meanings. By using Ariel, you get "lion pledged to God", whereas Aria gives you "song promised to God" and Ariana gets you "most holy pledge to God".
 
Used on 313 babies in a recent year, it's nine times more popular than it was a decade ago, and when you combine this with alternative spelling Arizbeth, the name is even more popular.

Arisbeth

Johanna is the version of this name used in Holland, Germany, and Scandinavia. The extra h makes Johanna a slightly more dignified version of Joanna. 
 A notable namesake is the author of Heidi, Johanna Spyri. There are Johannas in Sweeney Todd, The Hunger Games, and the Bob Dylan song, "Visions of Johanna."

Johanna

Eliezer is a Biblical name with an air of antiquity, a distinctive sound, and hint of mystery. The name has been in and out of the US Top 1000 since the 80s, with its most recent appearance being in 2023, when it was given to more than 200 babies.
 
Derived from Hebrew, Eliezer means "God is help" and it is the name of several figures in the Old Testament. Most notably, Eliezer was one of Moses' sons and Moses rather helpfully explains his name choice in Exodus 18:4 as: "the other was named Eliezer, for..."My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh." 
 
While it may feel ancient and bold, the currently lower ranking of Eliezer in the US is nevertheless almost surprising. It not only offers up the stylish nickname Eli, but it also shares the sounds and vibes of the on-trend Elijah, Ezra, Ezekiel and Asher. With this in mind, it is possible that Eliezer could climb the charts in the next few years.

Eliezer

Nael - or Naël as it is often spelled - originated as a French diminutive of names ending in -nael, though in recent years, it has risen up the charts as a standalone choice. A Top 100 name in France, it is also popular in Belgium and Switzerland, where it fits in beside Léo, Sacha, Lou, Noé, and Ben.
 
Traditionally deriving from Nathanael, meaning "gift of God", or Gwenael, meaning "blessed and generous", Nael could also be a variation of the Arabic and Turkish name Nail. Meaning "winner", "brave" or "attainer", Nail (as Naïl) is also familiar in France, and can be alternatively spelled as Nayel, Naail, and Nael. 
 
Rarely used in the US before the 2010s, Nael entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2025 when it was given to 263 boys. It has additionally charted in the Top 500 in the Netherlands, the Top 100 in Puerto Rico, and the Top 1000 in England and Wales, reflecting its more international appeal.

Nael

Elyse hasn't been heard much since the 80s, but it's beginning to be reconsidered as a possibIlity again, now that it's not so much seen as a Mom name, as it was in the TV show "Family Ties."  A spelling variation of Elise, it's another variation of Elizabeth.  Many parents today would opt for Eliza.

Elyse

Shmuel is a Modern Hebrew variation of Samuel used almost exclusively by Orthodox Jewish families. Very popular in Israel, Shmuel also appeared on the US Top 1000 list in 2017, 2022, and 2023 and is given to around 240 boys each year. 

Shmuel

This spelling of the classic name is found in France, Germany, Greece, and other cultures, and is worn by such notables as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth Shue, Elisabeth Moss, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The name's pronunciation is usually just like the Z version, but some parents choose this because they want to discourage the Liz or Lizzie short forms and so pronounce it as if it has Lisa in the middle.
 Elisabeth is nicknamed Bethsy in the 2008 film adaptation of Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks, Bep in The Diary of Anne Frank, and Betsy in the Wolverine universe.

Elisabeth

One of the many South Asian names skyrocketing up the U.S. popularity charts. This one, with its user-friendly similarity to Ryan, was brought to the fore when Bollywood superstar Karisma Kapoor used it for her son in 2010.

Kiaan

While Jairus is rare, this Spanish variation is heard in the US, having ranked in the Top 1000 for the last three decades. It currently ranks in the latter end of the charts, while similar sounding Kairo, Cairo, and Kyro rank higher. 
 Jairo Penaranda is a former professional football player, having the distinction of being the first Colombian to play in the NFL.

Jairo

An attractive, surprisingly uncommon variation of Josiah. To give you an idea of how comparatively rare Josias is, there were about 200 baby boys named Josias in the US last year, versus nearly 6000 named Josiah.

But Josias might pick up steam as s-ending names from Atticus to Brooks become more and more popular. Josias is a biblical name in some variations of the New Testament.

Josias

Streamlined version of the classic boys' names, sometimes a short form of Jonathan, which is in fact an entirely different name from John attached to a different Biblical personage. Jon feels more modern than the traditional John, but some may find it an overly slight variation on an already slim name. Jon Snow is a popular character on HBO's Game of Thrones.

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 8)

873+ Names That Mean God