Historic and Vintage Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Greek
"Persian woman"
Parents seeking a distinctive New Testament name might consider this one. Adopted by some Puritans in the seventeenth century, Persis was used in the William Dean Howells novel The Rise of Silas…
Hebrew, English, Spanish
"helper; sky blue; goshawk"
Spiky and edgy, Azor is a Biblical name that appears in the New Testament as an ancestor of Jesus. It possibly comes from the same Hebrew element as the popular Azariah, giving it the meaning…
"glory to the father"
Sharing an etymology with Cleopatra, this masculine form of the name also has biblical ties. Cleopas was one of the men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus following his resurrection. As a…
Greek mythology name
"water"
The name of the father of the sea nymphs -- or one of its shorter forms such as Nereo or Nerio -- would be somewhat easier for a child to carry than Neptune. The name Nereus is largely forgotten but…
Latin
"curly-haired"
A potential hero name: Crispus Attucks, an African and Native American man, was the first colonist to die for independence in the Boston Massacre.
Roman
"fifth"
This Roman name is featured in the New Testament as that of the governor of Judea.
Russian, Bulgarian, and Macedonian form of Nahum, Hebrew
"comfort"
Naum is a Biblical name, rarely heard outside Russia, Bulgaria and surrounding areas, though alternative form Nahum is beginning to receive more attention in the US. Derived from the Hebrew naham ,…
"god of Nysa"
Dionysius derives from Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, revelry and fertility. This Romanized spelling has been used for poets, soldiers, and saints throughout the centuries, but is hardly ever seen…
"song of the hero"
Greek name featured in the New Testament.
Magdala is a feminine name with profound historical and biblical connections. It derives from the ancient town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, most famously known as the home of Mary Magdalene, an…
"eagle"
Aquilla appears in the New Testament. The name carries powerful symbolism through its association with eagles, conveying qualities of strength, vision, and nobility. Despite its classical origins,…
"resistant, holding fast"
The name of the capital city of ancient Syria, an important centre in early Christianity. Its founder Seleucus I Nictor named it after his father, Antiochus. Antiochus was the name of several early…
"beneficial, profitable"
Rarely used these days, Onesimus was the name of an escaped enslaved man in the Bible who met St. Paul in prison. Its Greek sound is obvious, and its four syllables make it one that might be hard to…
