Historic and Vintage Names · Classic Baby Names
Old Testament Names
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About this list
Old Testament names come from the first few dozen books of the Bible — occurring prior to the birth of Jesus. While historically Old Testament names were commonly used by Christian and Jewish families, many of the Isaacs, Ashers, and Samuels born today do not necessarily come from religious upbringings.
The most popular Old Testament names for boys in the US are currently Noah, Elijah, Benjamin, and Levi. For girls, Naomi, Hannah, Leah, and Delilah are most popular.
Some Old Testament names popular on Nameberry include Cyrus, Ezra, Gideon, and Reuben for boys, and Esther, Miriam, Eve, and Ruth for girls.
Unique Old Testament boy names that are outside of the Top 1000 include short and snappy Omri, Boaz, Jethro, and Zimri, or longer and rhythmic Obadiah, Zebulon, Benaiah, and Mordecai.
Unique Old Testament girl names ranking outside the Top 1000 include short and sweet Adah, Vashti, Dinah, and Zillah, as well as longer but equally spunky options like Zipporah, Athaliah, Keziah, and Abijah.
If you're looking for a name that is classic and timeless, or if you like a fun and fresh vintage revival names, here is our full list of Old Testament names.
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The names
Noah
Hebrew
"rest, repose"
Noah is nearly a patriarch of popular baby names at this point, going from Old Testament graybeard to Top 10 name in 2009, hitting Number 1 in 2013, and now settled into second place in the US for…
Elijah
Hebrew
"Yahweh is God"
The Top 10 boys' name Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, composed of the elements ’el and yah , both of which refer to God. In the Old Testament, Elijah was the prophet who went to…
Benjamin
Hebrew
"son of the right hand"
Benjamin is a biblical name that has enjoyed widespread favor for decades, ranking in the US Top 50 for almost half a century and the Top 10 from 2015 until 2023. One of those golden boys' names that…
Levi
Hebrew
"joined, attached"
Levi, lighter and more energetic than most biblical names, with its up vowel ending, combines Old Testament gravitas with the casual flair associated with Levi Strauss jeans. Now it's being…
Elias
Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew
"Yahweh is God"
Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today. While it may sound cool and fresh, Elias is a name with history…
Samuel
Hebrew
"told by God"
Samuel has been so popular for so long that it's hard to believe it's still climbing, ranking in the US Top 20, just as it did all the way back in the 1880s. Friendly, solid, and versatile, it has…
Ezra
Hebrew
"help"
Ezra has a lot going for it: the strength of its heroic Biblical legacy, its quirky sound, and its fresh but familiar feel. Ezra is now at its highest point ever, but its intuitive streamlined…
Daniel
Hebrew
"God is my judge"
Daniel is one of only a handful of male names that sounds both classic and modern, strong yet approachable, and popular but not cliched. It also has a solid Old Testament pedigree. The only real…
Asher
Hebrew
"fortunate, blessed, happy one"
Asher—an excellent, soft and sensitive Old Testament choice—is a baby boy name on the rise, and is a Nameberry biblical favorite. Asher's ascent is especially amazing given that the took a…
Joseph
Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Joseph is one of the most classic names in American nomenclature, popular with parents from many ethnic backgrounds and having dual-religious appeal. The warm and friendly nickname Joe is the…