Unusual Biblical Baby Names

Lazarus

Latinized Greek variation of Hebrew Eleazar

"God is my helper"

Lazarus is a name that looks as if it could possibly be raised from the dead, just like its biblical bearer. Look for it in the next wave of Old Testament revivals that transcend their long-bearded…

Lemuel

Hebrew

"devoted to God"

Lemuel is a neglected Old Testament name, with the friendly nickname Lem, that we're surprised hasn't been picked up on by parents who have known too many Samuels. In the Bible, Lemuel is mentioned…

Mattan

Hebrew

"gift"

Old Testament name that would make a nice alternative to Matteo.

Menahem

Hebrew

"the comforter"

Menahem derives from a Hebrew word meaning "the comforter" King Menahem of the Old Testament did not live up to his name — he was one of Israel’s cruelest kings.

Merari

Hebrew

"bitter"

In the Old Testament, Merari is one of Levi's sons.

Micaiah

Hebrew

"who is like God?"

Spelling variation of Michaiah, an obscure but attractive name used for both men and women in the Bible.

Moab

Hebrew

"from my father"

Moab is a Biblical name and an ancient place name. In the Old Testament, Moab was the son of Lot. The Kingdom of Moab, in modern-day Jordan, was Biblically significant for often being in conflict…

Mordecai

Hebrew

"follower of Marduk"

Mordecai, although it has a noble heritage, has never caught on in this country, because of its rather weighty image. Nevertheless, with parents searching for rarer Biblical names that work as…

Nadab

Hebrew

"generous"

Biblical name from the Old Testament.

Naphtali

Hebrew

"wrestling, struggling"

Rarely used biblical choice -- he's a son of Jacob -- with a bit of a white-bearded image.

Narcissus

Greek

"daffodil"

Mythological young man who fell in love with his own image: the first narcissist.

Nebo

Babylonian mythology name

Sounds like a name from an old science fiction movie -- but this god of letters invented writing, and so might interest parents who are writers or professors.

Herod

Greek

"song of the hero"

Greek name featured in the New Testament.

Nekoda

Hebrew

"marked"

Old Testament name that could work as an alternative to Dakota.

Neriah

Hebrew

"light of Jehovah"

Neriah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah as the father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah. According to the Talmud, Neriah and his sons are all prophets. The name is traditionally…

Nicodemus

Greek

"victory of the people"

This rarely used New Testament name could make an unusual route to the cool nickname Nico. Borne by the person who helps to entomb Jesus following his crucifixion, it has the powerful meaning of…

Obed

Hebrew

"servant of God"

This quirky Old Testament name has potential, as parents are digging deeper into the Bible to find names for their children. It has also been used as a nickname for Obediah. In the Old Testament,…

Omri

Hebrew

"my sheaf"

Old Testament name of a king of Israel, related to the harvest.

Ophir

Hebrew

Biblical place name and masculine given name in the Old Testament.

Haran

Hebrew

"hill, mountain"

Abraham's brother and Caleb's son in the Old Testament, also known as Aran. Haran is one simple and virtually unused Biblical name.