Classic Baby Names · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names · Historic and Vintage Names
Unusual Biblical Baby Names
Across 13 pages
of 13
Obadiah
Hebrew
"servant of God"
For the seriously audacious biblical baby namer who wants to move beyond Elijah and Josiah, this name has considerable old-fangled charm. Obadiah, who gave his name to one of the shortest books in…
Habakkuk
Hebrew
"embrace"
A minor Old Testament prophet, and a (deservedly) even more minor name.
Reuel
Hebrew
"friend of God"
This soft-yet-sturdy Biblical name belonged to Moses’ father-in-law (also called Jethro) and was the second middle name of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Addar
Hebrew
"mighty one"
The Biblical Addar was a son of King Bela. This obscure name is simple and strong and well-suited to modern life. It feels almost like a cross between Adlai and Asher, two better-known boys' names…
Ara
Armenian
"king"
Ara is a unique boys' name that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a…
Ram
Arabic, Sanskrit, Hebrew
"archer; pleasing; exalted"
One of the most familiar, and assertive, names found throughout the Middle East and India, Ram has an assertive and solid air about it. Derived from a number of different origins, in English speaking…
Joses
Greek variation of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Greek variation of Joseph used in the New Testament. Joses is one of those names that feels at once novel and familiar, perhaps because it also sounds like Moses. An intriguing option.
Jorah
Hebrew
"early rain"
Jorah, a Biblical name with a lovely nature-related meaning, might make a fresher alternative to the overused Jordan. It's similar to the feminine Nora, Cora, and Laura, but depending on your…
Machi
Hebrew
"decrease"
Not ready to go all the way to Malachi? Then take this Biblical shortcut name, with the second syllable rhyming with eye.
Mahlon
Hebrew
"sickly"
Obscure Old Testament name -- he was the son of Naomi and the husband of Ruth -- that's become even more obscure over the past century, perhaps due to its unappealing meaning.
Zerah
Hebrew
"to arise; dawn"
The Biblical Zerah is etymologically related to such names as Zora, which also means dawn. While the vowel sound at the end of the name does not sound as feminine to our modern ear as it once did,…
Rosh
Hebrew
"chief"
Rosh is not Ross, not Rush, but an improvement on both of those more familiar names. The Biblical Rosh was a son of Benjamin, so you might consider it to honor a father or otherwise ancestral…
Mahala
Hebrew and Arabic
"tender"
An interesting and rhythmic name often heard in the Native American community; in fact,in the Gold Rush era in California and Nevada, it was so common that it became a generic English term for a…
Pontius
Roman
"fifth"
This Roman name is featured in the New Testament as that of the governor of Judea.
Abijah
Hebrew
"God is my father"
Abijah is a truly unusual, truly unisex, truly appealing biblical name. There were several male Abijahs in the Bible, one of them, known as Abijah of Judah, was the fourth king of the House of David,…
Philetus
Greek
"beloved"
Obscure name from the New Testament.
Benoni
Hebrew
"son of my sorrow"
What the Old Testament Rachel originally named Benjamin, before his father changed it; rarely heard today.
Jotham
Hebrew
"the Lord is perfect"
Jotham is an Old Testament name that today would certainly be the only one in his class, having something of an urban feel via its similarity to the word 'gotham'. In the Bible one Jotham is the sole…
Joram
Hebrew
"exalted by God"
Biblical name from the Old Testament, and a nice full form of the sweet nickname Jory.
Ithiel
Hebrew
"God is with me"
Biblical name from the Old Testament that was given to 25 baby boys in 2022.