Classic Baby Names · Historic and Vintage Names
390+ Biblical Names (with Meanings and Popularity)
Across 21 pages
of 21
Dathan
Hebrew
"fountain"
Obscure Old Testament name that rhymes with (and might be a substitute for) Nathan.
Pharez
Hebrew
"to blossom"
Variation of Perez.
Philemon
Greek
"kiss"
Rarely heard New Testament name -- he was a friend of Saint Paul -- that might conceivably stand up to modern usage.
Philetus
Greek
"beloved"
Obscure name from the New Testament.
Phineas
English, Egyptian
"the Nubian, the bronze-colored one"
Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The…
Pontius
Roman
"fifth"
This Roman name is featured in the New Testament as that of the governor of Judea.
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…
Crispus
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.
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.
Rufus
Latin
"red-head"
Rufus is a rumpled, redheaded (it was the nickname for red-haired King William) ancient Roman name popular with saints and singers (e.g. Rufus Wainwright); now, Rufus is on the cutting edge of cool.…
Cornelius
Latin
"horn"
Cornelius, the New Testament name of a third century Pope and saint, is one of those venerable Latin names on the edge of consideration, despite the corny nickname alert. Cornelius has some magical…
Cleopas
Greek
"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…
Sargon
Hebrew
"true king"
Name of a king featured in the Old Testament.
Cephas
Aramaic
"rock"
The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament, Cephas is translated into Petros in…
Seraiah
Hebrew
"Yahweh is ruler"
Seraiah is an Old Testament name attached to several minor Biblical figures. The father of Ezra the scribe was named Seraiah, as was the father of Joab. While Seraiah sounds somewhat feminine to the…
Sharar
Hebrew
"enemy"
Biblical name from the Old Testament.
Shem
Hebrew
"name"
This down-to-earth Bible name is surprisingly little-used, considering the popularity of other Old Testament names. Shem was Noah's eldest son, and is the origin of the term Semitic (as in the…
Cain
Hebrew
"spear; possessed"
Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and…
Silvanus
Latin
"wood; forest"
In Roman mythology, Silvanus was the god of the forests. He protected farmers and fields and was credited with developing a system for marking field boundaries. Silvanus is the name of a disciple in…
Simeon
Hebrew
"he [God] has heard"
Could Simeon be the next Gideon? Parents seeking a less simple form of Simon might consider this biblical appellation that was chosen by Wynton Marsalis for his son. Simon is actually the Greek…