Modern Christian Baby Names
- Kyrie
Origin:
Short form of Kyra or GreekMeaning:
"Lord"Description:
Kyrie elieson is one of the oldest religious refrains, meaning Lord, have mercy. As a first name, though, Kyrie is less a name of God and more a nickname-name that might be short for Kyra or a diminutive that stands on its own, a la Kylie. The best-known Kyrie is the male basketball player Kyrie Irving, who pronounces the first syllable to rhyme with my rather than fear. He has inspired more than 1000 baby boys to be given this name one recent year in the US, while it was given to 178 baby girls. Impressive numbers.
- Miracle
Origin:
Word name, LatinMeaning:
"wonder, marvel"Description:
A surprisingly popular spiritual name that entered the US Top 500 in 2003. As of 2023, it is still a Top 500 choice, where it fits in with similar bold word names like Chosen, Blessing, and Dream. Miracle is a familiar name in Nigeria too, where it is used as a unisex option.
- Heaven
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Among the children named Heaven are the daughters of TV personality Brooke Burke and rap singer Lil' Mo, who also has a daughter named God'iss Love. Some parents have taken to using Nevaeh instead—Heaven spelled backwards.
- Amen
Origin:
Word name or variation of AmonDescription:
Brother for Heaven or Nevaeh.
- Requiem
Origin:
Word name, LatinMeaning:
"rest; act or token of remembrance; Mass or musical composition for the souls of the dead"Description:
A word name with grandeur, musicality, and a hint of spirituality, Requiem could have the nickname Remi. Associated with remembrance, Catholic Mass, and music for the dead, it more literally means "rest". It has never been used as a name, as yet.
- Sinai
Origin:
Biblical place name, HebrewMeaning:
"hatred"Description:
A sacred place to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, Mount Sinai is where Moses received the Ten Commandments and also the name of the peninsula on which the mountain stands.
- Soul
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"soul, spirit"Description:
A charming addition to the ever-growing crop of virtue names, Soul is a warm yet mystical choice with links to spirituality, feelings, and music. While it is a bold word name, its similarity to Sol and Sal grounds it slightly.
- Leviticus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"belonging to the Levites"Description:
Old Testament book way too heavy to carry.
- Chapel
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"small Christian church"Description:
Spiritual word names are a hot trend and ever-expanding category of baby names. Chapel was notably used in 2020 by Josh Brolin for his daughter. He said of her name, "Chapel Grace is, to us, a manifestation of that celestial feeling that was always felt as we meandered and knelt."
- Cedar
Origin:
English from Latin tree nameMeaning:
"cedar tree"Description:
A fresh and fragrant nature name, Cedar is one of the new tree/wood names that parents are starting to consider. While it is currently more popular for boys, it sounds similar enough to Selah, Celia, Freda, Sailor, and Ida, it doesn't feel out of place for any gender.
- Jireh
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to see; the Lord will provide"Description:
Jireh is a spiritual name that has been rising significantly for both sexes in recent years, although still remains quite rare. Jehovah-Jireh was the location of the binding of Isaac, where Jehovah told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering.
- True
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"true"Description:
Many parents seeking a return to more basic values and a simpler lifestyle are turning to such virtuous girls' names as Grace, Faith, and Hope, but there are a handful that work just as well on boys, including True.
- Cross
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"cross"Description:
Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.
- Verse
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"verse"Description:
Page, Poet, and Story all get used as names, so why not Verse? Teen Mom's Kailyn Lowry used it as a name for one of her sons.
- Hallelujah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God be praised"Description:
This bold musical word name is given to just a handful of baby girls per year in the US, but it has a very contemporary sound. Hallie and Lou/Lulu would make for more mainstream nicknames. Lovers of the music and lyrics of Leonard Cohen might also appreciate the link to one of his most successful hits.
- Calvary
Origin:
English from Latin, place nameDescription:
In the Bible, Calvary is the hill outside of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. This religious significance, along with a pleasant sound, have led some parents to begin using it as a name for their daughters.
- Epiphany
Origin:
Word name, GreekMeaning:
"manifestation, striking appearance"Description:
Spiritual in multiple senses of the word, Epiphany has been given to a handful of girls since the late 1980s, peaking in 1988 when it was given to 55 babies, following the release of the movie Angel Heart in 1987, which featured a character of the name, played by Lisa Bonet.
- Cardinal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"principal; bird"Description:
Whether you like Cardinal for its connections to the songbird, religious connotations, or even sports ties, this unique new name fits in with today's name landscape. Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden used it for their son, born in 2024, but it could just as easily be used on a daughter — perhaps with the nickname Cardi.
- Emmaus
Origin:
Greek place name from AramaicMeaning:
"hot spring"Description:
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appears to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus after his death, burial and resurrection.
- Nazareth
Origin:
Hebrew place nameMeaning:
"branch, shoot; watch, guard"Description:
Nazareth, an important place in the New Testament as the hometown of Jesus, is on the rise as a name for both girls and boys. It's one of a handful of Biblical place names, along with Galilee and Jericho, stylish among contemporary Christians.
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