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Fresh Biblical Boy Names

LalaLu
By LalaLu
Updated Thu May 25 2023
less common biblical boy names
  1. Amos

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "carried by God"

    • Description:

      Amos is a robust biblical name that's being discovered by a new generation of parents in a major way.
  2. Barnabus

    • Description:

      Barnabus is a variant spelling of Barnabas, a name of Aramaic origin meaning 'son of consolation' or 'son of encouragement.' The name appears in the Christian New Testament, belonging to an early Christian disciple known for his missionary work with Paul. This biblical connection has made the name enduring across centuries, particularly in religious communities. The variation with 'u' instead of 'a' in the final syllable emerged through spelling evolution over time. Barnabus carries connotations of kindness, generosity, and supportive nature, reflecting the character of its biblical namesake. Despite its ancient roots, the name has never been extremely common, maintaining a dignified, scholarly air while avoiding overuse. It offers a substantial historical option with a distinctive sound.

  3. Caleb

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "dog; whole heart"

    • Description:

      Caleb is an attractive Old Testament name that has been in the US Top 100 for nearly three decades now. Consistently popular but never too popular, Caleb feels more like a classic than a momentary trend.
  4. Darius

    • Origin:

      Latin, Greek, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "possessing goodness"

    • Description:

      Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings. His name today has an appealingly artistic image, which might well be found on a concert program or gallery announcement.
  5. Ezra

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "help"

    • Description:

      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 spelling and deep roots could make it a worth successor to Elijah in the Top 10 -- or even to Liam or Noah at Number 1.
  6. Felix

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "happy, fortunate"

    • Description:

      Felix is one of those ancient but nontraditional names for boys that have come into favor over the past few decades, a favorite of parents who want a masculine name with history and heft that breaks ranks with the standard Franks and Freds. Felix is also an international darling, ranking in the Top 100 in several European and English-speaking countries.
  7. Gideon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "hewer; or, having a stump for a hand"

    • Description:

      Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.
  8. Hosea

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "salvation"

    • Description:

      Since so many of the biblical prophet names -- Daniel, Jonah, Nathan, Samuel -- are overused, you might want to consider this distinctive alternative. Hosea was the author of the book of prophesies bearing his name, whose underlying message was a promise of restoration. The Talmud claims that he was the greatest prophet of his generation.
  9. Isaac

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "laughter"

    • Description:

      Isaac has shaved off his biblical beard and leaped into the upper echelon of popular boys' names, outrunning cousin Isaiah. A favorite of the Puritans, Isaac has never dipped below Number 400 on the US list of top boy names.
  10. Jude

    • Origin:

      Latin diminutive of Judah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "praised"

    • Description:

      Jude is a modern star, maintaining a steady level of popularity -- but not TOO much popularity, in the US at least. Thank Jude Law and the great Lennon-McCartney song "Hey Jude", double-handedly responsible for propelling Jude up the charts.
  11. Kenan

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "possession"

    • Description:

      The biblical character Kenan was a great-grandson of Adam and a direct ancestor of Noah. As in Christianity, Kenan is honored in Islam.
  12. Levi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "joined, attached"

    • Description:

      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.
  13. Malachi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my messenger"

    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Gaelic lilt, Malachi entered the list in 1987.
  14. Nathaniel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Nathaniel was derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, meaning "gift of God," composed of the elements natan, meaning "to give," and ’el, in reference to God. The name is featured several times in the Old and New Testaments, typically spelled Nathanael. In the New Testament, Nathanael is also known by his other name, Bartholomew.
  15. Obadiah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "servant of God"

    • Description:

      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 the Bible, was a rich man who had the gift of prophecy. There are several other men named Obadiah in the Bible, as well as a Saint Obadiah. There have been two prominent U.S. senators named Obadiah.
  16. Phineas

    • Origin:

      English, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "the Nubian"

    • Description:

      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 Egyptians distinguished themselves from their Nubian neighbors through differences in skin tone.
  17. Rufus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "red-head"

    • Description:

      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.
  18. Solomon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Solomon, a name that evokes wisdom and peace, is an Old Testament name that, along with other patriarchal classics, is finally beginning to shed its long white beard and step from the pages of the Old Testament into modern nurseries.
  19. Titus

    • Origin:

      Latin, meaning unknown, possibly "title of honour"

    • Meaning:

      "title of honour"

    • Description:

      Titus, once seen as a slightly forbidding Roman, New Testament, and Shakespearean name, was brought back to contemporary life in the USA by the TV series Titus 2000, increasing in popularity along with other revived ancient names like Linus and Silas.
  20. Uzziah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my power is Yahweh"

    • Description:

      Uzziah was an Old Testament king of Judah, among other personages. The initial U is a bit funky for modern tastes; we don't see this one enjoying a revival ala Isaiah and Noah anytime soon.