Modern Christian Names

For parents who are looking for a religious name that's more on trend and less traditional.
  1. Abbot
    • Amen
      • Origin:

        Word name or variation of Amon
      • Description:

        Brother for Heaven or Nevaeh.
    • Brielle
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "hunting grounds"
      • Description:

        Though it sounds so modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, but it has now spread far beyond that community. Brielle is also the name of a historic seaport in the western Netherlands.
    • Chaplin
      • Origin:

        English and French surname
      • Meaning:

        "clergyman of a chapel"
      • Description:

        Chaplin carries two very distinctive images: the beloved Little Tramp and a minister, often to the military. It was the baby-name choice of Ever Carridine in 2010.
    • Cruz
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "cross"
      • Description:

        For a single-syllable Latino surname, this new popular kid on the block packs a lot of energy and charm and is one of the most stylish Spanish names for boys in general use today. Victoria and David Beckham named their third son Cruz, following Brooklyn and Romeo, and it was also picked up on by tennis star Lleyton Hewitt for his son. Other parents may prize its Christian associations.
    • Chapel
      • Dean
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "church official"
        • Description:

          Dean may sound to some like a retro surfer boy name, but it is once again climbing up the popularity chart in the USA. For decades it was associated with Dean (born Dino) Martin; more recent representatives include Dean Cain, Dean McDermott and Dean Koontz -- not to mention Jared Padalecki's dreamy Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls.
      • Evie
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Eve or Eva
        • Meaning:

          "life"
        • Description:

          Evie was derived from Eve, which in turn comes from Chawwah, a Hebrew name related to the concept of life. Evie can be used as a nickname for any name that starts with Ev-, including Eva, Evelyn, and Evangeline, but also for names such as Genevieve and Maeve. Evie is typically pronounced with a long E sound, but a short E is also valid.
      • Hope
        • Origin:

          Virtue name
        • Description:

          Can a name as virtuous as Hope be cool and trendy? Strangely enough -- yes. But though this optimistic Puritan favorite is experiencing substantial popularity, Hope is too pure and elegant to be corrupted, a lovely classic that deserves all the attention it's getting.
      • Hosanna
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "deliver us"
        • Description:

          In the New Testament this was exclaimed by those around Jesus when he first entered Jerusalem. An exuberant choice!
      • Jubilee
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "ram's horn"
        • Description:

          Jubilee has a joyous and jubilant aura, but it wouldn't be an easy name to carry, what with all that pressure to be a living, breathing, 24-7 party. Jubilee was the name selected by television's Duggars for their miscarried child.
      • Noelle
        • Origin:

          French
        • Meaning:

          "Christmas"
        • Description:

          Noelle is the feminine variation of Noël, a masculine given name derived from the French word for "Christmas." As a word, Noël originated as a variant of nael, which evolved from the Latin natalis, meaning "birth." Noelle and Noel have traditionally been given to children born around Christmastime, particularly in the Middle ages.
      • Paisley
        • Origin:

          Scottish
        • Meaning:

          "church, cemetery"
        • Description:

          For a name related to a Scottish town, a patterned Indian fabric, and a country singer named Brad, Paisley has seen remarkable success. After appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, it is now an American favorite.
      • Parson
        • Origin:

          English occupational name
        • Meaning:

          "clergyman"
        • Description:

          The name Parson might have seemed ridiculous even a few years ago, but when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe named their son Deacon, they opened up a whole new field of ecclesiastical cool. Bishop, Priest, and Pastor are other possibilities.
      • Parish
        • Selah
          • Origin:

            Hebrew
          • Meaning:

            "praise, pause"
          • Description:

            The name is derived from the term commonly used in the Book of Psalms, which has a many Hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning. Given its context in the Bible, Selah is likely to mean "to praise" or "pause and reflect upon what has just been said." Lauryn Hill used this name for her daughter. It is the last word in Anita Diamant's novel The Red Tent.
        • Shepherd
          • Origin:

            Occupational name
          • Meaning:

            "sheep hearder"
          • Description:

            Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant pastoral feel. It was chosen for their son by the Jerry Seinfelds, which might inspire others to follow their lead.
        • Wade
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "at the river crossing"
          • Description:

            Wade has never been outside the US Top 1000 for boys - there's a reason for that. It has a clean spelling, fresh sound and is neither too trendy (unlike Kade or Cade) or too old-school (like Richard or Albert). We think Wade is a winning name.
        • Zion
          • Origin:

            Hebrew
          • Meaning:

            "highest point"
          • Description:

            Zion has taken off in recent years, especially after singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son in 1997 and incorporated the name into a hit song. It combines a user-friendly Ryan-Brian sound with the gravitas of religious significance. The Hebrew pronunciation is 'tzeeyon'.