Francophile Naming Guide –– Biblical Names for Boys and Girls
By vintageluvs
Updated Tue May 16 2023
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Taken from "La Sainte Bible" translated by Louis Segond. I love these names because a lot of them are Hebrew relics, but because of our Judeo-Christian heritage, everyone can really celebrate in those wonderful names that mix Hebrew and French into a ethnic blend. Thought Obadiah and Malachi were unusual? Think again! Some of these are unisex, so feel free to use Néhémie on a girl (talk to me if you do so!). If you want to know the gender of each name, talk to me since many of these names aren't registered on Nameberry!
- Aaron
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"high mountain; exalted, enlightened"Description:
Aaron is a name of subtle contrasts: an unusual spelling that is easily recognizable; a solid Biblical choice that doesn’t feel exclusively tied to religion; a well-established name for boys but sometimes confused with the girls’ name, Erin; used internationally but with notably different pronunciations; classic like Andrew but not out of place with recent favorites like Weston or Jayden.
- Abba
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father"Description:
Double exposure: 1970s rock sensation (Mamma Mia) and scholar/diplomat name in Israel.
- Abdeel
- Abel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"breath"Description:
Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing.
- Abija
- Abraham
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father of multitudes"Description:
Abraham is among the most classic baby names that's still widely-used today, popular for its references to both the Bible and American history. The Biblical Abraham was the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and is considered the founding father of the Jewish people. He was originally named Abram, until, according to Genesis, he was told, "No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations."
- Abram
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father of multitudes"Description:
Abram was Abraham's original name in the Bible; it's more user-friendly but with a bit less gravitas. And it does offer that cool nickname Bram, as well as the friendly Abe. After some early American usage, in 1936 Abram completely disappeared for nearly forty years, until its return in the 1970s.
- Absalom
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father of peace"Description:
Absalom, because of its biblical and literary associations, just might appeal to the daring namegiver.
- Ada
Origin:
German or TurkishMeaning:
"noble, nobility, or island"Description:
Ada is one of the classic baby names for girls that is suddenly super stylish again. A favorite at the end of the nineteenth century, Ada is an alternative to the over-popular Ava. Ada is also part of the trend toward simple, old-fashioned names beginning with a vowel, like Ivy and Ella.
- Adin
- Akkub
- Alexandre
Origin:
French variation of AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
What's the difference between Alexander, the usual English spelling of this deeply classical name, and Alexandre, the French version? English speakers might find the proper French pronunciation challenging: a-lehk-SAHN-dreh, but that last syllable is barely pronounced. Americans might an an a or an ee on the end of the name, or simply pronounce it as Alexander, for better or worse.
- Amon
Origin:
Hebrew, Arabic, Greek from EgyptianMeaning:
"the hidden one; invisible"Description:
In Egyptian mythology, Amon is a major god associated with creation and the air. He was later fused with the Sun god, Ra, and became Amun-Ra.
- Amos
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"carried by God"Description:
Amos is a robust biblical name that's being discovered by a new generation of parents in a major way.
- Ana
Origin:
Variation of HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Confident and compact, Ana is a widely used variation of the Biblical Hannah. Favored in Spain, Slovenia, Bosnia, Portugal, and Croatia, this shorter spelling has the same substance and versatility of its longer counterparts.
- Ananias
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God has given"Description:
Ananias is a New Testament name of three different figures. The two good ones were a high priest and a disciple of Paul. The not good Ananias was the husband of Sapphira who conspired to deceive the apostles and was struck dead.
- Apollos
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"of Apollo"Description:
A Biblical name deriving from the Greek god Apollo. Apollos was a 1st century Alexandrian Jewish Christian and contemporary of Paul the Apostle mentioned several times in the New Testament.
- Aram
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"high elevated"Description:
Aram is a popular Armenian name with a pleasing sound that became known in this country through the works of William Saroyan, namely the 1940 book of short stories, My Name in Aram, centering on Aram Garoghlanian, a boy of Armenian descent growing up in Fresno, California. Saroyan also named his son Aram.
- Asa
Origin:
Hebrew; JapaneseMeaning:
"healer; born in the morning"Description:
A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.
- Auguste
Origin:
French form of Latin AugustusMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
French version of August, for both sexes. And for those who feel the spelling of August is too plain.