seeker's list "Boy names that I like" of 4 great name ideas: Ozias - janu!

Boy names that I like

A cool Biblical option that entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024, Ozias gets extra points for its user-friendly nicknames Oz and Ozzie or Ozzy. Given to around 280 boys in 2024, it is five times more popular than it was in 2014.

Deriving from the Hebrew Uzziah, Ozias is the name of several minor figures in the Greek and Latin Bible, most notably the king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. It also has a literary connection in the form of the wonderfully named Ozias Midwinter from Wilkie Collins' 19th century sensationalist novel Armadale. Several characters in the novel describe the name as "horrible", claiming that "no sane human being would assume such a name as Ozias", but we — and a growing number of parents —would disagree.

With its in-style letter Z and nickname potential, Ozias could work as a (currently) less popular alternative to Ezra, Silas, Oscar, or Orion, and parents are certainly catchy on to it. Ozias was one of the fastest rising names of 2024.

Ozias

With Azariah and Azriel in the Top 1000, and Ezra, Josiah, and Isaiah in the Top 100, it makes sense that this lesser known Hebrew choice is being revived in the US. Most likely deriving from Uzziah or Azaziah, Azaiah, it was a fast rising choice in 2024 when it rose more than 350 places, entering the Top 1000 for the first time. 
 
Chosen for around 270 boys and 24 girls, for now it may appeal to those who like Azariah but don't want a name that is split 40:60 between the sexes.

Azaiah

An interesting bird name choice if you're seeking a nonbiblical Hebrew name. The zippy Z sound is appealing to more parents, and Zamir entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022 and was one of the fastest rising names in 2023. 
 Zamir is also an Albanian name, meaning "good voice", while in Arabic, it is an alternative transliteration of Damir, meaning "conscious, heart, and mind".
 
The alternative spelling Zymir is also on the rise and when you consider both options together, the name begins to feel as popular as Rome, Seth, Ford or Leland.

Boy names that I like

The names

Ozias

Azaiah

Zamir

janu