Christian (First) Names

Curious what your name means in scripture? I started tracking these names to tell people what their name means. All of these name are out of the bible. If the bible didn't describe the name, I used the Smith Bible Dictionary to check it out.

Most (about 99%) of the names in my list are of good bible characters, so the names have a powerful or in general a very positive meaning. On the other hand Claudius was a weak Roman emporer (hence the meaning "lame") and I'm sure you would'nt want to name your kid after him....

Name spelling tends to mutate over the years (Sarai v/s Sarah for example) or names differ depending on the geographical region. Tabitha in the Book of Luke is also called Dorcas depending on which bible you read. Both have the same meaning. John (the Greek) and Mark (the Latin) is another example of geographical differences.

Lastly, towards the bottom of this page is my miscelanius name section. The name here arent "people" namesm rather they are name of places and things. For example Zion. It's my daughters middle name. It can be used for either male or female.

Female Chrisitian Names

A

Abigail (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 25:3 - the father's joy.

Abihail (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 2:29 - the father is strength.

Abishai (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 26:6 - the present of my father.

Adah (Hebrew) - Gen. 4:19 - an assembly.

Adina (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 11:42 - adorned; voluptuous; dainty; slender.

Adriel (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 18:19 - the flock of God.

Angela (Greek) - Gen. 16:7 - Angelic.

Anna (Greek, from Hebrew) - Luke 2:36 - gracious; one who gives.

Ariel (Hebrew) - Ezra 8:16 - altar; light or lion of God.

Artemis (Greek) - Acts 19:24 - whole, sound.

Atarah (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 2:26 - a crown.

B

Bathsheba (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 11:3 - the seventh daughter; the daughter of satiety.

Bernice (Greek) - Acts 25:13 - one that brings victory.

Bethany (Hebrew) - Matt. 21:17 - the house of song; the house of affliction.

Bethel (Hebrew) - Gen. 12:8 - the house of God.

Beulah (Hebrew) - Isaiah 62:4 - married.

Bilhah (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:29 - who is old or confused.

C

Candace (Ethiopian) - Acts 8:27 - who possesses contrition.

Carmel (Hebrew) - Joshua 12:22 - circumcised lamb; harvest; full of ears of corn.

Charity (Latin) - 1 Cor. 13:1-13 - dear.

Chloe (Greek) - 1 Cor. 1:11 - green herb.

Claudia (Latin) - 2 Tim. 4:21 - lame.

D

Damaris (Greek, Latin) - Acts 17:34 - a little woman.

Deborah (Hebrew) - Judges 4:4 - word; thing; a bee.

Delilah (Hebrew) - Judges 16:4 - poor; small; head of hair.

Diana (Latin) - Acts 19:27 - luminous, perfect.

Dinah (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:21 - judgment; who judges.

Dorcas (Greek) (see Tabitha) - Acts 9:36 - a female roe-deer or gazelle.

Drusilla (Latin) - Acts 24:24 - watered by the dew.

E

Eden (Hebrew) - Gen. 2:8 - pleasure; delight.

Edna (Hebrew) - Gen. 2:8 - pleasure; delight.

Elisha (Latin) - Luke 1:5 - salvation of God.

Elisabeth (Hebrew) - oath of God

Elizabeth (Hebrew) - Luke 1:5 - the oath, or fullness, of God.

Esther (Hebrew) - Esther 2:7 - secret; hidden.

Eunice (Greek) - 2 Tim. 1:5 - good victory.

Eva (Hebrew) - Gen. 3:20 - living; enlivening.

Eve (Hebrew) - Gen. 3:20 - living; enlivening.

F

Faith (Latin) - 1 Cor. 13:13 - loyalty; belief.

G

Grace (Latin) - Prov. 3:34 - favor; blessing.

H

Hadassah (Hebrew) - Esther 2:7 - a myrtle; joy.

Hagar (Hebrew) - Gen. 16:1 - a stranger; one that fears.

Hannah (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 1:2 - gracious; merciful; he that gives.

Huldah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 22:14 - the world.

I

J

Jael (Hebrew) - Judges 4:17 - one that ascends.

Jasper (Greek) - Exodus 28:20 - treasure holder.

Jemimah (Hebrew) - Job 42:14 - handsome as the day.

Joanna (Hebrew) - Luke 8:3 - grace or gift of the Lord.

Jochebed (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:20 - glorious; honorable.

Judith (Hebrew) - Gen. 26:34 - the praise of the Lord; confession; jewess.

Julia (Latin) - Romans 16:15 - downy; soft and tender hair.

K

Keturah (Hebrew) - Gen. 25:1 - incense; fragrance.

L

Leah (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:16 - weary; tired.

Lois (Greek) - 2 Tim. 1:5 - better.

Lydia (Greek) - Acts 16:14 - a standing pool.

M

Magdalene (Greek) - Matt. 27:56 - a person from Magdala.

Mara (Hebrew) - Exodus 15:23 - bitter; bitterness.

Marah (Hebrew) - Exodus 15:23 - bitter; bitterness.

Martha (Aramaic) - Luke 10:38 - who becomes bitter; provoking.

Mary (Hebrew) - Matt. 1:16 - rebellion; sea of bitterness.

Michal (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 18:20 - who is perfect?; who resembles God?

Miriam (Hebrew) - Exodus 15:20 - rebellion.

Myra (Greek) - Acts 27:5 - I flow; pour out; weep.

N

Naomi (Hebrew) - Ruth 1:2 - beautiful; agreeable.

Neriah (Hebrew) - Jer. 32:12 - light; lamp of the Lord.

O

Olive (Latin) - Gen. 8:11 - fruitfulness; beauty; dignity.

Ophrah (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - dust; lead; a fawn.

Oprah (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - dust; lead; a fawn.

Orpah (Hebrew) - Ruth 1:4 - the neck or skull.

P

Paula (Latin) - Acts 13:9 - small; little.

Phoebe (Greek) - Rom. 16:1 - shining; pure.

Prisca (Latin) - Acts 18:2 - ancient.

Priscilla (Latin) - Acts 18:2 - ancient.

Q

R

Rachel (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:6 - sheep.

Rebecca (Hebrew) - Gen. 22:23 - fat; fattened; a quarrel appeased.

Rebekah (Hebrew) - Gen. 22:23 - fat; fattened; a quarrel appeased.

Rhoda (Greek, Latin) - Acts 12:13 - a rose.

Rose (Latin) - Song of Sol. 2:1 - a rose.

Ruth (Hebrew) - Ruth 1:4 - drunk; satisfied.

S

Sapphira (English) - Acts 5:1 - that relates or tells.

Sarah (Hebrew) - Gen. 17:15 - lady; princess; princess of the multitude.

Sarai (Hebrew) - Gen. 17:15 - my lady; my princess.

Selah (Hebrew) - Psalm 3:2 - the end; a pause.

Serah (Hebrew) - Gen. 46:17 - lady of scent; song; the morning star.

Sharon (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 5:16 - his plain; his song.

Sherah (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 7:24 - flesh; relationship.

Shiloh (Hebrew) - Joshua 18:8 - peace; abundance; his gift.

Shiphrah (Hebrew) - Exodus 1:15 - handsome; trumpet; that does good.

Susanna (Hebrew) - Luke 8:3 - lily; rose; joy.

Susannah (Hebrew) - Luke - lily; rose; joy.

T

Tabitha (Aramaic) (see Dorcus) - Acts 9:36 - clear-sighted; a roe-deer or gazelle..

Talitha (Aramaic)- Mark 5:41 - little girl; young woman.

Tamar (Hebrew)- Gen. 38:6 - palm or date palm; palm-tree.

Tamara (Hebrew) - Gen. 38:6 - palm or date palm; palm-tree.

Terah (Hebrew) - Num. 33:27 - to breathe; scent; blow.

Tirzah (Hebrew) - Numbers 26:33 - benevolent; complaisant; pleasing.

U

V

Victoria (Latin) - Deut. 20:4 - victory.

W

X

Y

Z

Zemira (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 7:8 - song; vine; palm.

Zilpah (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:24 - distillation from the mouth.

Zina (Greek) - 1 Chron. 23:10 - shining; going back.

Zipporah (Hebrew) - Exodus 2:21 - beauty; trumpet; mourning.

Male Chrisitian Names

A

Aaron (Hebrew) - Ex. 4:14 - a teacher; lofty; mountain of strength.

Abel (Hebrew) - Gen. 4:2 - vanity; breath; vapor.

Abiathar (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 22:20 - excellent father; father of the remnant.

Abihu (Hebrew) - Ex. 6:22 - he is my father.

Abijah (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 7:8 - the Lord is my father.

Abner (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 14:50 - father of light.

Abraham (Hebrew) - Gen.17:5 - father of a great multitude.

Abram (Hebrew) - Gen. 11:27 - high father; exalted father.

Absolom (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 15:2 - father of peace.

Adam (Hebrew) - Gen. 3:17 - earthy; red.

Adonijah (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 3:4 - the Lord is my master.

Alexander (Greek) - Mark 15:21 - one who assists men; defender of men.

Amaziah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 12:21 - the strength of the Lord.

Amos (Hebrew) - Amos 1:1 - loading; weighty.

Ananias (Greek, from Hebrew) - Acts 5:1 - the cloud of the Lord.

Andrew (Greek) - Matt. 4:18 - a strong man.

Apollos (Greek) - Acts 18:24 - one who destroys; destroyer.

Aquila (Latin) - Acts 18:2 - an eagle.

Ariel (Hebrew) - lion of God

Asa (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 15:9 - physician; cure.

Asaph (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 6:39 - who gathers together.

Asher (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:13 - happiness.

Azariah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 4:2 - he that hears the Lord.

B

Barak (Hebrew) - Judges 4:6 - thunder, or in vain.

Barnabas (Greek, Aramaic) - Acts 4:36 - son of the prophet, or of consolation.

Bartholomew (Aramaic) - Matt. 10:3 - a son that suspends the waters.

Baruch (Hebrew) - Neh. 3:20 - who is blessed.

Benaiah (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 8:18 - son of the Lord.

Benjamin (Hebrew) - Gen. 35:18 - son of the right hand.

Bildad (Hebrew) - Job 2:11 - old friendship.

Boaz (Hebrew) - Ruth 2:1 - in strength.

C

Cain (Hebrew) - Gen. 4:1 - possession, or possessed.

Caleb (Hebrew) - Num. 13:6 - a dog; a crow; a basket.

Christian (Greek) - Acts 11:26 - follower of Christ.

Claudius (Latin) - Acts 11:28 - lame.

Cornelius (Latin) - Acts 10:1 - of a horn.

D

Dan (Hebrew) - Gen. 14:14 - judgment; he that judges.

Daniel (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 3:1 - judgment of God; God my judge.

Darius ()- lord

David (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 16:13 - well-beloved, dear.

Demetrius (Greek) - Acts 19:24 - belonging to corn, or to Ceres.

E

Ebenezer (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 4:1 - stone or rock of help.

Elah (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 17:2 - an oak; a curse; perjury.

Eleazar (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:25 - the Lord will help; court of God.

Eli (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 1:3 - the offering or lifting up.

Elihu (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 1:1 - he is my God himself.

Elijah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 17:1 - God the Lord, the strong Lord.

Eliphaz (Hebrew) - Gen. 36:4 - the endeavor of God.

Elisha (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 19:16 - salvation of God.

Elkanah (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:24 - God the zealous; the zeal of God.

Elnathan (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 24:8 - God hath given; the gift of God.

Emmanuel (Latin, Hebrew) - Isaiah 7:14 - God with us.

Enoch (Hebrew) - Gen. 4:17 - dedicated; disciplined.

Ephraim (Hebrew) - Gen. 41:52 - fruitful; increasing.

Esau (Hebrew) - Gen. 25:25 - he that acts or finishes.

Ethan (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 4:31 - strong; the gift of the island.

Ezekiel (Hebrew) - Ezekiel 1:3 - the strength of God.

Ezra (Hebrew) - Ezra 7:1 - help; court.

F

G

Gabriel (Hebrew) - Dan. 9:21 - God is my strength.

Gera (Hebrew) - Gen. 46:21 - pilgrimage, combat; dispute.

Gershon (Hebrew) - Gen. 46:11 - his banishment; the change of pilgrimage.

Gideon (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - he that bruises or breaks; a destroyer.

H

Habakkuk (Hebrew) - Hab. 1:1 - he that embraces; a wrestler.

Haggai (Hebrew) - Ezra 5:1 - feast; solemnity.

Hosea (Hebrew) - Hosea 1:1 - savior; safety.

Hur (Hebrew) - Exodus 17:10 - liberty; whiteness; hole.

Hushai (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 15:37 - their haste; their sensuality; their silence.

I

Immanuel (Hebrew) - Isaiah 7:14 - God with us.

Ira (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 20:26 - watchman; making bare; pouring out.

Isaac (Hebrew) - Gen. 17:19 - laughter.

Isaiah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 19:2 - the salvation of the Lord.

Ishmael (Hebrew) - Gen. 16:11 - God that hears.

Issachar (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:18 - reward; recompense.

Ithamar (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:23 - island of the palm-tree.

J

Jabez (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 2:55 - sorrow; trouble.

Jacob (Hebrew) (see James) - Gen. 25:26 - cheater; that supplants, undermines; the heel.

Jair (Hebrew) - Num. 32:41 - my light; who diffuses light.

Jairus (Hebrew) - Mark 5:22 - my light; who diffuses light.

James (Hebrew) (see Jacob) - Matt. 4:21 - supplanter.

Japheth (Hebrew) - Gen. 5:32 - enlarged; fair; persuading.

Jason (Hebrew) - Acts 17:5 - he that cures.

Javan (Hebrew) - Gen. 10:2 - deceiver; one who makes sad.

Jedidiah (Hebrew) - beloved of Jehovah

Jered (Hebrew) - decendant

Jeremiah (Hebrew) - 2 Chron. 36:12 - exaltation of the Lord.

Jeremy (Hebrew) - 2 Chron. 36:12 - exaltation of the Lord.

Jesse (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 16:1 - gift; oblation; one who is.

Jethro (Hebrew) - Exodus 3:1 - his excellence; his posterity.

Joab (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 26:6 - paternity; voluntary.

Joash (Hebrew) - Judges 6:11 - who despairs or burns.

Job (Hebrew) - Job 1:1 - he that weeps or cries.

Joel (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 8:2 - he that wills or commands.

John (Hebrew) (see Mark) - Matt. 3:1 - gift of God; the grace or mercy of the Lord.

Jonah (Hebrew) - Jonah 1:1 - a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer.

Jonathan (Hebrew) - Judges 18:30 - given of God.

Jordan (Hebrew) - Gen. 13:10 - the river of judgment.

Joseph (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:24 - increase; addition.

Joses (Hebrew) - Matt. 27:56 - raised; who pardons.

Joshua (Hebrew) - Exodus 17:9 - a savior; a deliverer.

Josiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 13:2 - the Lord burns; the fire of the Lord.

Josias (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 13:2 - the Lord burns; the fire of the Lord.

Jotham (Hebrew) - Judges 9:5 - the perfection of the Lord.

Judas (Latin) - Matt. 10:4 - the praise of the Lord; confession.

Judah (Hebrew) - praise

Jude (Latin) - Jude 1:1 - the praise of the Lord; confession.

Justus (Latin) - Acts 1:23 - just or upright.

K

L

Laban (Hebrew) - Gen. 24:29 - white; shining; gentle; brittle.

Lazarus (Hebrew) - Luke 16:20 - assistance of God.

Lemuel (Hebrew) - Prov. 31:1 - God with them, or him.

Levi (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:34 - associated with him.

Lot (Hebrew) - Gen. 11:27 - wrapt up; hidden; covered; myrrh; rosin.

Lucas (Greek) - Col. 4:14 - luminous; white.

Luke (Greek) - Col. 4:14 - luminous; white.

M

Malachi (Hebrew)- Mal. 1:1 - my messenger; my angel.

Manasseh (Hebrew) - Gen. 41:51 - forgetfulness; he that is forgotten.

Marcus (Latin) - Acts 12:12 - polite; shining.

Mark (Latin) (see John) - Acts 12:12 - gift of God; polite; shining.

Matthew (Hebrew) - Matt. 9:9 - given; a reward.

Matthias (Hebrew) - Acts 1:23 - the gift of the Lord.

Melchizedek (Hebrew, German) - Gen. 14:18 - king of justice.

Micah (Hebrew) - Judges 17:1 - poor; humble.

Micaiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 22:8 - who is like to God?

Michael (Hebrew) - Num. 13:13 - poor; humble.

Mishael (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:22 - who is asked for or lent.

Mordecai (Hebrew) - Esther 2:5 - contrition; bitter; bruising.

Moses (Hebrew) - Exodus 2:10 - taken out; drawn forth.

N

Nadab (Hebrew) - - Exodus 6:23 - free and voluntary gift; prince.

Nahum (Hebrew) - Nahum 1:1 - comforter; penitent.

Naphtali (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:8 - that struggles or fights.

Nathan (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 5:14 - given; giving; rewarded.

Nathanael (Hebrew) - John 1:45 - the gift of God.

Nehemiah (Hebrew) - Neh. 1:1 - consolation; repentance of the Lord.

Nekoda (Hebrew) - Ezra 2:48 - painted; inconstant.

Nicodemus (Greek) - John 3:1 - victory or conqueror of the people.

Noah (Hebrew) - Gen. 5:29 - repose; consolation.

O

Obadiah (Hebrew)- 1 Kings 18:3 - servant of the Lord.

Omar (Arabic, Hebrew) - Gen. 36:11 - he that speaks; bitter.

Onesimus (Latin) - Col. 4:9 - profitable; useful.

Othniel (Hebrew) - Joshua 15:17 - lion of God; the hour of God.

P

Paul (Latin) - Acts 13:9 - small; little.

Peter (Greek) - Matt. 4:18 - a rock or stone.

Philemon (Greek) - Phil. 1:2 - loving; who kisses.

Philip (Greek) - Matt. 10:3 - warlike; a lover of horses.

Phineas (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:25 - bold aspect; face of trust or protection.

Phinehas (Hebrew) - Exodus 6:25 - bold aspect; face of trust or protection.

Q

R

Reuben (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:32 - who sees the son; the vision of the son.

Rufus (Latin) - Mark 15:21 - red.

S

Samson (Hebrew) - Judges 13:24 - his sun; his service; there the second time

.

Samuel (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 1:20 - heard of God; asked of God.

Saul (Hebrew) - 1 Sam. 9:2 - demanded; lent; ditch; death.

Seth (Hebrew) - Gen. 4:25 - put; who puts; fixed.

Shadrach (Babylonian) - Dan. 1:7 - tender, nipple.

Shem (Hebrew) - Gen. 5:32 - name; renown.

Silas (Latin) - Acts 15:22 - three, or the third.

Simeon (Hebrew) - Gen. 29:33 - that hears or obeys; that is heard.

Simon (Hebrew) - Matt. 4:18 - that hears; that obeys.

Solomon (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 5:14 - peaceable; perfect; one who recompenses.

Stephen (Greek) - Acts 6:5 - crown; crowned.

T

Thaddaeus (Aramaic) - Matt.10:3 - that praises or confesses.

Theophilus (Greek) - Luke 1:3 - friend of God.

Thomas (Aramaic) - Matt. 10:3 - a twin.

Timothy (Greek) - Acts 16:1 - honor of God; valued of God.

Titus (Latin) - 2 Cor. 2:13 - pleasing.

Tobiah (Hebrew) - Ezra 2:60 - the Lord is good.

Tobias (Hebrew) - Ezra 2:60 - the Lord is good.

U

Uriah (Hebrew) - 2 Sam. 11:3 - the Lord is my light or fire.

Uriel (Hebrew) - fire of God

Uzziah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 15:13 - the strength, or kid, of the Lord.

V

Victor (Latin) - 2 Timothy 2:5 - victory; victor.

W

X

Y

Z

Zacchaeus(Hebrew) - Luke 19:2 - pure; clean; just.

Zachariah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 14:29 - memory of the Lord

Zebadiah (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 8:15 - portion of the Lord; the Lord is my portion.

Zebedee (Greek) - Matt. 4:21 - abundant; portion.

Zebulun (Hebrew) - Gen. 30:20 - dwelling; habitation.

Zechariah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 14:29 - memory of the Lord.

Zedekiah (Hebrew) - 1 Kings 22:11 - the Lord is my justice; the justice of the Lord.

Zephaniah (Hebrew) - 2 Kings 25:18 - the Lord is my secret.

Zerubbabel (Hebrew) - 1 Chron. 3:19 - a stranger at Babylon; dispersion of confusion.

Miscleanius Names

Horab (Hebrew) - inhabitation of God, or peace

Jeruselum (Hebrew) (see Zion) - inhabitation of God, or peace

Zion (Hebrew) (see Jeruselum) - inhabitation of God, or peace

References

Nelson Study Bible (NKJV)

New American Standard Bible (NASB): ISBN 1-885217-72-2

New King James Version Bible (NKJV): ISBN 0-7180-1086-8

American Standard Bible, 1901 Version

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: ISBN 0-917006-01-1

Smith Bible Dictionary: ISBN 0-8407-5542-2

The Laymans Bible Encyclopedia