Table of Contents
Abrahamic Study Hall · Scripture & language
Meanings of names
in the Bible
Explore the names of Scripture, their origins, and the stories they carry.
Explore the alphabetical index ↓Introduction
Nothing in the Bible is left to chance, least of all the names given to individuals, which accompany them throughout their lives. Each name carries profound meanings that remain tied to the believer for their entire existence. This is why it is important to know the meaning of names, especially when choosing one for a son or daughter.
Often, the etymology of names conceals unknown details, even in the most popular ones widely used across different cultures. For instance, there are certain recurring elements in biblical names, such as those ending in “el” (often “ele” in Italian). These names contain the Holy Name of GOD, “El”, an abbreviated form of “Elohim”. Similarly, many names ending in “Ha”, “Ja”, or “Ya” also include an abbreviated form of the biblical Tetragrammaton, the Sacred Name of GOD. Likewise, names ending in “Ah” often refer to GOD by using the final consonant of the Tetragrammaton.
In the Bible, names are never random: they always reflect a connection to the reality or context in which a person lives or operates. Reading the Scriptures reveals a way of understanding names that is very different from modern usage. For the ancients, a name essentially represented the identity and mission of the individual who bore it.
The Hidden Meaning of Biblical Names
Studying the names found in the Bible allows us to uncover profound and valuable insights. Some important examples from both the Old and New Testaments include:
- Adam: The name “Adam” refers to his origin from the earth, from which he was formed. In Hebrew, adam derives from adamah, meaning “earth” (Genesis 2:7).
- Nabal: An example of a name that reflects the behavior of its bearer. In 1 Samuel 25:25, Nabal, whose name means “fool,” acts in accordance with his name, displaying arrogance and foolishness.
- Moses: The name Moses, of Egyptian origin, is explained in Exodus 2:10 through the Hebrew verb mashah, meaning “to draw out” or “saved from .” This meaning foreshadows Moses’ mission to save GOD’s people.
- Joshua: The successor of Moses, Joshua led the tribes of Israel in their first conquests after the end of slavery in Egypt. His name means “The LORD saves.”
- Benjamin: Born during his mother Rachel’s suffering, she initially named him Ben-Oni (“son of my sorrow”). Later, his father Jacob changed it to Benjamin (“son of the right hand”), signifying his beloved role (Genesis 35:16-18).
The Value of Names in the Bible
The Bible assigns great importance to names, as evidenced in many passages:
- “Whatever exists has already been named” (Ecclesiastes 6:10), emphasizing that a person’s identity is inseparable from their name.
- In Job 30:8, it is stated that without a name, a man has no worth.
- Naming an object is equivalent to taking possession of it (2 Samuel 12:28).
Names are also linked to divine protection:
- “He who writes the Name of GOD on himself is His servant” (Isaiah 44:5).
- The invocation of GOD’s Name upon a person or people ensures blessing and protection (Numbers 6:27).
- The presence of GOD’s Name in the Temple signifies that GOD Himself dwells there (Deuteronomy 12:5).
Out of respect, Jews never pronounce GOD’s Name, preferring periphrases such as Ha-Shem, meaning “the Name.”
Name Changes and Transformations
In the ancient world, the relationship between a person and their name was so profound that name changes often accompanied pivotal life events. One iconic example is Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after a symbolic struggle with GOD.
Biblical names, therefore, express not only a person’s essence but also their relationship with the world and with GOD, illustrating how a name can reflect both destiny and mission.
List of Biblical Names
Choose a letter to explore the names. Open any name to read its study.
87 names · Alphabetical index
Aaron Gender Masculine Scripts אַהֲרֹן (Hebrew) Ἀαρών (Ancient Greek) (Arabic:...
Abel Gender Masculine הֶבֶל (Ancient Hebrew) Ἄβελ (Ancient Greek) From...
Abiel Gender Masculine Scripts אֲבִיאֵל (Ancient Hebrew) Means “GOD is...
Abigail Gender Feminine Scripts אֲבִיגַיִל (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew...
Abijah/Abiha Gender Masculine & Feminine Scripts אֲבִיָה (Ancient Hebrew) Means...
Abimelech Gender Masculine Scripts אֲבִימֶלֶך (Ancient Hebrew) Means “my father...
Abner Gender Masculine Scripts אַבְנֵר (Ancient Hebrew) Means “my father...
Abraham Gender Masculine Scripts אַבְרָהָם (Hebrew) Modern: ʾAvraham ; Arabic:...
Absalom Gender Masculine Scripts אַבְשָׁלוֹם (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew...
Adam Gender Masculine Scripts אָדָם (Hebrew) آدم (Arabic) Ἀδάμ (Ancient...
Adonijah Gender Masculine Scripts אֲדֹנִיָה(Ancient Hebrew) Means “my lord is...
Amos Gender Masculine Scripts עָמוֹס (Hebrew) Ἀμώς (Ancient Greek) From...
Anah Gender Feminine & Masculine Scripts עֲנָה (Ancient Hebrew) Means...
Ananias Gender Masculine Scripts Ἁνανίας (Ancient Greek) From Ἁνανίας (Hananias),...
Andrew Gender Masculine It comes from the Greek name Ἀνδρέας...
Anna Gender: Female Scriptures: חַנָּה (Hebrew) · Άννα (Greek) ·...
Areli Gender Masculine Scripts אַרְאֵלִי (Ancient Hebrew) Means “lion of...
Ariel Gender Masculine & Feminine Scripts אֲרִיאֵל (Hebrew) Ἀριήλ (Ancient...
Artaxerxes Gender Masculine Usage Ancient Persian (Hellenized) Scripts Ἀρταξέρξης (Ancient...
Asaph Gender Masculine Scripts אָסָף (Ancient Hebrew) Asaph in Hebrew...
Asenath Gender Feminine Scripts אָסְנַת (Ancient Hebrew) Means “devoted to...
Asher Gender Masculine אָשֵׁר (in Ebraico) Asher (Hebrew: אָשֵׁר ‘Āšêr)...
Atarah Gender Feminine Scripts עֲטָרָה (Hebrew) Means “crown” in Hebrew....
Athaliah Gender Feminine & Masculine Scripts עֲתַלְיָה (Ancient Hebrew) From...
Azarel Gender Masculine Scripts עֲזַרְאֵל (Ancient Hebrew) Means “God has...
Azariah Gender Masculine Scripts עֲזַרְיָה (Ancient Hebrew) Means “YAHWEH has...
Azazel Gender Masculine Scripts עֲזָאזֵל (Ancient Hebrew) Azazel is the...
Azriel Gender Masculine Scripts עֲזְרִיאֵל (Ancient Hebrew) Means “my help...
Azubah Gender Feminine Scripts עֲזוּבָה (Ancient Hebrew) Means “forsaken” in...
Baal Gender Masculine Scripts Βάαλ (Ancient Greek) Properly written Baʽal...
Baal-Zebub Gender Masculine Scripts בַּעַל זְבוּב (Ancient Hebrew) Also translitterated...
Barak Gender Masculine Scripts בָּרָק (Hebrew) Βαράκ (Ancient Greek) It...
Barnabas Gender Masculine Scripts Βαρναβᾶς (Ancient Greek) Greek form of...
Bartholomew Gender Masculine From the noun בר (bar) “one of”...
Baruch Gender Masculine Scripts בָּרוּך (Hebrew) Baruc (or Baruch) means...
Basemath Gender Feminine Scripts בָּשְׂמַת (Ancient Hebrew) From the verb...
Bathsheba Gender Feminine Scripts בַּת־שֶׁבַע (Ancient Hebrew) From the noun...
Belial Gender Masculine Scripts בְּלִיַעַל (Ancient Hebrew) Means “worthless” in...
Belshazzar Gender Masculine Usage Babylonian (Anglicized) Scripts בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (Ancient Hebrew)...
Benaiah Gender Masculine Scripts בְּנָיָהוּ (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew...
Benjamin Gender Masculine Scripts בִּנְיָמִין (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew...
Beulah Gender Feminine בְּעוּלָה (Hebrew) It means “married” in Hebrew....
Bithiah Gender Feminine Scripts בִּתְיָה (Ancient Hebrew) It means “daughter...
Boaz Gender Masculine Scripts בֹּעַז (Hebrew) From the prefix ב...
Caiaphas Gender Masculine Scripts Καϊάφας (Ancient Greek) Uncertain meaning, probably...
Cain Gender Masculine Scripts קָיִן(Ancient Hebrew) From the noun קין...
Cephas Gender Masculine Scripts Κηφᾶς (Ancient Greek) Means “rock” in...
Cyrus Gender Masculine Ancient Greek (Latinized) Scripts Κῦρος (Ancient Greek)...
Dan Gender Masculine Scripts דָּן (Hebrew) It means “judgment” “he...
Daniel Gender Masculine Scripts דָּנִיֵּאל (Hebrew) Դանիէլ (Armenian) Δανιήλ (Ancient...
Darius Gender Masculine Script داریوش (Persian) דָּרְיָוֶשׁ (Hebrew) Δαρεῖος (Greek)...
Dathan Gender Masculine Scripts דָּתָן (Ancient Hebrew) It means “fountain”...
David Gender Masculine Scripts דָּוִד (Hebrew) From the noun דוד...
Deborah Gender Feminine Scripts דְּבוֹרָה(Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew name...
Delaiah Gender Masculine Scripts דְּלָיָהוּ (Ancient Hebrew) As is usual...
Delilah Gender Feminine Scripts דְּלִילָה (Ancient Hebrew) Delilah (Hebrew דְּלִילָה...
Dinah Gender Feminine Scripts דִּינָה (Ancient Hebrew) In the book...
Eder Gender Masculine Scripts עֵדֶר (Ancient Hebrew) From the verb...
Gender Feminine Scripts עֶדְנָה (Ancient Hebrew) It means “pleasure” in...
Male gender Scripture in Hebrew אֱדוֹם (ancient Hebrew). Edom is...
Gender Masculine Scripts אֶלְעָזָר (Ancient Hebrew) Ἐλεάζαρ (Ancient Greek) From...
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
Hadassah Gender Feminine Scripts הֲדַסָּה (Hebrew) From Hebrew הֲדַס (hadas)...
Jacob Gender Masculine Scripts יַעֲקֹב (Hebrew) From the Latin Iacob,...
Gender Masculine Scripts אִיּוֹב (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew name...
Gender Masculine Scripts יוֹסֵף (Ancient Hebrew) From Ioseph, the Latin...
Gender: MaleScript: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Ancient Hebrew)Transliteration: Yehoshua’Etymology and MeaningThe name...
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
Gender Masculine Scripts מְתוּשֶׁלַח (Ancient Hebrew) It means “When he...
Gender Male Script מֹשֶׁה (Hebrew) From the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה...
Gender masculine Written נבל (Hebrew) Means “foolish; senseless; failed.” This...
Gender Female Script נָעֳמִי (Hebrew) From the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי...
Gender Masculine Scripts נַפְתָלִי (Ancient Hebrew) Means “my struggle, my...
Gender Masculine Scripts נֹחַ, נוֹחַ (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew...
Gender Masculine The original Hebrew name was Saul, and during...
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
Gender Feminine Scripts רָחֵל (Hebrew) From the Hebrew name רָחֵל...
Solomon Gender Masculine Written שְׁלֹמֹה (Hebrew) Σολομών (Ancient Greek). From...
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
Gender Masculine Scripts אוּרִיאֵל (Hebrew) From the Hebrew name אוּרִיאֵל...
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
No entries are currently listed under this letter.
Gender Masculine Scripts Ζαχαρίας(Greek) Greek form of ZECHARIAH. This form...
Gender Masculine Script צִדְקִיָּהוּ (Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew name...
Gender Masculine Scripts צְפַנְיָה(Ancient Hebrew) From the Hebrew name צְפַנְיָה...
Zion Gender Masculine Scripts צִיוֹן (Hebrew) From the name of...
No names match your search. Try a different spelling.
