Biblical boy names

Biblical boy names

by Lorna White |
Updated on

While many traditional boys names are biblical, there are also some more unusual biblical boy names. From conventional Christian names to modern meaningful ones, find the perfect name for you in our pick of the best biblical baby boy names.

Biblical boy names

  • Adam - Possibly the most biblical name in the book, Adam is an Old Testament name and of course the first male creation of God. Still a classic name, it means son of the red earth.

  • Aaron - Did you know this was a biblical boy name? In the Bible, Aaron was the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel.

  • Abel - The biblical son of Adam and Eve, Abel means meaning breath or breathing spirit.

  • Asher - A fabulously modern-sounding choice, despite being used in the Old Testament as the name of one of Jacob's twelve sons. Meaning blessed, Asher is as stylish as it is touching.

  • Benjamin - With lots of cute nicknames such as Ben, Benji and Benny, Benjamin was the name of the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons which is probably why it means son of the right hand.

  • Cain - We love this cool, unusual name. While it doesn't have the best biblical meaning, it was the name of the first murderer, it has lost its negative association and is now a modern name. But if you're still worried about the religious connotation, try spelling it Kaine.

  • Caleb - We are obsessed with this cool, traditional name. In the Old Testament, Caleb is an ancient Isrealite who set out from Egypt to enter the promised land. Never going out of style, your baby boy will join a host of legendary Calebs with this name.

  • Ezra - With a heroic biblical legacy, Ezra is a cool choice for parents who want a meaningful name with a sense of style. Any Pretty Little Liars fans will recognise it as one of the names of the main characters, but with a long line of famous Ezra's to share the name with, your son can't complain about this one.

  • Ethan - With both style and a great meaning, Ethan is a fabulous choice. While it generally means strong, the most prominent Ethan in the Old Testament is praised for his wisdom. Wise and strong, what more could you want for your baby boy?

  • Elon - Most well known as the name of the eccentric billionaire and founder of Tesla Elon Musk, Elon was also the name of a Biblical judge.

  • Reuben - An underused choice from the Old Testament, we love how unique this is. In the Bible, Reuben was the son of Jacob and so carries the same meaning of son.

  • Rufus - mentioned in Mark 15:21 with his brother Alexander, Rufus means red-haired.

  • Elijah - As the prophet who went to heaven in a chariot of fire, Elijah is an extremely meaningful biblical baby boy name. It's increased in popularity since celebrities took favour to it for their baby names such as Elton John and David Furnish.

  • Jacob - We are obsessed with this adorable biblical name. In the Old Testament, Jacob was an important patriarch of the tribes of Israel. Despite its traditional religious roots, it remains a modern and stylish choice.

  • Jeremiah - This more unusual option means appointed by God. It's a great time to jump on Jeremiah as a baby name, as it has slowly begun to creep into popularity in recent years. The more conventional option is of course, Jeremy.

  • Jared - Another modern option, Jared was a descendant of Adam in the Bible and lived for eight hundred years. It's biblical association may not be immediately relevant, and may be seen as an ode to actor Jared Leto, but it's certainly a cool choice.

  • Jonah - Having undergone somewhat of a style revival with the popularity of Jonah Hill, Jonah is now a cute and quirky name as opposed to a strictly religious one. In the Old Testament, Jonah was a prophet who was swallowed by a whale but left unharmed.

  • Luke - A super traditional name, Luke is in the New Testament and the name of Saint Luke, a 1st century Greek physician and evangelist. Your boy will thank you once he watches Star Wars...

  • Levi - A stylish choice with traditional roots, Levi was Matthews given name in the New Testament before he became an apostle. It is a celebrity favourite, with Matthew McConaughey and Sheryl Crow naming their sons Levi.

  • Matthew - A classic Christian name, Matthew means gift of God. It never goes out of style, and can be nicknamed Matt or Matty. In the bible, Matthew was the apostle who wrote the first Gospel.

  • Moses - Unpopular before Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their son it, Moses has burst onto the baby name scene with Elikaj, Isaiah and Isaac. One of the most familiar stories of the Old Testament, Moses means delivered from the water.

  • Nathaniel - Meaning gift of God, several figures in the Bible bear forms of this name.

  • Noah - An adorable choice, Noah is one of our favourites and an obvious biblical option. The patriarch of the ark, Noah has stayed on the popular lists thanks to the blockbuster film The Notebook.

  • Isaac - The long-awaited son of Abraham in the Old Testament, Isaac is a beautiful traditional name that has come back into style in recent years. It may also serve as inspiration for scientific parents, as the name of Isaac Newton.

  • Reuben - An underused choice from the Old Testament, we love how unique this is. In the Bible, Reuben was the son of Jacob and so carries the same meaning of son.

  • Seth - The third son of Adam and Eve, Seth is an adorable name with great religious roots. Meaning appointed, it is becoming more common with the rise of comedians Seth Rogen and Seth MacFarlane.

  • Samson - This name is not only adorable, but it also means sun. Samuel is a powerful biblical name, with Samson an unconventional twist on it. It can also be shortened to Sam with the cutest nickname possibility of Sammy.

  • Tobias - Meaning ‘God is good’, Tobias is the name of many biblical figures but is typically associated with the story of Tobias and the Angel.

  • Victor - This strong name means champion and is one of the earliest Christian names.

  • Zachary -  With lots of spelling variations, Zachary is a versatile name made popular by actors Zac Efron and Zach Galifianakis. Commonly used in the Bible, it is most notably attached to the father of John the Baptist and means appointed.

Don’t worry if your due date is fast approaching and you still haven’t found a name that feels like the one. Head to our baby name generator where you’ll find thousands of names to fall in love with, from more traditional sounding names, to unique baby names from all around the world.

Lorna White is the Senior Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. After running the Yours magazine website, specialising in content about caring for kids and grandchildren, Lorna brought her expertise to Mother&Baby in 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics from potty training and nutrition to baby names and early development and has a wide range of experienced medical experts and professionals at her fingertips. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two young sisters, dog walking and enjoying the outdoors with her family.

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