Are you a mom-to-be and considering a perfect name to give to your little one? If you’re expecting a baby boy, there are several popular biblical boy names you can choose from.
Just like every pregnant woman, you look forward to holding your baby in your arms and calling him by the name you chose. It is believed that the name given to a child goes a long way to determine the future of the little one. It could also be a way of praying your desires or expectations into your child.
There are numerous biblical boy names that carry great meanings and were represented by great personalities. The meaning of these unique biblical boy names is often seen in the lives of those who bear them.
These names extracted from both the new and old testaments are recommended to mothers who want their little ones to turn out as noble and excellent adults they can be proud of.
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More so, these beautiful biblical boy names can also stir up hope in you and strengthen your child’s faith in God as he grows older.
Biblical Boy Names And Their Meanings
Abram – Genesis 11: 26
God changed the name Abram to Abraham in the book of Genesis. Abraham is the founder of the Muslims through Ishmael his son while through Isaac he had the Hebrews.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| High father | Hebrew | Abraham Maslow; a psychologist. An athlete; Abram Elan. Former US President; Abraham Lincoln, and lots more. | Avram, Abe, Abraham, Bram, Avraham. |
Amos – Amos 1: 1
Amos was one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament who spoke against the oppression of the poor and greed.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Carry a heavy burden, strong | Hebrew | Amos Whitney, Amos Tversky | Amoss, Ames, Aymos |
Aaron – Exodus 4: 14
Aaron was the brother of Moses and also his spokesman before Pharaoh. He was the first high priest in Israel and the priesthood remained in his lineage.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Exalted | Hebrew | Aaron Rodgers; a football player. Vice President Aaron Burr | Aron, Arin, Arron. |
Bartholomew – Matthew 10:3
Bartholomew was among the disciples of Jesus. It was recorded that he evangelized in Armenia and India before he was martyred.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Son of the furrow | Greek | Bart Starr; a footballer. Saint Bartholomew | Bart, Bartolomeo, Mies, Bartolo, Mees, Bartlett. |
Adam – Genesis 2:19
Adam was the first man to be created by God in the book of Genesis.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Son of the furrow Red man, Man, man from the earth. | Greek | Adam Driver; an actor. Adam Levine; a singer. Adam Sandler; a comedian. | Adham, Adamo, Adem |
Andrew – Matthew 4:18
He was the brother to Simon Peter and one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross which is also referred to as Saltire of St. Andrew, and is used on the United Kingdom flag and the Scottish flag.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Manly | Greek | Saint Andrew, President Andrew Jackson, Prince Andrew, Andrew Garfield; an actor, Drew Carey; a comedian. | Drew, Andre Andreas, Andy, Andres |
Asher – Genesis 30:13
Asher is one of the sons of Jacob that was borne to him through his concubine Zilpah.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Blessed, happy | Hebrew | Rapper Asher Roth. Actor; Asher Angel. | Ashor, Aser, Ashyr, Ashir |
Benjamin – 35:18
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Son of the south, son of my right hand | Hebrew | President Benjamin Harrison. Actor; Ben Affleck. Inventor, author, and politician; Benjamin Franklin. | Bennie, Ben, Benny, Benji |
Alexander – Mark 15:21
Several men bore this name in the New Testament.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Defender of men | Greek | Politician; Alexander Hamilton. Alex Rodriguez; baseball player. Alexander the Great. Alex Treber; a television host. | Aleksander, Al, Zander, Lex, Alex, Xander |
Caleb – Numbers 13:6
Caleb was one of the spies sent by Moses to the land of Canaan.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Wholehearted and faithful | Hebrew | Caleb Bradham; inventor of Pepsi and a pharmacist. Singer; Caleb Johnson. | Cal, Kaleb |
David – Ruth 4:17
This was the eighth son of Jesse. A shepherd boy, who became the second King in Israel after King Saul. He established Jerusalem to be the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel which is often referred to as the City of David.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Beloved | Hebrew | Frontiersman; Crocket Davy. David Beckham; a soccer player. David Bowie; a singer. | Davy, Dave, Davey, Davie |
Elijah – 1 Kings 17:1
Elijah was a Major Prophet in the land of Israel who was caught up to heaven through the chariot of fire. He also appeared with Moses to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God is Yahweh | Hebrew | Actor; Elijah Wood. Elijah Muhammad; a religious leader. Inventor; Eli Whitney | Eliya, Ilias, Elias, Eli |
Daniel – Daniel 1:7
He served Babylonian kings and God blessed him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding. Out of hatred, his enemies caused him to be thrown into the lions’ den but God saved him.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God, my Judge | Hebrew | Dan Marino; a football player. Actor; Daniel Craig. Pioneer Daniel Boone. | Dan, Danny, Danilo, Dannie |
Ezekiel – Ezekiel 1:3
A prophet in Jerusalem after it was overpowered and the Israelites were taken as captives to Babylon. He saw to the restoration of Israel.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God will strengthen | Hebrew | Ezekiel Ansah, Ezekiel Elliot; a football player. | Zeke, Ezequiel. |
Ezra – Ezra 7:1
Ezra was the scribe who was instrumental in bringing back the Israelites from the captivity of the Babylonians.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Help | Hebrew | Actor; Ezra Miller. Poet; Ezra Pound | Ezri, Esdras, Ezras. |
Zacharias – Luke 1:5
He was a prophet and the Father of John the Baptist.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God remembers | Hebrew | Actor; Zachary Quinto. President Zachary Taylor | Zach, Zachery, Zachariah, Zac, Zachary. Zak, Zacharias |
Thomas – Matthew 10:3
Thomas was one of the apostles of Jesus who doubted the resurrection of Jesus from death until Jesus appeared to him and showed him the holes in his hands and opening by his side. He was martyred in Indian where he evangelized.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Twin | Aramaic | Singer; Tom Petty. Inventor; Thomas Edison. St.Thomas Aquinas. Tom Brady; a football player. President Thomas Jefferson. Tom Seaver; a baseball player. | Tomas, Toma, Tommy, Thom |
Timothy – Acts 16:1
Timothy can be seen in the New Testament as one who accompanied Paul wherever he went. He wrote two of Paul’s letters and was martyred at Ephesus.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Honoring God | Greek | Tim Tebow; a footballer. Singer; Tim McGraw. Actor; Timothy Olyphant. Filmmaker; Tim Burton. Tim Berners-Lee; a computer scientist. Tim Cook; a business leader. | Timoteo, Tim |
Ethan – 1 Kings 4:31
Ethan is an Ezrahite known to be full of wisdom and the author of Psalm 89. The name Ethan, is one of the most beautiful biblical boy names.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Enduring, solid | Hebrew | Actor; Ethan Hawke. Ethan Coen; a filmmaker. Patriot Ethan Allen | Eitan, Eithan, Eytan, Etan |
Seth – Genesis 4:25
Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve according to Genesis 4:25, and also the ancestor of Noah.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Appointed | Hebrew | Seth Curry; a basketball player. Actor; Seth Rogen | Seath, Shet, Set, Sethe |
Philip – Matthew 10:3
Philip was among the disciples of Jesus Christ.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Lover of horses | Greek | Prince Philip. Author; Philip k. Dick. Philip Seymour Hoffman; an actor. | Filippo, Philip, Felipe, Filip, |
Samuel – 1 Samuel 1:20
Samuel was the last judge in Israel who anointed Saul and David as Kings in Israel.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God has heard | Hebrew | Singer; Sam Cooke. Politician; Sam Houston. Samuel Beckett; a writer | Sammy, |
Solomon – 2 Samuel 5:14
He was born unto David by Bathsheba (wife of Uriah). Solomon reigned as King in Israel and was known for his outstanding wisdom. He wrote the books of Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Peaceful | Hebrew | Suleiman the Magnificent. Author; Solomon Northup. Solomon R. Guggenheim; an art collector. Solomon Burke; a singer. | Suleiman, Solomon, Sol, Shalom, Sulaiman, Slomo |
Silas – Acts 15: 22
He was a Christian leader who was always going about with Paul on his missions. He is also a co-author of the book of Thessalonians.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Of the wood | Latin | Author; Silas. Silas Weir Mitchell; an actor. | Si, Silvanus, Silvano |
Reuben – Gen 29:32
This was the first son of Jacob bore by Leah.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Behold a son | Hebrew | Reuben G. Soderstrom; a labor organizer. Reuben Fine; a chess grandmaster and an author. | Reuven, Ruben |
Stephen – Acts 6:5
This was the first Christian martyr that was stoned to death.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Crown | Greek | Steve Austin; a wrestler. Stephen Fry; a comedian. Stephen Hawking; a physicist. Composer Stephen Sondheim | Steve, Steven, Esteban, Steffan, Stefan |
Simeon – Genesis 29:33
This is Jacob’s second son in the Old Testament. Peter, a disciple of Jesus was also called Simon in the New Testament.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| He heard | Greek | Simon Bolivar; a political leader. Simon Cowell; a TV personality. | Simon, Simeon |
Peter – Acts 1:13
He was a disciple of Jesus upon which the church was built.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Stone | Greek | Actor; Peter Dinklage. Pete Maravich; a basketball player. Peter Jennings; a journalist. Peter Paul Rubens; an artist. | Pedro, Pete, Pierre, Piet, piers, Petrus. |
Noah – Genesis 5:29
Noah was the man God used to save a remnant from the human and animal race after the earth was destroyed by the flood. He built an ark where the survivors of the flood were shut up by God.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Rest | Hebrew | Actor; Noah Wyle. Author; Noah Webster. | Noeh, Noe, Noa |
Joseph – Genesis 30:24
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob in the Old Testament and his mother’s name was Rachel. In the New Testament, Joseph is the husband of Mary (mother of Jesus Christ).
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| He will add | Hebrew | Boxer; Joe Frazier. Vice President Joe Biden. Chief Joseph. Author; Joseph Conrad. | Yosef, Jo, Giuseppe, Joey, Jose, Yousef, Joe. |
Mark – Colossians 4:10
The author of the 2nd book of the New Testament and a Patron Saint of Venice.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Dedicated to Mars | Latin | Mark Zuckerberg; founder of Facebook. Actor; Mark Hamill. Author; Mark Twain. | Marc, Marko, Marcus, Markus. |
Michael – Revelation 12:7
According to the book of Revelation, he is known as the angel who leads the heavenly army.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Who is like God | Hebrew | Actor; Michael Caine. Michael Jordan; a basketball player. Mick Jagger; a singer. | Mignel, Michael, Michal, Mikael, Mick, Mike, Mickey |
Levi – Genesis 29:34
Levi is the 3rd son of Jacob and he becomes the lineage of the priesthood in Israel.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Joined together | Hebrew | Levi Wallace. Inventor; Levi Strauss. Levi Ziegler Leiter; a businessman. Levi Leipheimer; a cyclist | Levy, Lev |
Joshua – Exodus 17:9
He was one of the twelve spies Moses sent to the land of Canaan. After the death of Moses, he led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan. He divided the land unto the children of Israel as commanded by God.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| God is salvation | Hebrew | Actor; Josh Hutcherson | Yeshua, Josh |
Jonah – Jonah 1:1
Jonah was a Prophet of God who tried to escape from going to preach to the inhabitants of Nineveh. He was swallowed up by a big fish which vomited
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Dove | Hebrew | Jonas Salk; a medical researcher. And actor; Jonah Hill. | Lonas, Jonah, Yonah |
Jesse – Ruth 4:22
He had eight sons out of which David, his last son reigned as the second King in Israel.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Gift | Hebrew | Athlete; Jesse Owens. Outlaw; Jesse James | Jess, Jessie |
Matthew – Matthew 9:9
A tax collector, who Jesus Christ called to be his disciples. He is the author of the first book of the New Testament.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Gift of God | Hebrew | Matthew Stafford; a football player. Actor; Matthew McConaughey | Matteo, Mathew, Mathias, Matt |
Isaiah – 2 Kings 19:20
He was one of the main prophets in Israel.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Salvation of the Lord | Hebrew | Actor; Isaiah Mustafa. Isaiah Thomas; a basketball player. Isaiah Washington; an actor | Isaija, Isiah, Esaias, Isaias |
Isaac – Genesis 17:20
Isaac was the promised child of Abraham and Sarah at old age.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| He will rejoice and laugh | Hebrew | Author; Isaac Asimov. Isaac Newton;a natural philosopher. Isaac Stern; a musician. | Ike, Yitzhak, Isaak, Issac |
Gideon – Judges 6:11
A military head selected by God. Gideon was used by God to overcome the Midianites.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Hewer of wood | Hebrew | Actor; Gideon Emery. Gideon Welles; a U.S Secretary in the Navy | Gidion, Gideone, Gidon |
Nathan – 2 Samuel 7:2
He was a prophet of God who revealed to David the sins he committed (when he killed Uriah the husband of Bathsheba)
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| He gave | Hebrew | Nathan Chen; a figure skater. Actor; Nathan Lane | Nathanael, Nate, Natan, Nathaniel |
James – Matthew 4:20
This is the English version of Jacob. Two of the disciples of Jesus had this name. It is one of the most popular biblical boy names.
| Meaning | Source | Famous people with the name | Alternate spellings/variations |
| Supplanter | English | Singer; James Brown. King James. President James A. Garfield | Jimmy, Jaymes, Jim, Jae, Jay |
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Names are powerful and as such could be used as a tool in shaping the future and destiny of your newborn.
So, prayerfully choose any of the carefully selected biblical boy names enumerated above, and watch how your child grows not only to become a reference point but also a strong force to reckon with in life.
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