Last Updated on September 2, 2024
What’s In a Name?
The phrase ‘what’s in a name’ first appeared in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare opined that ‘a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’ in an attempt to challenge humanity’s deeply-held unrealistic reverence for names.
It’s undeniably true that sometimes we fuss over names when we should actually look beneath them. For instance, when dating a faceless social media user, most people would have preconceived images of their physical appearance just based on their names. Similarly, very few people would willingly want to enter a business association with a person named Judas.
Now, we may not establish the events that inspired Shakespeare to reach the conclusion that names shouldn’t matter. But what we know is that names give the first impression of what someone’s character might be. In fact, psychologists now believe that names influence our personalities and even our physical appearance.
Religion has always played a crucial role in determining parents’ choices for their baby names. Whether Christian or not, many parents often consult the Bible before giving their children names, particularly boy names. It’s always the wish of any parent that as the boy grows into a man, his life will exemplify that of the Biblical character he is named after.
The following is a list of some of the most popular Biblical boy names, along with their meanings.
1. Aaron – A teacher, or mountain of strength.
2. Abel – Breath or vapor.
3. Abraham – Father of many nations.
4. Adam – Taken out of the ground.
5. Alpha – First, as is the case with a firstborn son.
6. Amos – The one who shoulders the burden.
7. Andrew – A strong man.
8. Barak – Thunder.
9. Barnabas – A son of consolation.
10. Bartholomew – Son of Talmai.
11. Benjamin – Son of the right hand.
12. Bethuel – God’s dwelling.
13. Bildad – Old friendship.
14. Boaz – United in strength.
15. Caleb – Faithful.
16. Christian – Follower of Christ.
17. Cornelius – The sun’s beams.
18. Daniel – God is my judge.
19. Darius – A man that informs himself.
20. David – The beloved.
21. Elijah – My God is Yahweh.
22. Elisha – My God is salvation.
23. Elon – Oak or strong.
24. Emmanuel – God with us.
25. Enoch – Dedicated.
26. Ephraim – Doubly fruitful.
27. Erastus – Beloved.
28. Ethan – Firmness or perplexity.
29. Ezekiel – Strengthened by the Lord.
30. Ezra – My helper.
31. Felix – Happy or successful.
32. Festus – Belonging to the feast.
33. Gabriel – (One of the angels in the Bible) It means God is my source of strength.
34. Gideon – A great warrior.
35. Hezekiah – God is my strength.
36. Isaac – Laughter.
37. Isaiah – God is my helper or Salvation belongs to God.
38. Ishmael – God that hears.
39. Israel – He who strives with God.
40. Jacob – He who comes after.
41. Jairus – He will enlighten.
42. James – Supplanter.
43. Japheth – A persuader, Beauty, or Let him increase.
44. Jared – Descendant.
45. Jason – Healer.
46. Jeremiah – Exalted by the Lord.
47. Jericho – The moon.
48. Jesse – God exists, Gift from God, or The firm one.
49. Job – The persecuted.
50. Joel – The Lord is God.
51. John – God is gracious.
52. Jonah – Destroyer.
53. Jonathan – The Lord has provided.
54. Jordan – To flow down.
55. Joseph – May the Lord increase.
56. Joshua – Jehovah is salvation.
57. Josiah – Jehovah supports.
58. Justus – He that is just.
59. Laban – The shining one.
60. Lazarus – The Lord has helped.
61. Levi – Attached together.
62. Lucas – The shining one.
63. Lucius – White.
64. Luke – Luminous.
65. Mark – The shining one.
66. Mathew – The gift of God.
67. Meshach – Who is like God? or How marvelous can God be?
68. Micah – One who’s like God.
69. Michael – (The archangel who led loyal angels in triumphing over Satan and his allies in heaven). The name means one who is like God, and some Christians believe that the archangel is Jesus himself.
70. Moses – Drawn forth from water.
71. Naphtali – He that struggles or fights.
72. Nathan – He has rewarded.
73. Nathaniel – The gift of God.
74. Nehemiah – God has consoled.
75. Nicodemus – Victory over the people.
76. Noah – Rest.
77. Omar – The eloquent one.
78. Onesimus – A resourceful one.
79. Paul – The little one.
80. Perez – Divided or distinction.
81. Peter – The rock.
82. Philemon – The friendly one.
83. Philip – The warrior.
84. Raphael – God heals.
85. Reuben – (A common Biblical name of the firstborn son). The name means the vision of a son.
86. Samson – The strong one.
87. Samuel – Asked of the Lord.
88. Seth – The appointed one.
89. Shadrach – God is gracious.
90. Silas – One who loves words.
91. Simon – One who hears and obeys.
92. Solomon – Peace.
93. Stephen – Crown or wreath.
94. Theophilus – A friend of God or Loved by God.
95. Thomas – Twin.
96. Timon – Honorable.
97. Timothy – One who worships or honors God.
98. Titus – Honorable.
99. Tobias – God is good.
100. Zachariah – God has remembered.
Final Word
There are hundreds of other Bible names for boys and we cannot possibly exhaust them in one article. We’ve only highlighted some of the most popular ones, inspired by Biblical characters whose ways were considered righteous before God.