Names from the Bible, and what they mean

Exalted; mountain of strength

Moses' brother and Israel's first high priest.

Breath; vapour

The second son of Adam, a keeper of sheep whose offering pleased God.

Father of a multitude

The father of the faithful, called from Ur on nothing but a promise.

Man; of the earth

The first man, formed from the dust of the ground.

Manly; strong

The first disciple, who was always bringing people to Jesus.

Son of encouragement

The encourager who vouched for Paul and mentored Mark.

Son of the right hand

Jacob's youngest son, born of Rachel's last breath and renamed for honour.

Wholehearted; faithful

The spy who wholly followed the LORD, strong at eighty-five.

God is my judge

The faithful exile who prayed openly and slept safely among lions.

Beloved

The shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, a man after God's own heart.

My God is the LORD

The fiery prophet who called down fire and was taken up in a whirlwind.

God is salvation

Elijah's successor, who asked for a double portion of his spirit.

Dedicated; trained

The man who walked with God and was taken without dying.

God will strengthen

The prophet of the valley of dry bones and the wheels within wheels.

Mighty warrior; feller of trees

The reluctant judge who conquered with three hundred men and torches.

He will laugh; laughter

The child of promise and laughter, born to Abraham and Sarah in old age.

The LORD is salvation

The prophet who saw the Lord high and lifted up, and foretold the Messiah.

Supplanter; one who follows

The heel-grabber renamed Israel, father of the twelve tribes.

Supplanter; one who follows

A name borne by two apostles and the brother of the Lord.

The LORD will exalt; appointed by God

The weeping prophet, called before he was born.

Persecuted; the one who weeps

The righteous sufferer who trusted God from the depths of loss.

The LORD is gracious

The disciple whom Jesus loved, and the forerunner who prepared his way.

The LORD has given

The loyal prince whose friendship with David is Scripture's model of covenant love.

He will add; God shall increase

The dreamer sold into Egypt who rose to save his family and the nations.

The LORD is salvation

Moses' successor who led Israel into the promised land.

Praise

The son from whom kings and the Messiah would come — the lion's tribe.

Joined; attached

The son whose tribe became Israel's priests, set apart to serve God.

Light-giving; from Lucania

The beloved physician who wrote the Gospel of grace and the book of Acts.

Warlike; a hammer

The young companion of Peter and Paul who wrote the swiftest Gospel.

Gift of the LORD

The tax collector called from his booth to follow Jesus.

Who is like the LORD?

The prophet who foretold Bethlehem and summed up true religion.

Drawn out of the water

The deliverer who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law.

He gave; gift

The prophet bold enough to tell King David the truth.

Rest; comfort

The righteous man who built the ark and began the world again.

Small; humble

The persecutor turned apostle who carried the gospel to the nations.

Rock; stone

The fisherman Jesus renamed the Rock, leader of the apostles.

Lover of horses

The disciple who found Nathanael and preached to an Ethiopian on the road.

Asked of God; heard by God

The child of answered prayer who became prophet and kingmaker.

Appointed; granted

The son given to Adam and Eve in place of Abel.

Of the forest; asked for

Paul's companion who sang hymns at midnight in a Philippian jail.

Peace

David's son, the wisest of kings, builder of the temple.

Crown; garland

The first Christian martyr, who died praying for his killers.

Twin

The disciple whose honest doubt became the Gospel's greatest confession.

Honouring God

Paul's beloved son in the faith, raised on Scripture from childhood.

Title of honour; pleasing

Paul's trusted troubleshooter, sent to set the churches in order.

The LORD remembers

The priest struck silent until the birth of his son, John the Baptist.

My father's joy

The wise and beautiful woman who calmed David's anger.

Grace; favour

The aged prophetess who recognised the infant Messiah in the temple.

Daughter of the oath

The wife of David and mother of Solomon.

Gentle; calf

An Athenian woman who believed Paul's message at the Areopagus.

Bee

The prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory.

Judged; vindicated

The only named daughter of Jacob.

Gazelle

The disciple full of good works, raised to life by Peter.

God is my oath; consecrated to God

The mother of John the Baptist, whose child leapt for joy.

Star

The orphan queen who saved her people for such a time as this.

Good victory

Timothy's mother, who raised him on Scripture.

Life; living

The first woman, mother of all the living.

Grace; favour

The praying mother whose answered plea became the prophet Samuel.

Mountain goat; to ascend

The tent-dwelling woman whose courage ended a war.

Dove; day by day

The eldest daughter of Job, born in the days of his restoration.

The LORD is gracious

One of the women who supported Jesus and found the empty tomb.

Incense; fragrance

Abraham's wife in his later years, mother of many nations.

Weary; delicate

The unloved wife whose fourth son's name meant praise.

Most desirable; agreeable

Timothy's grandmother, whose sincere faith was passed down.

From Lydia; noble one

The first recorded convert in Europe, a seller of purple.

Lady; mistress of the house

The busy hostess of Bethany who confessed Christ at her brother's grave.

Beloved; bitter

The mother of Jesus, whose humble yes changed the world.

Who is like God?

King Saul's daughter, David's first wife, who loved and lost him.

Beloved; bitter (rebellious)

Moses' sister, a prophetess who led Israel in song.

Pleasant; my delight

The grieving widow whose emptiness God filled again.

Bright; radiant

The deaconess Paul trusted to carry his letter to Rome.

Ancient; venerable

The teacher and tentmaker who, with her husband, discipled Apollos.

Ewe; little lamb

The beloved wife for whom Jacob served twice seven years.

Wide; spacious

The Jericho innkeeper whose faith saved her whole household.

To bind; captivating

The bride found by a well, who chose faith with one word: I will go.

Friend; compassion

The loyal Moabite whose pledge became the model of devotion.

Princess

The mother of nations, who laughed at a promise and lived to keep it.

Lily

One of the women who followed and supported Jesus.

Palm tree

The wronged woman whom Judah declared more righteous than himself.

Bird

The wife of Moses, a shepherdess of Midian.