Biblical

Most Biblical names are of Hebrew origin but some Aramaic and Greek forms occur. Jewish and English

versions are used.

Male

Given Name

Diminutives

Meaning

Abiah, Abijah, Ahia, Ahiah, Avia,

Aviah

'God is my father'

Aharon, Acharon, Ayron, Aron

Arn, Arnke, Arke

Trad har-on mountain of strength

Achazia, Achaziah, Achazya,

Ahaziah, Ahaziahu, Achazyahu

Adonia, Adoniah, Adonijah,

Adoniyahu

Adon

Amiram, Amir

Amittai

True/honest

Ammiel, Amiel

Amnon, Aminon

faithful

Amotz, Amoz

to carry?

Anaia, Anaya

Arach

Ariel, Arel, Aryel, Aryell

placename 'lion of God'

Arnon

river 'swift'

Asaf, Asaph, Assaf, Asif, Asiph

collector

Asher, Acher? Osher

fortunate/happy

Avisha, Avishag, Avishai Avshai

(f) wise/educated

Avital, Avitul, Abital

(f) dewy

Avner, Aviner

'father of light'

Avraham, Avram, Avrom, Avrum

Avrumke

Trad 'father of a multitude'

+ Abram father + high?

Azania, Azaniah, Azaniya, Azanyahu

Azaria, Azariahu, Azarya, Azaryahu

'helped by God'

Azriel, Asriel, Azarael, Azareel,

Azarel

'God helps'

Barak, Boruch

'blessed'

Benaya, Benayahu

Benyamin, Binyamin

'son of the south'

Boaz, Boas

swiftness?

Chiram, Hiram

Chizkia, Chizkiah, Chizkiya,

Chizkiyahu

Daniel, Daniil

Dana?

'God is my judge'

Dar

David, Davyd

'darling/beloved?'

Dishon

Eban, Eben, Even

Eden, Edan

Efa, Efah, Epha, Ephah, Eifa, Eifah

Efraim, Efrem, Ephrayim, Ephron,

Efron, Evron

Effie, Frayim, Froim

'fruitful?'

Ehud

'pleasant/sympathetic?'

Eili

'el god or eli height'

Eker

Elam, Eilam

Ethan, Etan, Eitan, Eytan

'long-lived'

Elazar, Eliaz

Lazar, Lazer

'God helps' (Eliezer)

Elika

'God saves' (Elisha?)

Eliyahu

Elye

'Jehovah is God' (Elijah)

Elkan, Elkin, Elchanan?

'possessed by God' (Elkanah)

Elyakim, Elyakum

Enosh

'mankind'

Eran

Evenezer

Ezer?

'stone of help'

Ezri

Gal

Gamliel

'benefit of God'

Gavriel, Gavrel

Gabri, Gavri

'man of God'

Gedalia, Gedaliahu, Gedalya,

Gedalyahu

Gidon, Gidoni

'one who cuts down' (Gideon)

Gilad, Giladi

Gomer

'complete'

Guni

Hadar

Haggiah, Hagia, Chagia, Chagiah,

Chagiya

Haniel, Hanniel, Chaniel, Channiel

Hanoch, Chanoch

Hevel

'breath' (Abel?)

Hezron, Chetzron

Hoshama

Ikabod, Ikavod

Ira

'watchful'

Itamar

'palm island'

Jabin

Jado?

Janai, Jannai

Jarah, Jerah

Jareb, Jarib

Javen

Jotham

Kaleb, Kalev

'dog'

Kelaya

Kemuel

Kenan

Kolaia, Kolaiah, Kolaya, Kolia,

Koliya, Kolya

Ladan

Lael

Lavan, Leben

Lavi, Lavy

'white?'

Levi, Levai

Lev?

'associated'

Maaseiah, Maaseiya, Masai?

Macabee, Maccabee, Makabi

Malachai

'my messenger'

Malcam, Malcham

Malki, Malkia, Malkiah, Malkiya,

Malkiyahu

Mamer

Manoa, Manoach, Manoah

Maon

Maresha

Matitia, Matitiah, Matityah,

Matityahu, Matania, Mataniah,

Mattaniah

'gift of God' (Matthew)

Menachem, Menahem

Mendal, Mendel, Mandel

'comforter'

Menashe, Menashi, Menashya

Manassah?

Mered

Meshulam

Methushelach, Metushelach

Midian

Mikel, Micol, Mychal, Mica, Micah,

Micha, Mika

Minyamin, Minyomei, Minyomi

Moise, Moishe, Mosha, Moshe,

Moyse

may be Egyptian 'born of'

Mordechai, Mordche, Mordi

Motche, Motke, Motl

'devotee of Marduk?'

Nahum, Nachum, Nahman,

Nachman, Nechum, Nehum, Naim

'comforter'

Nechemia, Nechemiah, Nechemya

Nedabiah, Nedavia, Nedaviah,

Nedavya

Netania, Netaniah, Netanya,

Nethaniah, Natan, Nethanel,

Nethaniel

'God has given'

Nimrod

Nimrodi

Noach, Noah

'rest?'

Oded

'upholder/encourager'

Og

Omer, Omar

Omri

'sheaf of grain'?

Ophrah, Ofra, Ofer?

'fawn'

Oran, Oren, Orin, Orrin, Oron

Orev, Oreb

Otniel

Ovadia

'servant of God'

Peleg

'division'

Peretz, Perez, Pharez?

Pesach, Pesah, Pessach

pesach (Passover)

Pinchas, Pinchos, Pinhas

'serpent's mouth'? ie oracle

(Phineas)

Raam, Raamah, Raamia, Raamiah,

Raamya

Racham, Rachim, Raham, Rahim

Rafael, Refael, Rephael

Rafa, Rapha, Rafi, Refi

(apoch) 'God heals'

Rephaia, Rephaiah Refaia Refaya

Reshef, Resheph

Reuven, Ruben, Rubin

'behold, a son'

Rishon

Rivai, Ribai

Rosh

Rozen?

Ruel, Reuel

'friend of God'

Saloman, Salomon, Sheloman,

Zalman, Zalmen, Zalmon, Zelman,

Tzalmon

Shelomo, Shlomo, Sol,

Solly

shalom 'peace'

Salu

Seraf, Seraph, Saraf, Saraph

seraphim 'burning ones' (an order

of angels)

Shafan, Shaphan

Shafer, Shavar, Shefer

Shalmai

Shamai, Shammai

Shaul, Saul

'asked/prayed for'

Shemaria, Shemariah, Shemarya,

Shmarya, Shemaryahu

Shemuel, Shmuel, Samal?

Sami, Shmulke,

Shmelke?

'God has listened' or 'asked of

God'

Shet

'appointed/placed' (Seth?)

Shilem, Shillem

Shilo, Shiloh

placename?

Shimon

Shimi, Shimri?

'hearkening'

Shimshon

Samson shemesh 'sun?'

Shomer

Telem

Temen

Tera, Terach

Tobiah, Tuvia, Tuviah, Tuviya,

Toviya, Toviel?

Tov, Tova, Tovi, Teive,

Tevye, Teva, Tevel

'God is good'

Uria, Uriya, Uriel

'God is light'

Uzi, Uzzi

'power/might'

Uzia, Uziya, Uziel, Uzziel

'power of God'

Yaakov, Yaaqov, Yakov

Koppel, Kopel, Kopul,

Yankel

trad. 'heel'

Yair, Yaar?

Yamin, Jamin

'favoured'

Yarden

Jordan?

Yared, Yered, Yarev, Zared

'descent?'

Yaron

Yechezkel, Yehazkel, Heschel,

Heshel, Heskel, Haskel, Haskell,

Chaskel, Chatzkel, Keskel?

Hesh, Heshi

'God strengthens' (Ezekiel)

Yedidia, Yedidiah, Yedidya, Jedidia

'beloved of God'

Yehiel

Yehoyakim, Jehoaichin

Jakim, Jachin, Yakim

'established by God' (Joachim)

Yehuda, Yehudah

'praised?' (Judah)

Yeriel, Jeriel

Yersz

Jesse?

Yehoshua, Yeshua, Yeshaya,

Yeshayahu, Oshaya, Oshea, Hosheia

Yosha? Yosi?

'God is salvation' (Joshua, Jesus)

Yirmeyahu

'appointed by God' (Jeremiah?)

Yishachar

'hireling' (Issachar)

Yishmael

'God hears'

Yisrael, Iserl, Sroel

Iser, Isa, Issa, Isser,

Issur, Isur, Issi

Israel 'strives with God'

Yitro, Ithra

'excellence' (Jethro)

Yitzchak, Yitzhak, Yizhak, Itzik, Izik,

Aizik?

'laugh'?

Yoav

'persecuted' Job?

Yoel

'Yahweh is God'

Yochanan, Yohanan, Johanan,

Yehochanan?

'God is gracious' (John)

Yona, Yonah, Jona

'dove'

Yonatan, Yonatun, Yehonatun

Yoni

'God has given'

Yoram, Joram, Jorim?

'God is high'

Yosef, Yoseif, Yehosef, Yosifya,

Youssef

?Yosel, Yossel, Yossil,

Yousell

'God shall add'

Yuval

Jubal?

Zadkiel, Tzadkiel

Zadok, Zdik, Tzadok, Tzadik

'just/righteous'

Zakai, Zakkai

Zakur, Zaccur, Zahur, Tzachar

Zechariah, Zecharya, Zeharia,

Zehariah, Zeharya, Zehcaria,

Zach, Tzach

'God has remembered'

Zedekia, Zedikih, Tzedekiah,

Tzidkiya

'justice of God' (Zachariah)

Zefania, Zefaniah, Zephania,

Tzefanya, Tzephaniah

'hidden by God'

Zevadia, Zevadiah, Zevadya

Zevah, Zevach

Zebah

Zevulun

Zevul?

'exaltation' or 'to dwell'

Zippor

'bird'

Zohar

Zuriel, Tzuriel

Female

As there are far fewer female than male names mentioned in the Bible, girls are often given feminine forms of

Biblical male names.

Given Name

Diminutives

Meaning

Adama

Fem of Adam

Aphrat, Aphrit, Afrat, Afrit

placename Aphrah 'dust'?

Ariela, Arela, Ariella, Arielle

Fem of Ariel 'lion of God'

Asnat, Asenath

Egyptian belongs to her

father?

Atara, Atarah

'crown'

Avigayil, Avihayil, Avichayil,

Abihail, Abichayil

'father is exalted'

Avishag, Abishag

'wise/educated'

Avital, Avtalia, Avtalya

'dewy'

Azriela

Fem of Azriel

Batsheba, Batsheva

'daughter of the oath'

Bethel, Bethuel, Bethula, Bethulah,

Betuel, Betula, Betulah

Placename?

Beula

'married'

Binyamina

Fem of Benjamin

Daniela

Fem of Daniel

Davida, Davita

Fem of David

Delila

Dinah, Dina, Dine, Dinia, Dinya,

Dena, Deena, Deenah

din 'judgement'

Devorah, Devera, Devora, Devorit,

Debera, Debora, Derora

Devra, Dvera, Dvoire, Dvora,

Dvoyre, Dwora, Dvosye

'bee'

Elama

Fem of Elam

Elisheba, Elisheva

'God is my oath'

(Elizabeth)

Elke, Elkie

Fem of Elkan

Etana

Fem of Ethan?

Gavriela, Gavrielle, Gavrila,

Gavrilla

Gavi

Fem of Gabriel

Hadassa, Hadassah

Dassah, Hada?

'myrtle'

Hagar, Haggar

Hagit?

'flight'

Hana, Hanna, Hanya, Chaanach,

Chana, Chanah, Channa, Channah,

Chanya

Hania, Haniya, Hanina, Hanit,

Hanita, Chani, Chania, Chaniya,

Chanina, Chanit, Chanita

'God has favoured me'

(Anne)

Hava, Havah, Havva, Havvah,

Chava, Chabah, Chavah, Chavalah,

Havalee, Havelah

Chavarra, Chavarria, Chave,

Chavel, Chaveli, Chavette,

Chavvis

havva from hayya 'living'

or 'animal' (Eve)

Hephzibah, Hepziba, Hefziba,

Hefzibah, Cheftziba, Cheftzibah,

Cheftziya

Hepzi, Hepzia, Hefzi, Hefzia

'my delight is in her'

Hulda, Huldah, Chulda

'weasel'

Ismaela

Fem of Ishmael

Yemima

'dove' or 'bright as day'

Jethra

Fem of Jethro

Jezebela, Izevel

'impure/wicked'

Jordana, Jordena

Fem of Jordan

Kerena, Keren, Kern, Keryn

Kerenhappuch 'horn of

eye-paint'

Ketura

'incense'

Keziah

'cassia tree'

Leia, Lya

?Leah 'languid'

Levia, Leviah, Levya

Fem of Levi?

Mara, Marah

Mariah?

'bitter'

Mariamne, Miryam, Mariah

Maryasha, Masya?

Mary

Mehalia, Mahalia

Mehitabel, Mehitabelle

'God makes happy'

Merav, Meirav, Mirav

Merab?

Michal, Michala, Michalla

Micki, Mishke?

'brook'

Milca, Milka, Milkah

Naoma, Naomi, Nachmi?

'pleasantness'

Natania, Nataniah, Natanya,

Nathania, Netana, Netania,

Netaniah, Netanya, Nethania,

Nethaniah

Neta, Netia

Fem of Nathan

Nathaniella, Nathanielle, Nataniela,

Nataniella, Natanille, Netanela,

Netaniela, Netaniella

Fem of Nathaniel

Ophrah, Ophra, Ofra

Ofrat, Ophrat, Ofrit, Ophrit

masc 'fawn'

Peninnah, Penina, Peninia, Peninna,

Peniniya

'coral, pearl'

Rahel, Rahil, Racheli, Rechel,

Recheli, Rochel, Ruchel, Raisel,

Raizel

'ewe'

Rebekah, Rifka, Rifke, Rivca,

Rivcah, Rivcka, Rivka, Rivkah

Riva, Rivai, Rivvy

'noose?'

Rephaela, Rafia, Rafya, Raphia

Fem of Raphael

Rut

Ruti?

Sarah

Saretta, Sarette, Sari, Sarit, Sarita,

Sarene, Sarina, Sareli

'princess'

Sharon, Shaaron, Sharona, Sharyn,

Sherran

Sharonit, Sharoni

placename

Sheba, Shebah, Sheva?

placename

Shelomith, Shelomit, Shlomit

Shulamit, Shulamith, Shulamite,

Sulamit

Shela, Sheli, Shelia, Shuala,

Shula, Shulah, Chula?

shalom peace

Shilo, Shiloh

Placename

Shimona

Fem of Simon

Shifra, Shifrah, Shiffra, Shifa,

Shiphrah, Schifra

Beauty/grace (Shiprah)

Shoshana, Shoshanah, Shoshannah,

Shoshan

Lily/rose (Susannah)

Tamar, Tama, Tamarah, Temara

'date palm'

Tikva, Tikvah

Masc 'hope'

Uriela, Uriella

Fem of Uriel

Yael, Yaela, Yaella

'wild goat' (Jael)

Yehudit, Yudit

Yudi, Yutke

'Jewess' or 'woman from

Judea'

Yoela, Joela

Yoelit

Fem of Joel

Yosefa, Yosepha, Yosipha, Josefa,

Josifa, Josipha

Fem of Josef

Zillah, Zila, Tzila

Zili? Tzili?

'shade'

Zipora, Ziporah, Zippora, Tziporah,

Tzippe, Cipora