Names That Mean My

A creative take on Malachi used in the 2000 horror movie Lost Souls.

One of the most unusual of the biblical iah-options, this was the name of a long-reigning king of Judea, and just might appeal to the parent looking for a quasi-unique Old Testament choice. And it avoids the negative Dickensian aura of the other New Testament U-name, Uriah.

Finnish form of Daniel

Yeshua is often considered the "real" name of Jesus, via the Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English evolution of Yeshua to Iesous to Iesus to Jesus. It is also used as a common alternative of Yehoshua in the later parts of the Hebrew Bible, making it a variation of Joshuah.

The Biblical Gaddiel was a scout sent to Canaan prior to the crossing of the Jordan River. An intriguing alternative to Gideon or Gabriel.

In the Old Testament, Abidan was indeed a judge, head of the tribe of Benjamin and a leader at the time of the Exodus. Dan and Ab could work as nicknames. In 2015, there were only five boys in the US given the name.

This obscure Native-American name owes its very life to country singer Shania Twain, who dropped her original name, Eileen, for it.

Variation of Aviela/Abiela, feminine forms of the Biblical Aviel/Abiel "God is my father", and related to Avielle.

This Hebrew name honors Dad in a subtle way and could be used as an alternative to Levi.

Looks modern, but sounds like the dated Ronnie.

Chic and lively Afrikaans variant of Elizabeth.

Four-syllable names can be tricky, but this rarely used Old Testament appellation has considerable potential. In the Bible, Eleazer is a son of Aaron and nephew of Moses who succeeds his father as High Priest.

A fast-rising variation of Abigail that was shooting up the popularity charts a few years ago, but whose star is now falling now that Abigail is not quite as hot as she once was.

Spirited unisex Hebrew name.

The name of the late husband of Naomi in the Bible.

What the Old Testament Rachel originally named Benjamin, before his father changed it; rarely heard today.

Variant of Hannelore