Old Testament Names

Joab is the biblical name of an advisor of David, who led many military victories, and is surely much more usable than the burdened Job. A similar option is Joah, a possible replacement for Jonah or Noah.

Along with Shem and Japheth, a son of Noah with a name that's almost never used -- for more obvious reasons than those of his brothers.

The double a makes it special.

Abraham's brother and Caleb's son in the Old Testament, also known as Aran. Haran is one simple and virtually unused Biblical name.

It's a place in the Bible but also relates to the name Zebulon.

Hagar is an Old Testament name with an unfortunate association with comic strip character "Hagar the Horrible."

Whatever its merits as a name, Haman is a Biblical villain, a member of the Persian king's court who plotted to slaughter the Jews. His plan was foiled by Queen Esther and Haman was hanged. Not a role model you want for your child.

Zophar is a friend of Job in the Bible, the most impassioned of the three who visit him during his trials.

Hard to think of this name without "Captain" in front of it.

The name of an important figure in the Book of Judges, a judge from Gilead who helped the Israelites defeat the hated Ammonites. Jephthah and its various derivative spellings have seldom been used as first names since Biblical times, but that may change going forward, thanks to Duck Dynasty castmember Jules Jeptha "Jep" Robertson.

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

Amasa is a rare Biblical name borne by two figures. One is the son of Abigail and nephew of King David, who named him commander of the rebels. This Amasa met a tragic end when he was murdered by Joab. The other Biblical Amasa was one of the Children of Ephraim.

Variant transcription of Hosea, the original name of Joshua in the Old Testament.

Belshazzar was a Babylonian prince, a real historical figure who stars in a fictionalized tale Belshazzar's Feast, in the Book of Daniel

The biblical Zilpah was a handmaiden of Leah who had two sons with Jacob, Gad and Asher. Zilpah is a one-hit wonder, appearing on the US Top 1000 only one year, 1881. No baby girls were named Zilpah in the US last year.

Abijah, which you might think of as Abigail with rhythm, is the name of both female and male personages in the Bible. A biblical Queen Abijah was the daughter, wife, and mother of kings. The name is pronounced with a long i, to rhyme with Elijah.

An unusual Biblical name with modern appeal, borne by the father of Gideon, a king of Judah, and a son of King Ahab of Israel.

Menahem derives from a Hebrew word meaning "the comforter" King Menahem of the Old Testament did not live up to his name — he was one of Israel’s cruelest kings.

Biblical name from the Old Testament.

One of the wives of King David in the Old Testament.