Easter Names

A place name relating to the tropical palm tree.

Shaphan was most notably the name of the scribe who brought the lost book of the Law to Israel’s King Josiah.

Rise joins the latest class of modern Christian names for its uplifting spiritual associations. Rise may be especially appropriate for an Easter baby. We expect it will, erm, rise now that Nick Cannon and Brittany Bell have used it for their son, born in 2022.

Sabbath is a faith-inspired word name, like Sunday or Faith, that is attracting some notice since heavy metal musician Zakk Wylde chose it for his son. But then there's the band Black Sabbath, which gives the name a more devilish twist. While there's nothing intrinsically male or female about Sabbath as a first name, it squeaked onto the Social Security roster for five boys in 2012, but was not recorded for girls. Sabbath comes from the word for "day of rest" in many ancient cultures.

A handsome nature name – and an intriguing alternative to Willow – that is also found as a rare English surname.

Significant choice for an Easter-born child.

Biblical family with 323 children. That's a lot of eggs.

A too-literal spin on Owen.

One of the few French words/names not attractive to the American ear. It's pronounced moo-gay, not a winner on either syllable. Alternatives: Liliane, Lily, Lilou, Manon.

In the Old Testament, Itamar (or Ithamar) was the youngest son of Aaron.

The Greek name for Easter, derived from the same root as Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover.

Stiff and sedate surname name, despite its salty start.

This popular Muslim name would more easily translate to English-speaking cultures in its Bahar form.

This is one of the few butterfly names that is distinctly masculine, found as a surname in Finland.

Midcentury macramé-maker.

Birch or even Burke is better.

Alternative for the ultrapopular Jamal.