270+ Biblical Boy Names

Like Bethany and Shiloh, a meaningful biblical place-name.

Old Testament name that could work as an alternative to Dakota.

Rarely heard New Testament name -- he was a friend of Saint Paul -- that might conceivably stand up to modern usage.

Blink and you’ll miss that the first I in Jedidiah was swapped for an E.

This down-to-earth Bible name is surprisingly little-used, considering the popularity of other Old Testament names. Shem was Noah's eldest son, and is the origin of the term Semitic (as in the language family).

Jothan or Jotham was both a son of Gideon and a king of Judah in the Bible. One of the biblical boys' names that's still obscure -- though like so many others in this class, it could be rediscovered.

Name of a king featured in the Old Testament.

Ephron was the Old Testament son of Zohar who sold his field and cave to Abraham to use as a family burial ground. Ephron is also a Biblical place-name, a mountain range that formed the northern border of the land of Judah.

Attractive name from the Old Testament. Adino was one of David's "mighty men," though texts do disagree on his name.

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

An extra zesty variation of Uzi, but not one that comes recommended — it’s strongly associated with the submachine gun.

In the Old Testament, Merari is one of Levi's sons.

Amal is the name of a male figure in the Bible, a member of the tribe of Asher. Not, in this case, Mrs. George Clooney.

Azur is a mixed up form of Ezra, a Biblical name attached to a handful of minor characters. This strong, simple name was given to 11 baby boys in the US last year.

Abiah is a gentle, rarely used Old Testament name belonging to Samuel's second son. This makes a good choice for the parent who wants a traditional biblical name that is not overly familiar.

Rarely used in the last two centuries, but might be worth dusting off and holding up to the light.

Greek variation of Joseph used in the New Testament.

Double exposure: 1970s rock sensation (Mamma Mia) and scholar/diplomat name in Israel.

The newest surname names move beyond the Waspy, and this is an excellent example, associated these days with gossip blogger Perez (born Mario) Hilton.

Sharing an etymology with Cleopatra, this masculine form of the name also has biblical ties. Cleopas was one of the men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus following his resurrection. As a child's name, it has been a rare sight. While it does have an interesting history, it's connection to Cleopatra and obvious nickname Cleo could make it seem too feminine for some.