873+ Names That Mean God

Rare but intriguing saints' name that offers an unconventional way to get to Theo.

Originally a nickname for Elizabeta, the Slovene and Croatian form of Elizabeth, now Špela is more common as a stand-alone name.

Has never left its native milieu.

The name of multiple minor Old Testament figures, Amariah is an underused member of the -iah group of Biblical boy names. Consider Ry as a cool nickname.

Sweet and quirky nickname reminiscent of Elsie. In fact, they both ultimately derive from Elizabeth — Elsie through Elsa and Ilsy through Ilsa.

A unisex Xhosa name used in South Africa.

Form of Yannick

Countless variations of Elizabeth have been used around the world for centuries, from Elspeth to Isabella to Betty. Elsabet is a version that is popular in Ethiopia, often with the sweet and stylish nicknames Elsa or Elsi.

Rare feminine form of Hans — a John derivative — occasionally heard in Germany and other German-speaking countries.

Borne by the father of Anna the prophetess in the New Testament. It also features as an angel in the apocryphal Book of Enoch.

An alternative transcription of Hebrew Benaiah, currently among the Top 50 boys' names in Israel.

An obscure Hebrew name that would not be many parents' first choice.

Dodie was the more common form of this name, as in Dodie Smith, author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Denisse was the fastest-rising name for girls of 2020 — influenced by Denisse Novoa, a contestant on the 2019 season of the popular reality TV show Exatlón Estados Unidos. Traditional spelling Denise also made a comeback. It looks to be short-lived, though: both spellings fell again in 2021.

While Theodore means "gift of God," Theodulus has a much more solemn meaning. Nonetheless, its s ending and alternate path to nickname Theo could make it attractive to some brave parents.