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50 Biblical Boy Names That Start With E

Biblical boy names E

There are many reasons why a Christian family expecting a baby boy might narrow their baby name search to a biblical name that starts with E. They might like the soft, vowelly sound of E names, or they might be looking for a way to pay homage to Grandpa Edward or Uncle Earl, while incorporating a biblical meaning into their child's name.

Or, if they already have a daughter wearing a biblical girl name that starts with E, they might now be looking for a matching moniker for their son. Not an unlikely scenario, given that E continues to be one of the most popular first initials for baby girls.

If your dream baby boy's name is an E-beginning appellation from the Bible, we've got you covered with our list of biblical E-names for boys. For each name, we've included a meaning as well as details about its biblical origins.

The meanings have been compiled from authoritative bible dictionaries such as Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible, Easton's Bible Dictionary and Smith's Bible Dictionary (a full list of references is provided at the end of this article).

The names are ordered roughly by their current popularity, with the most popular biblical E-names like Elijah, Ethan, Ezra, Elias and Ezekiel appearing first and the more unique options last.

  1. Elijah. Whether spelled Elijah or contracted to Eliah, this currently popular biblical prophet name means, roughly, God the Lord or the strong Lord.
  2. Ethan. Though this E-beginning biblical boy name has been popular among secular parents as well, its roots lie deep in the Old Testament. Its biblical meaning, God is (my) father, further adds to its spiritual appeal.
  3. Ezra. This short and zippy biblical E-name also has a short meaning: help or helper.
  4. Elias. This variation of Elijah combines a long history of use with a very contemporary sound. Like its source name, Elias means God the Lord or the strong Lord.
  5. Ezekiel. Are you looking for an E-beginning biblical boy name that's traditional but feels modern? Ezekiel somehow manages to hit both targets! And it's meaning, strength of God, only adds to its appeal.
  6. Eli. After decades out in the cold, this biblical priest and judge name is finally catching American parents' attention again. The meaning of the name has been variously interpreted as offering, lifting up and adopted by God.
  7. Emmanuel. Handsome but not overly masculine, Emmanuel is a variation of Immanuel, which means God with us.
  8. Eden. This evocative E-name offers a modern sensibility coupled with unisex appeal. Its meaning is usually given as pleasure or paradise.
  9. Eliam. Meaning God's people, this biblical boy name with the popular El sound could make an interesting alternative to the more popular Elias. As for its biblical bearer, Eliam was one of King David's "Mighty Men", his toughest military troop.
  10. Enoch. This sepia-tinted biblical name is now being revived by some forward-thinking parents. Opinions differ as to Enoch's exact meaning, but common suggestions include dedicated, disciplined and initiated.
  11. Eliel. This Old Testament boy name could built on the popularity of other L-heavy names. As for its meaning, you can take your pick from God, my God, to whom God is might, to whom God is God and God is strength.
  12. Elisha. Used as a unisex name in the contemporary world, this biblical name belongs to an Old Testament prophet and means, roughly, salvation of God.
  13. Elon. Put on the map by the South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, this name appears both as a place name and as a personal name in the Old Testament. In Bible dictionaries, the meaning of Elon is usually given as oak or grove, though some also give strong as an alternative meaning.
  14. Ephraim. Loosely translated, Ephraim means very fruitful. In the Book of Genesis, it is the name of the second son of Joseph, one of the founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
  15. Eliezer. Occasionally heard today, the name Eliezer is shared by several men in the Bible, the most famous of whom is Abraham's trusted servant, Eliezer of Damascus. The name itself is composed of Hebrew words for "God" and "help" (or "court"), so the meaning of Eliezer can be understood as help of my God or court of my God .
  16. Eleazar. This uncommon but wearable boy's name belongs to several biblical figures, the most famous of whom is the prophet Aaron's son, Eleazar the High Priest. Its meaning is shared with Eliezer: help of my God or court of my God.
  17. Elam. This one serves as both a place name and a personal name in the Old Testament. Proposed meanings include young man, virgin, secret and eternity.
  18. Eder. A short but strong boy's name that appears in the Bible as both a place name and a personal name. As for Eder's meaning, historical scholars seem to agree it means flock.
  19. Esdras. As the Greco-Latin variation of the Hebrew name Ezra, Esdras shares Ezra's meaning: help or helper.
  20. Eliab. If you like the name Elias but want something a bit more unique, this biblical E-name, which loosely means God is my father, could be a contender. While Eliab today definitely falls into the "rare names" category, it wasn't an unusual name in biblical times, with three different men bearing the name in the Old Testament.
  21. Esaias. This name derives from the biblical prophet name Isaiah, which means salvation of the Lord. A compelling meaning combined with deep biblical roots makes Esaias a solid choice for those looking for profoundly spiritual baby boy names.
  22. Ebenezer. Meaning stone of help, this biblical (and contemporary) place name last made waves as a baby name in the colonial era.
  23. Exodus. The meaning of Exodus, going out, comes as no surprise, but the fact that Exodus has been used as a name for several hundred American baby boys since the beginning of this century is unexpected.
  24. Esau. A short and simple biblical name borne in the Bible by Jacob's twin brother. The complicated relationship between Jacob and Esau, as well as the fact that Esau means "hairy", may put Christian parents off, however.
  25. Elimelech. In the Bible, Naomi's husband and the father of Mahlon and Kilion is called Elimelek, but when used as a modern baby name, it's typically spelled Elimelech. Regardless of how you choose to spell it, this biblical E-beginning name has a regal meaning: God is king.
  26. Eliud. This name comes from the New Testament, where it shows up in Matthew's account of the genealogy of Joseph, Mary's husband. The meaning of Eliud is often given as God is my praise.
  27. Elim. This unisex baby name has biblical place name panache as the name of an oasis where the Israelites camped following their Exodus from Egypt. The meaning of Elim is uncertain, but suggestions include rams, stags and trees.
  28. Eliakim. Rarely heard today, Eliakim is the name of several Old Testament figures, the most famous being Eliakim the son of Hilkiah and governor of King Hezekiah's palace. The name's meaning has been variably interpreted as resurrection of God, whom God will raise up and whom God sets up.
  29. Emmaus. The name of a village close to ancient Jerusalem, Emmaus makes for an unusual but wearable biblical baby boy name. Possible meanings include hot baths, despised, obscure.
  30. Elihu. Elihu has a godly meaning, though the exact wording is subject to debate. Possibilities include he is my God himself, whose God is he and God the Lord. As for the biblical figure, there are actually several men who don the name Elihu in the Bible, the most prominent being the critic of Job and his three friends in the Book of Job.
  31. Eber. Like many short names, Eber claims multiple origins. In the biblical context, it is best known as the name of one of Shem's descendants, though the Bible also features a number of other Ebers. The meaning of the name is debatable, but suggestions include passage, beyond and anger (yikes!).
  32. Ezri. Not to be confused with Ezra, the name Ezri makes a brief appearance in the Bible as the name of King David's agricultural chief. Though Ezri and Ezra is separate biblical characters, they do share the meaning help.
  33. Elnathan. Take the well-established Nathan, add a few letters, and you've got Elnathan, another perfectly legit but rarely heard biblical name drawn from the Old Testament. Bonus points for a great meaning: gift of God.
  34. Edrei. This is the name of a biblical city located in modern-day Syria. As an American baby name, Edrei remains a rarity, despite its powerful meaning, commonly accepted as mighty or strength.
  35. Elishua. In the Bible, Elishua is one of King David's sons, born to him after his settlement in Jerusalem. As for the name's meaning, the most popular theory maintains that it comes from the ancient Hebrew words for "God" and "salvation", meaning something like God is my salvation.
  36. Enam. Often listed with the meaning fountain, this name is only mentioned in passing in the Bible as the name of a town located in the lowland district of Judah.
  37. Ehud. Ehud was the God-appointed second judge of Israel, so it's hardly surprising that the name is a well-established given name in contemporary Israel. As for the name's meaning, some biblical scholars think Ehud means he that praises, while others say it comes from the ancient Hebrew word for joining together.
  38. Eker. There's only a brief mention of the name Eker in the Bible, where it's is listed in the biblical genealogies. As for its meaning, suggestions range from barren and feeble to offspring and shoot (as in new growth).
  39. Eldad. This surname and baby boy name takes its inspiration from the biblical story of Eldad and Medad, and comes with a beautiful meaning: whom God loves.
  40. Elioenai. If this long-winded name belonging to several minor biblical characters feels like too much for a baby, you can always shorten it to Eli until your child is ready to embrace the long form. The exact meaning of Elioenai is debatable, but it's usually given as something like toward the Lord are my eyes.
  41. Elishah. Not to be confused with the prophet name Elisha, this E-beginning scriptural name appears in the Old Testament as both a place name and a masculine personal name. Possible meanings include God is salvation, lamb of God and it is God.
  42. Elishama. Borne by several minor biblical characters, the name Elishama means, roughly, God hears.
  43. Elkanah. This name belongs to several men in the Old Testament, the most notable being the father of the prophet Samuel. The name is often interpreted to mean God the zealous, though alternative suggestions—such as possession, reed of God and God creates—are also in circulation.
  44. Enan. A man named Eran is introduced in the Bible as the father of Ahira, a chief of the tribe of Naphtali. The exact meaning of this biblical E-name is uncertain, but suggestions include cloud, having eyes and having fountains.
  45. Ephron. This biblical place and personal name is today at home as a Jewish surname. The name's meaning is in dispute: some Bible dictionaries give it as fawn, while others suggest it has to do with dust.
  46. Eran. This name gets its biblical cred from belonging to a grandson of Ephraim and the progenitor of a tribe called the Eranites. Those interested in name meanings can choose from two interpretations: follower and watchful.
  47. Erastus. The name Erastus appears three times in the Bible, but the jury is out on whether all three characters refer to the same early follower of Jesus. What scholars do seem to agree on is that the name has a love-related meaning, usually rendered in English as beloved, lovely or amiable.
  48. Eri. Eri is listed in the biblical genealogies as one of Gad's sons. Hitchcock gives the name's meaning as my city, while other historical scholars seem to think it has to do with watching.
  49. Esrom. This is one of the transliterations of the name Hezron, which belongs to one place and several men in the Bible. Possible meanings include dart of joy, division of song and surrounded by a wall.
  50. Etham. This baby boy name is borrowed from one of the places where the Israelites sojourned following their exodus from Egypt. As for the name's meaning, you can pick and choose from their strength, their sign and boundary of the sea.

Sources used for the name meanings: