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26 Biblical Boy Names That Start With S (with Meanings)

Biblical boy names starting with S

Biblical boy names starting with the letter S don't stop at Samuel, Simon and Stephen! Below, you'll find 26 S-beginning baby boy names that appear in the Bible, including both popular picks and more uncommon options such as Salem, Shem and Silvanus.

For each name, we've included a meaning as well as other interesting facts you might want to know before picking a name. The meanings have been compiled from authoritative bible dictionaries such as Easton's Bible Dictionary, Smith's Bible Dictionary and Cruden's Concordance to the Holy Scriptures. 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 S-names like Samuel, Santiago, Silas and Simon appearing first and the more unique options like Shaphan and Shillem appearing last.

  1. Samuel. A permanent resident on baby name charts over a great many years, Samuel might be perfect if you're looking for a Bible-inspired S-name with staying power. Usually listed with the meaning "heard of God", the name is borne in the Bible by the judge-turned-prophet who anointed both Saul and David as kings.
  2. Santiago. If you want your son's name to honor Saint James but feel that biblical boy names that start with J are too common, try Santiago, which is the name of the saint in the Spanish transliterations of the Bible. The name is composed of two elements: san, meaning "saint", and tiago, which—like James and Jacob—means "heel" or "supplanter".
  3. Silas. After being on recess from the playgrounds for decades, Silas—the name of a leading member of the early Christian community—is back on the baby name charts! Etymologically, Silas probably comes from the Latin word silva, meaning "woods", but some Bible dictionaries propose an alternative meaning: "three" or "third."
  4. Simon. The New Testament features several characters called Simon, or Simeon, giving this name plenty of biblical cred. As for Simon's meaning, historical scholars generally seem to agree it has something to do with "hearing".
  5. Stephen. The name of the first Christian martyr, known to us from the New Testament book of Acts, was huge in the 1950s but hasn't managed to find favor with the current generation of moms and dads. The meaning of this currently neglected but classic biblical S-name is usually given as "crown".
  6. Solomon. Related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace", this biblical king's name might appeal to parents looking for a biblical baby name with a beautiful meaning. The variant Salomon is also in circulation.
  7. Seth. The name of the third son of Adam and Eve, Seth peaked on the baby name charts at the turn of the century. Its meaning is often given as "appointed".
  8. Saul. This is the name of the first king of Israel as well as the birth name of Paul the Apostle. It comes with several possible meanings, with "asked for" being one of the most common suggestions. The variant Shaul is also an option.
  9. Samson. In the Bible, Samson is one of the judges who ruled over Israel before the time of the kings. Opinions differ as to the name's literal meaning, with suggestions including "of the sun" and "splendid sun".
  10. Salem. Meaning "peace", Salem gives you a unisex baby name with biblical place name panache. Also various towns and cities in North America and Europe have been named after the biblical Salem (which is traditionally identified with Jerusalem).
  11. Shimon. This name may be seen as a spelling variation of Simon or Simeon, or as a separate biblical name, appearing in the Judahite genealogy in 1 Chronicles 4. As a contemporary given name, it has languished in the U.S. but is well-established in Israel. If you consider Shimon a separate biblical name, its meaning becomes "desert."
  12. Simeon. As a variation of Simon, Simeon also carries the meaning "hearing".
  13. Stephan. This variation of Stephen is well-established in German-speaking countries. Like its English counterpart, Stephan means "crown."
  14. Salim. This biblical place name comes from the New Testament, where it appears as the site of John's last baptisms. The name's meaning, "peace" or "peaceful", is a nice bonus.
  15. Sion. This is one of the ancient names of Mount Hermon, but it can also be seen as a variant of Zion. Depending on which etymological root you follow, it can mean either "elevated" or "sunny."
  16. Salah. This can be seen as a variation of Shelah, a biblical name belonging to the third son of Judah. As for its meaning, suggestions range from "shoot, sprout or branches" to "weapon or missile" to "spoiled."
  17. Shem. The name Shem belongs to one of Noah's sons in the Old Testament. Its meaning is commonly given as "name" or "renown."
  18. Shadrach. In the Bible, Shadrach is one of three brave men who were miraculously saved from destruction in King Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace in Babylonia. The meaning of the name is unclear, with "rejoicing in the way" being one possibility.
  19. Silvanus. Silas, the early Christian emissary who sometimes accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys, has also been called Silvanus. The name Silvanus likely comes from the Latin word silva, meaning "forest", and indeed, Silvanus is widely understood to mean "of the forest."
  20. Sem. As a variation of Shem, Sem shares Shem's meaning: "name" or "renown."
  21. Shammah. Quite a few Shammahs appear in the Bible, all minor characters. Proposed meanings include "desert", "astonishment", "desolation" and "loss."
  22. Sidon. This one is a doubly scriptural name: first, there's a biblical city called Sidon, and second, Canaan's firstborn son in the Old Testament was called Sidon. The meaning of this unusual S-name is usually given as "fishing."
  23. Salmon. Likely a bit too piscatorial for the American baby namer, Salmon appears as a perfectly legit personal name in the Bible. Belonging to the father of Boaz, the name is usually interpreted to mean either "garment" or "shady", depending on whether you see it as a cognate of Salma or Zalmon.
  24. Sered. This unique baby name possibility gets its biblical cred from being one of Zebulun's sons and the progenitor of a tribe called the Seredites. Its meaning is commonly given as "fear."
  25. Shaphan. Borne in the Bible by King Josiah's scribe, this rarely heard S-beginning baby boy name means "rabbit."
  26. Shillem. This biblical name belongs to one of the four sons of Naphtali and the patriarch of a family called the Shillemites. The meaning is, roughly, "retribution."

References