Christian Girl Names (from the New Testament)

Looking for a Christian name for a baby girl? Currently popular Christian girl names include Elizabeth, Chloe, Anna, Lydia and Julia, but you sure don't have to stick to the well-known options (right, baby Damaris?).

On this page, you'll find a vast collection of Christian girl names covering the entire popularity spectrum, from popular picks to unusual options. The names below come from the New Testament, but we also have a separate list with Old Testament girl names. Happy searching!

Popular Names

1. Elizabeth. In the biblical narrative, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist and the wife of Zacharias.
2. Chloe. A Christian woman Paul mentions by name in his first letter to the Corinthians. This beloved girl's name also has a connection to Greek mythology, being one of the aliases of the Greek goddess Demeter.
3. Anna. The name of a biblical prophetess, Anna seems to appeal to non-religious parents as well.
4. Lydia. There's something about this New Testament name, borrowed from Lydia of Thyatira, that seems to appeal to 21st-century parents.
5. Julia. A graceful classic name built to last. As for its biblical claim to fame, Julia appears in the New Testament as the name of a Roman Christian to whom Paul sent greetings.
6. Maria. The Latin version of Mary—and yet another popular ia-ending biblical girl name.
7. Mary. The most popular Christian girl's name of the 20th century, Mary is no longer a chart-topper, but it still charts highly.
8. Phoebe. A female deacon named Phoebe makes a short but impressive appearance in the New Testament.
9. Joanna. Despite being drenched in biblical history, Joanna doesn't sound overly religious.
10. Alexandria. The name of a Mediterranean port city, Alexandria isn't found in the New Testament per se, but it is indirectly mentioned through references to "Alexandrians" and "Alexandrian ships".
11. Myra. An ancient city mentioned in the Bible in connection to the Paul's travels.
12. Priscilla. Still a classic, even if it's keeping a bit of a low profile at the moment.
13. Bethany. An eminently wearable biblical place name.
14. Salem. An old biblical place name with a modern sensibility.
15. Marie. The French version of Mary.
16. Martha. If you're looking for a retro name rooted in the Bible, Martha might appeal.
17. Magdalene. (or Magdalena). A biblical powerhouse, with built-in nickname Magda. In the Bible, Mary Magdelene is a follower of Jesus who, according to the New Testament, witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection.
18. Claudia. A culture-spanning possibility that straddles linguistic borders with ease.
19. Tabitha. The biblical Tabitha, also called Dorcas, was an early Christian who made things, especially clothing, for those in need.
20. Susanna. The beautiful and devout heroine of the story of Susanna and the Elders, which is told in some (but not all) versions of the Bible, has inspired numerous artists—and baby namers throughout history.

Unusual and Unique Options

• Abilene. A biblical place name that feels eminently ready for use as a baby name.
• Achaia. A rare girl's name with biblical place name panache. In the New Testament, Achaia is a region located in the southern part of what is now Greece.
• Addi. A short given name or nickname for a modern baby girl, Addi actually appears in the Bible as a male name.
• Apphia. Borne by an early Christian woman mentioned in Paul's epistle to Philemon.
• Aquila. The early Christian missionary Aquila was a male, but in the modern world, this New Testament name has a unisex sensibility. Nature-lovers may appreciate the name's subtle nature connection: turns out, aquila means "eagle" in Latin.
• Attalia. An ancient port town Paul and Barnabas visited on their first missionary journey. Not to be confused with Athalia, the evil queen.
• Berea. Borrowed from an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament in connection to Paul's missionary journeys.
• Berenice. A variation of Bernice.
• Bernice. Dripping with retro charm, this biblical pick with the built-in nickname Bernie is yours for the taking.
• Bethlehem. A place drenched in biblical history and, why not, a baby name.
• Bethsaida. A ponderous baby name borrowed from the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip.
• Cana. Best known as the site of Jesus's first public miracle.
• Candace. This name is only mentioned in passing in the Bible: in Acts 8, the apostle Philip meets a court official of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, and converts him to Christianity.
• Cilicia. The birth place of Paul the Apostle makes for a pretty girls' name reminiscent of Cecilia.
• Clauda. The name of a small island Paul passed on his fourth missionary journey. As a baby name, Clauda has escaped American parents' notice.
• Corinth. Borrowed from the name of a biblical city with connections to the apostle Paul.
• Cyrene. A biblical place name, famously associated with Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus' cross out of Jerusalem. The name Cyrene also has a mythological connection via one of Apollo's lovers, Cyrene the nymph.
• Damaris. A perfectly wearable but rarely-heard girl's name. As for its biblical claim to fame, the name Damaris occurs in the New Testament where it belongs to one of Paul's converts.
• Dorcas. Described in the Bible as an early Christian woman who made things, especially clothing, for the needy in Joppa.
• Esli. The name Esli appears in Luke's account of the genealogy of Jesus. While the biblical Esli sported a pair of XY chromosomes, this name skews feminine in 21st-century America.
• Eunice. If you pick this one, your daughter will have many historical namesakes to look up to: the 19th century scientist Eunice Newton Foote, the American philanthropist Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and of course, the biblical Eunice who instilled a strong Christian faith in her son Timothy.
• Galatia. An biblical region with connections to the apostle Paul—and a distinctive baby name possibility for a girl.
• Galilee. If place names are your thing, here's one with a sterling biblical pedigree.
• Heli. A Finnish girl's name with a surprising biblical connection: in the New Testament, the name Heli briefly appears in the Gospel of Luke as the father of Joseph, Mary's husband.
• Hosanna. A bold Bible-inspired name with positive vibes.
• Jannai. The name Jannai shows up in Luke's genealogy of Jesus. While the biblical Jannai was a male, the name is firmly in female territory in modern-day America.
• Jerusalem. A place name with impeccable biblical credentials.
• Judea. Judah charts for the boys, but cousin Judea would make a fine girls' name.
• Junia. If you're after a pretty name with a subtle biblical connection, this one might appeal. In the Bible, Junia is a devout Christian known from Paul the Apostle's letter to the Romans.
• Lois. Pronounced LOY-iss, this biblical girl's name that occurs only in one passage in the New Testament, where Lois is described as Timothy's grandmother and a woman of sincere faith.
• Lycia. An ancient region mentioned in the New Testament in connection to the apostle Paul's travels.
• Magdala. The home town of Mary Magdalene has yet to catch on as a baby name.
• Melea. The biblical Melea, mentioned briefly in Luke's genealogy of Jesus, was a male, but as a contemporary baby name, Melea has more potential for girls.
• Melita. The name Melita is used in some versions of the Bible to refer to the island of Malta.
• Menna. (sometimes transliterated as Menan). This name makes a fleeting appearance in the Gospel of Luke as an ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ. While the biblical Menna was a male, this name could make a short and sweet given name for a modern girl.
• Nazareth. Or, how about the name of Jesus's home town?
• Neri. The name of a male ancestor of Joseph, Mary's husband and the legal father of Jesus Christ. In modern-day America, Neri can be used for either gender.
• Persis. Persis is mentioned in passing in the New Testament as the name of a Roman woman who was an early follower of Christ.
• Philadelphia. Aside from being Pennsylvania's largest city and a rare girls' name, Philadelphia is a biblical city mentioned a few times in The Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament.
• Prisca. You won't find Prisca in the Bible, but Priscilla—which is thought to be a Roman diminutive for Prisca—has deep biblical roots.
• Rhesa. A biblical male name belonging to an ancestor of Joseph, Jesus's legal father. As a modern baby name, however, Rhesa has a rather feminine sound.
• Rhoda. Rhoda found some style currency in the first half the 20th century but lost its zip in the second half of the century. Are we ready to bring it down from the attic?
• Salome. Borne by two contrasting biblical figures, the more likeable one being the wife of Zebedee, who gave birth to James and John.
• Samaria. A biblical place name that has yet to capture widespread notice as a baby name.
• Sinai. Borrowed from the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
• Smyrna. A biblical place...but not a modern baby!
• Susannah. A variation of Susanna.
• Talitha. This pretty name takes its inspiration from the Aramaic phrase "Talitha cumi", meaning "Little girl, arise", which Jesus used in connection to the resurrection of Jairus's daughter. Astronomers may also appreciate the link to Talitha Borealis and Talitha Australis, two stars in the Ursa Major constellation.
• Troas. An ancient city mentioned in the New Testament in connection to Paul's evangelistic journeys. As a baby name, Troas remains a rarity.
• Tryphena. Borrowed from an early Christian woman briefly mentioned in one of the Pauline Epistles.