Girl Names from the Old Testament

Are you looking for biblical girl names that trace their origins to the Old Testament? Abigail stands as the currently most popular Old Testament name for baby girls, followed by Naomi, Hannah, Leah, Delilah, Genesis and Sarah. Some of these names have held strong on the list of the Top Girls' Names for decades, while others, like Genesis, are relatively new to the American baby name scene.

Common names aside, the Old Testament also provides a treasure trove of unusual and unique baby name ideas. For example, many biblical place names known to us from the Old Testament have great baby name potential but have yet to be discovered by today's parents.

On this page, you'll find a vast collection of Old Testament girl names covering all sides of the popularity spectrum, from popular choices to unusual appellations to unique options. First, let's look at some of the more popular choices.

Popular Girl Names Borrowed from the Old Testament

If your taste in baby names runs to the conventional and grounded, here's a list of the currently most popular Old Testament names for girls:

1. Abigail. A beautiful name borne by two biblical women, both associated with King David: one is his sister, the other is his beautiful wife.
2. Naomi. Ruth's mother-in-law and the great great-grandmother of King David bears a beautiful name with plenty of contemporary pop culture cred.
3. Hannah. A beloved baby name belonging to the prophet Samuel's mother.
4. Leah. Baby names don't have to be long to make an impression—Leah is proof of that.
5. Delilah. A modern favorite, despite the difficult biblical story of Samson and Delilah...
6. Genesis. A striking biblical baby name that seems to speak to the current zeitgeist. Alicia Keys has a son called Genesis.
7. Sarah. With its lovely classic feel, the staple Sarah might be just the right kind of name for your family if you want to walk the tried-and-tested route when naming your baby girl. Sara is a spelling variation.
8. Eden. This one is perfectly in step with current trends!
9. Esther. A charming comeback name that's rapidly losing its "old lady" image. In the Bible, this name belongs to the brave and resourceful woman who saved Jewish people from a genocidal plot.
10. Ruth. This Old Testament name may be short on letters—but not on style.
11. Ada. If you see Ada as a variation of Adah, then yes, this popular name counts as a biblical appellation, being borne by two Old Testament characters.
12. Ariel. Related to the Hebrew word for "lion", Ariel is used as a symbolic name for Jerusalem in the The Book of Isaiah.
13. Rachel. This popular Old Testament girl name holds biblical significance as one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob.
14. Miriam. A solid biblical girl's name belonging to an Old Testament prophetess.
15. Rebecca. (or Rebekah). In the Bible, Rebekah is the wife of Isaac and the second matriarch in Genesis (Sarah being the first). In the baby name world, it's a classic that continues to appeal generation after generation.
16. Shiloh. A biblical place name that has made an astonishingly quick leap from obscurity to prominence. Its most famous bearer: Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.
17. Sarai. The original name of Sarah. As an American baby name, Sarai has only began to get wider notice this century.
18. Salem. Pick this unisex baby name with biblical place name panache, and you'll be good even if your baby turns out not to be a girl.
19. Eve. Brisk, brief and symmetric, Eve commands attention.
20. Hadassah. The Hebrew version of Esther.

Old Testament Girl Names from A to Z

Not everyone wants to give their daughter a common name. In fact, unusual and unique biblical girl names are getting a lot of attention from twenty-first-century parents, and many Old Testament names that were considered too offbeat in the past feel perfectly baby-appropriate today.

If you're looking for a less common baby girl name that's rooted in the Old Testament, check out our A-to-Z list of unusual Old Testament girl names below:

• Abi. Abi is a biblical name in its own right—it belongs to the daughter of Zechariah in the Bible—but it's of course also a nickname for Abigail.
• Abida. The name Abida makes a brief appearance in the Bible as a descendant of Abraham. While the biblical Abida was a male, a 21st century Abida is likely to be a female.
• Abidah. A variation of Abida.
• Abigail. A beloved baby name borne by two Old Testament figures, both associated with King David: one is his sister, the other is his sensible and beautiful wife.
• Abihail. Not to be confused with Abigail, the name Abihail appears in the Bible as a male name but may be better suited for a girl in the modern world.
• Abijah. If Abigail feels overdone, consider Abijah, which is the name of several biblical characters, male and female.
• Abital. In the Old Testament, Abital is one of King David's wives.
• Achsah. The biblical Caleb's daughter sports a name that's unusual, but wearable.
• Ada. A variation of Adah.
• Adah. A brisk and brief A-name for the minimalist baby namer.
• Adaiah. There's a legion of male characters called Adaiah in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, Adaiah is considered a unisex name.
• Adar. The Books of Esther and Ezra contain several references to the month of Adar, the twelfth month.
• Adina. (or Adina). Borrowed from an Old Testament soldier, Adina feels eminently modern—as a girl's name. Can also be spelled Adinah.
• Adna. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but strikes a feminine vibe in the U.S.
• Ahava. The name of a Babylonian river known to us from the biblical Book of Ezra.
• Ahlai. Coded "masculine" in biblical times, Ahlai goes to the girls today.
• Aijalon. (or Ajalon). This biblical place name does double duty: it works for both girls and boys.
• Ain. A river and region in France, a Scottish word meaning "own", the 18th letter of the Arabic alphabet...and a biblical place name!
• Ajalon. A variation of Aijalon.
• Amal. This name shows up as a male name in Scripture but sounds pretty feminine to the contemporary English speaker. Amal's most notable contemporary bearer: Mrs. Clooney.
• Amana. The name of a mountain located in (or near) Lebanon.
• Amariah. This Old Testament name was a male name in biblical times but has since moved into female territory.
• Ami. Ami with an "i" occurs in the Old Testament as one of King Solomon's servants whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile in Ezra 2. Does that make it biblical enough for you baby? You decide...
• Amzi. A biblical male name with crossover potential.
• Anab. Known to readers of the Bible as one of the cities in the mountains of Judah from which Joshua expelled the Anakim.
• Anani. The name of one of King Solomon's male descendants mentioned in 1 Chronicles, Anani skews feminine in the contemporary U.S.
• Ananiah. In the Bible, Ananiah appears as a male name and a place name, but in today's classrooms, this A-name is more likely to belong to a girl.
• Ara. Ara is listed as a male descendant of Asher in 1 Chronicles. As a modern baby name, this pint-sized name has a unisex sensibility.
• Arah. This one is used as a male name in the Old Testament but has a feminine feel in the modern American context.
• Areli. Borne by a grandson of Jacob in the Old Testament, Areli sounds rather feminine to the contemporary ear.
• Ariel. A unisex name with biblical place name panache (it is used as a symbolic name for Jerusalem in the Old Testament) and Disney credentials from the mermaid.
• Asa. Traditionally considered a boy's name, this palindrome borrowed from a biblical king feels unisex in 21st-centrury America.
• Asenath. A minor female figure in the Book of Genesis, the biblical Asenath was the wife of Joseph and the mother of his sons Manasseh and Ephraim, who later became forefathers of two Israelite tribes.
• Atara. A variation of Atarah.
• Atarah. The name of the second wife of Jerahmeel, a descendant of Judah, serves a modern baby name. Can also be spelled without the h (i.e. Atara).
• Athaliah. Sound-wise, Athaliah could succeed; the hold-up is the association with Queen Athaliah who is not portrayed in a favorable light in the Bible. Try Attalia instead!
• Avital. A variation of Abital.
• Azaliah. A male name in the Old Testament, Azaliah feels emindently modern—as a girl's name.
• Azaniah. Start with Azaliah, trade the L for an N, and you've got Azaniah, another biblical possibility with the cool nickname Aza.
• Azariah. Borne by several biblical men, Azariah counts as a unisex name in 21st-century America.
• Azel. An arresting A-name that gets right to the point. As for the biblical tie-in, Azel is one of the descendants of King Saul mentioned in 1 Chronicles.
• Bathsheba. The mother of King Solomon bears a name that, as a modern baby name, has largely escaped notice.
• Bela. A male name and a place name in biblical times, Bela has since evolved into a girl's name.
• Belah. A variation of Bela.
• Beri. This name makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament as a male descendant of Jacob's son Asher, but in the contemporary U.S., it might be better suited for a girl.
• Bethel. Bethel showed some panache in the late 1910s and early 1920s, but has escaped the spotlight. Appearing frequently as a place name in the Old Testament, the biblical meaning of Bethel is "House of God".
• Bethlehem. Better known from the New Testament but appears in the Old Testament, too.
• Beulah. This one is a biblical place, not a person, but it has been used as a given name for centuries. In the Book of Isaiah, Beulah is used to refer to the land of the people of Israel to which they must return.
• Calah. This C-name makes a fleeting appearance in the Old Testament as a place name.
• Carmel. A biblical place that lends itself to a baby name.
• Carmi. Carmi may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think about biblical names, but yes, Carmi is the name of a couple of minor biblical figures mentioned in the Old Testament. While the biblical Carmis were all male, this name leans toward the girls' side of the fence in the contemporary U.S.
• Cherith. A brook mentioned in the Bible and—why not—a baby name.
• Dannah. In reference to a city in the mountains of Judah.
• Deborah. If a retro name with biblical roots and a bunch of built-in nicknames is on your wishlist, this Old Testament prophetess name might be just what you're looking for.
• Delaiah. Looks a lot like Delilah, but this is actually a separate biblical name, belonging to several minor figures in the Old Testament.
• Delilah. On sound alone, this name rocks! But the biblical story of Samson and Delilah may give some parents pause...
• Dinah. In the Old Testament, Dinah is the daughter of Jacob and Leah. In the baby name world, it is a vintage gem full of unearthed potential.
• Dor. A French word meaning "of gold" or "golden" (though technically it's d'or), as well as a biblical name inspired by an ancient port city. Its biggest downside? The similarity to the word "door".
• Eden. This biblical place name does double duty: it works for both boys and girls.
• Elienai. Elienai, the name of one of Benjamin's male descendants mentioned in the Old Testament, has a feminine lilt in the contemporary U.S.
• Elika. The name Elika appears in the Bible as one of King David's "Mighty Warriors". While the biblical Elika was a full-fledged man, a 21st-century Elika is likely to be a female.
• Elim. The name of a biblical oasis where the Israelites found solace on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
• Elisha. The Old Testament prophet Elisha carries a name that has unisex appeal in the modern world.
• Elisheba. (sometimes transliterated as Elisheva). This one crops up in the Bible as the name of Aaron's wife.
• Elisheva. A variation of Elisheba.
• Eri. Eri is mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as one of Gad's sons. While the biblical Eri was a male, this name reads unisex in the contemporary U.S.
• Esther. A popular comeback name that's rapidly losing its "old lady" image. As for the biblical backstory, Esther was a young Jewish woman who found favor with the Persian King Ahasuerus, became queen, and risked her life to save her people from being exterminated throughout the Persian Empire.
• Eve. This Old Testament girl name comes in at just one syllable and three letters—perfect for the minimalist family looking for a pint-sized baby name.
• Evi. The biblical Evi didn't meet a happy end: one of the five chiefs of Midian, he was slain by the Israelites during their sojourn in Moab. As a secular girl's name, the future looks brighter for Evi!
• Ezri. The name of King David's agricultural chief. Not to be confused with Ezra.
• Gera. A biblical male name now in circulation as a girl's name. Credit the a-ending for the gender switch!
• Giah. A biblical place name that has yet to come of age as a baby name.
• Hadar. (or Hadad). A well-established girl's name in modern-day Israel, Hadar's biblical bearers were all men.
• Hadassah. The Hebrew name of Esther mentioned in Scripture.
• Hagar. Rarely heard outside of the Bible...which is probably for the best!
• Hali. A biblical place name—and an airy, lilting baby name possibility for a daughter.
• Hanan. The Old Testament is peppered with men called Hanan, but in the contemporary U.S., the name leans heavily toward the feminine.
• Hananiah. A name belonging to more than a dozen male biblical characters. As a modern baby name, Hananiah reads unisex.
• Hannah. This pretty name blends a soft, gentle sound with biblical bona fides. In the biblical narrative, Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Havilah. An intriguing baby name possibility with biblical place name panache.
• Helah. The name of one of Ashhur's two wives, only mentioned briefly in the Bible.
• Hephzibah. This frilly name gets its biblical credentials from being the name of King Hezekiah's wife and the mother of King Manasseh. The name also has a literary edge, having appeared in works by George Eliot and J. K. Rowling.
• Huldah. An Old Testament prophetess name with a heavy retro vibe.
• Imri. This name appears as a male name in Scripture, but in modern-day America, it could also work for a girl.
• Iri. While the floral Iris is living large, the pared-down Iri is virtually unheard of in the U.S. As for Iri's biblical claim to fame, Iri is briefly mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the brave soldiers in Bela's clan.
• Jaala. (or Jaalah). The name Jaala is briefly mentioned in the Bible as one of King Solomon's servants whose descendants returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile.
• Jaazaniah. Coded "masculine" in biblical times, Jaazaniah might be better suited for a girl in modern times.
• Jada. Listed in the biblical genealogies as a descendant of Jerahmeel. Outside the Bible, the name's most famous bearer has got to be actress Jada Pinkett Smith.
• Jael. Borrowed from an Old Testament heroine.
• Janai. Janai is mentioned in passing in the Books of Chronicles as a leader of the tribe of Gad who lived in the region of Bashan. While the biblical Janai sported a pair of XY chromosomes, the name is firmly in female territory in modern-day America. Jannai with two N's is listed as an ancestor of Jesus in the New Testament.
• Jarah. Swap out the first letter in the classic Sarah, and you arrive at Jarah, an unusual but not completely unheard of girl's name with a biblical tie: in the Old Testament, Jarah is listed in 1 Chronicles as a (male) descendant of King Saul.
• Jedidah. Introduced in the Old Testament as King Josiah's mother.
• Jemima. The name of one of Job's beautiful daughters, Jemima is perfectly wearable in the U.K. but has been saddled with the "Aunt" connotations in the U.S.
• Jerusalem. If place names are your thing, this one's steeped in biblical history.
• Jerusha. The name Jerusha (or Jerushah) makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament as the mother of King Jotham.
• Jochebed. The mother of Moses, Miriam and Aaron sports a name that will undoubtedly take some growing into.
• Judith. Inspired by the beautiful and clever Old Testament character who used her charm to save her people from oppression.
• Kanah. A stream mentioned in the Bible—and one of the rarest baby names on this list.
• Kelaiah. Kelaiah, also known as Kelita, is a minor biblical personage mentioned a couple of times in the Old Testament. While the biblical figure sported a pair of XY chromosomes, the name Kelaiah would be better suited for a girl in the contemporary U.S.
• Kelita. Kelita is a minor biblical personage mentioned a couple of in the Old Testament. While the biblical figure was a male, the name Kelita feels feminine to a modern English speaker.
• Keren. Described in the Bible as one of Job's three beautiful daughters, born to him after his fortunes were restored.
• Keturah. Abraham's first wife, Sarah, continues to inspire American baby namers, but the name of Abraham's second wife remains an under-the-radar choice.
• Kezia. A variation of Keziah.
• Keziah. The name of one of Job's beautiful daughters, born to him after his sufferings.
• Kish. A very rare, unisex baby name belonging to several biblical figures, including King Saul's father.
• Lael. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament—Lael was the father of a Gershonite leader called Eliasaph—but in the modern world, Lael reads unisex.
• Libni. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but gets a spot on Team Pink's roster in contemporary America.
• Luz. A Spanish and Portuguese word meaning "light"—as well as a biblical baby name: in the Old Testament, Luz is given as another name for the biblical town of Bethel.
• Madai. This M-name appears as a male name in Scripture but gets an entry in the girls' column in contemporary U.S.
• Mahli. This name appears in the Old Testament as a male name, but in modern-day America, it would be better suited for a girl.
• Mareshah. A male name and a place name in the Bible, Mareshah feels rather feminine to the Western sensibility.
• Mashal. (aka Mishal). A name with multiple origins/meanings. In the Old Testament, it appears as a place name.
• Meah. This name gets its biblical credentials from the Tower of Meah, also known as the Tower of Hammeah or the Tower of the Hundred.
• Memphis. Brings to mind the city in Tennessee. But did you know that Memphis is actually borrowed from the name of an ancient Egyptian city mentioned several times in the Old Testament?
• Merab. Introduced in the Bible as King Saul's eldest daughter.
• Merari. The name of one of Levi's sons, Merari has a nice sound, but the meaning ("bitter") is less appealing.
• Meribah. A biblical place name that has yet to catch on as a baby name.
• Micah. A prophet name that has been used for both girls and boys.
• Micaiah. In the Bible, Micaiah is described as a prophet who remained committed to speaking the truth despite the consequences. As a baby name, Micaiah has been used for both girls and boys.
• Micha. The German and Dutch variation of Micah. Like its English equivalent, Micha works for both girls and boys.
• Michal. A unisex name borne in the Bible by King Saul's younger daughter who was given in matrimony to David.
• Milcah. Related to the Hebrew word for "queen" (malka), this pretty name is borne by two biblical characters: one is the fourth daughter of Zelophehad, and the other is a daughter of Haran (Abraham's brother) and the wife of Nahor.
• Milka. Milcah appears as Milka in the German version of the Old Testament. As a potential baby name, it might be a little too evocative of the chocolate brand.
• Miriam. An understated biblical classic, borne by an Old Testament prophetess.
• Mishal. A name with a myriad of meanings and uses, depending on which part of the world you call home. In the Bible, Mishal appears as a place name.
• Naarah. The name Naarah is mentioned in passing in the Bible as one of the two wives of Ashhur, Noah's grandson.
• Naomi. What's not to love about this beautiful name, first made famous by the biblical Ruth's mother-in-law?
• Neah. An Old Testament place name and an unusual girl's name that looks like a mash-up of Nia and Leah.
• Neariah. Neariah may sound like a nouveau girls' name, but it's actually an ancient name, belonging to two minor biblical characters, both male.
• Neriah. Neriah appears as a male name in Scripture, but in modern-day America, it goes to the girls.
• Neziah. In the Old Testament, is listed as an ancestor of temple workers who returned to their homeland following their release from captivity in Babylon. As a modern girl's name, Neziah has yet to realize its potential.
• Nimrah. This name gets its biblical cred from Beth-Nimrah, an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament. As a 21st-century baby name, it's mostly used in Muslim communities.
• Nineveh. A biblical place name that looks a lot like the 21st-century name creation Neveah.
• Noah. Did you know that there are actually two Noahs in the Bible? There is the Noah who built the famous ark, and there is the Noah who was a daughter of Zelophehad. If you're expecting a baby girl, you may also want to consider the variant Noa, which has a more feminine sensibility.
• Noemi. The name of the biblical Naomi in Latin and a number of related languages.
• Noomi. This variation of the English Naomi is found, for example, in the Swedish and Finnish translations of the Bible.
• Ophel. Ophel may look like a short form of the Shakespearean name Ophelia, but it's actually a biblical place name borrowed from the Old Testament.
• Orpah. No, this is not a misspelling of Oprah but a perfectly legit biblical name, borne in the Old Testament by one of Naomi's two daughters-in-law.
• Peniel. (or Penuel). A biblical place—and a baby name.
• Rachel. A Top 100 pick from the 1970s through the first decade of the 21st century, this well-trod baby name holds biblical importance as one of Jacob's wives.
• Rahab. One of the most thought-provoking heroines of the Old Testament. As a baby name, Rahab has so far escaped American parents' notice.
• Ramiah. The name Ramiah makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament. Outside the Bible, it's in use as an Indian surname as well as an exotic-sounding girls' name.
• Raquel. The Spanish version of Rachel.
• Reaiah. A masculine-coded name in the Bible, Reaiah might be better suited for a girl in contemporary America.
• Rebecca. A variation of Rebekah.
• Rebekah. The biblical Rebekah is the wife of Isaac and the second matriarch in Genesis (Sarah being the first).
• Rei. A well-established Japanese given name that can be used for both girls and boys. Its biblical claim to fame? The brief mention of a King David loyalist called Rei who remained loyal to his king when Adonijah attempted to become king.
• Rinnah. This name occurs in the Old Testament as a male name but has a feminine ring to it in the contemporary U.S.
• Ruth. A strong, to-the-point R-name rooted in the Bible.
• Salem. 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.
• Salma. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but goes to the girls in the contemporary U.S. Hollywood star Salma Hayek lends this pretty name a dose of glamour.
• Samaria. A biblical place name occasionally heard on baby girls.
• Sara. A variation of Sarah.
• Sara. The Spanish version of Sarah.
• Sarah. One of those timeless biblical names that seem universally appealing.
• Sarai. The original name of the biblical matriarch and prophetess Sarah. As an American baby name, Sarai has only gained widespread notice this century, cracking the US Top 500 for the first time in 2003.
• Saron. A variation of Sharon.
• Seba. A place name and a male name in the Bible, but the final "A" nugdes Seba girlward in the contemporary U.S.
• Sela. A biblical place that doubles as a baby name.
• Serah. Introduced in the Old Testament as a daughter of Asher and a granddaughter of Jacob.
• Seraiah. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but feels rather feminine to the Western sensibility.
• Shalisha. This one is mentioned in passing in the Bible as a place name.
• Shammah. Borne by several biblical men, Shammah could easily be rebooted as a modern girls' name.
• Sharon. The name Sharon is biblical, severely neglected, and waiting for some audacious baby namers to give it a new life.
• Sheba. As in the Queen of Sheba, a biblical monarch who goes to Jerusalem to experience the wisdom of King Solomon. As an American baby name, Sheba has yet to make its mark.
• Sheerah. This name is mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as a female descendant of Ephraim, accredited with building three cities.
• Shelah. This name appears as a male name in Scripture but reads feminine in 21st-century America.
• Shemaiah. The name of multiple biblical characters, all male. As a modern baby name, Shemaiah gets an entry in the girls' column.
• Shemariah. A masculine-coded name in the Old Testament, Shemariah has more potential for girls in the contemporary context.
• Sheva. Yet another Old Testament name that was gendered male in biblical times but might be better suited for a girl today.
• Shifra. (sometimes transliterated as Shiphrah). The name of a midwife who courageously continued to deliver Hebrew baby boys despite Pharaoh's order.
• Shiloah. Shiloah makes a fleeting appearance in the Old Testament, in reference to the "the gentle waters of Shiloah". Not to be confused with Shiloh.
• Shiloh. An eminently wearable biblical place name. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is a notable bearer.
• Shiphrah. See Shifra.
• Shua. A biblical male name that can be used for girls, too.
• Sia. Famously associated with the Australian singer-songwriter behind the hit "Chandelier", the name Sia has a surprising biblical link: according to Nehemiah 7, "the sons of Sia", a family of temple servants, were among the first to return from the Babylonian exile. In Ezra 2, the name appears as Siaha.
• Sinai. An intriguing baby name with place name panache: Mount Sinai is where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
• Suah. Suah shows up in the biblical genealogies as a male descendant of Asher, but in 2024, Suah belongs to the girls.
• Tamar. Borne by two Old Testament women, both of whom had their struggles... Despite that, Tamar has had some success as a baby name, perhaps because of its appealing sound and sweet, nature-inspired meaning ("date palm").
• Tamara. Tamar with a Russian twist.
• Tarah. A variation of Terah.
• Tarea. Tarea is listed in the Bible as a male descendant of King Saul, but in the contemporary U.S., it has a feminine ring to it.
• Tekoa. This biblical place has lent its name to numerous modern-day places—as well as a small number of babies. What do you think of it?
• Telah. The name Telah only makes a fleeting appearance in the Old Testament, as a descendant of Ephraim. While the biblical figure was a male, the name Telah would be better suited for a girl in modern times.
• Terah. This name was gendered male in biblical times—it was borne by Abraham's father—but has since been claimed for Team Pink.
• Timna. This distinctive T-name is one of the few names that have been borne by both male and female biblical characters, and if you throw in an "h", it becomes a biblical place name (Timnah).
• Timnah. A biblical place name that doubles as a rare baby name.
• Tiria. This name makes a brief appearance as a male name in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, it goes to the girls.
• Tirzah. In the Old Testament, this is the name of both a city and a daughter of Zelophehad.
• Tola. Tola appears as a male name in the Old Testament but sounds pretty feminine to contemporary ears.
• Ulla. A well-established secular female given name in Scandinavia, and coincidentally, a biblical name (the biblical Ulla, however, was a male, and is only mentioned in passing in the Bible).
• Vashti. An exotic-sounding name borne in the Old Testament by an independent-minded Persian queen.
• Yael. A variation of Jael.
• Zabdi. There are several men called Zabdi in the Bible, but in the modern American context, Zabdi reads unisex.
• Zelah. A rare girl's name with biblical place name cred. British actress Zelah Clarke is a notable bearer.
• Zemira. A variation of Zemirah.
• Zemirah. The name of one of Benjamin's descendants mentioned in passing in the Old Testament serves as a modern girl's name.
• Zerah. Reminiscent of Sarah, this name has a feminine sound in the modern world but appears as a male name in the Old Testament.
• Zeruiah. Introduced in the Bible as one of King David's sisters and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
• Zia. As a modern baby name, Zia is overwhelmingly female, but in the Bible, it belongs to a male member of the Gadite clan.
• Zillah. The name Zillah makes a fleeting appearance in the Bible as one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain.
• Zilpah. Described in the Bible as Leah's handmaid who bore Gad and Asher to Leah's husband Jacob. As a baby name, Zilpah is as rare as can be.
• Zina. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in 21st-century America, it's on Team Pink.
• Zion. This unisex name with biblical place name panache seems to strike a chord with the new generation of parents.
• Zipporah. An unusual, faith-filled name belonging to Moses' wife.
• Ziza. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in the U.S., it might be better suited for a girl.
• Zorah. A biblical place—and a baby name.
• Zuriel. This Z-powered name makes a brief appearance in the Book of Numbers as a leader of the Merarite clan. While the biblical Zuriel was a male, the name has a unisex vibe in modern times.