Short Biblical Names for Baby Boys

Are you expecting a new addition to your family and now you just need to find that perfect name for your little blessing? If you're interested in short biblical names for baby boys, you've landed on the right page: this A-to-Z list contains nearly 200 boy names for those seeking simplicity and spiritual significance!

• Aaron. Borne by an Old Testament prophet, Aaron shines as a solid scriptural name.
• Abdi. Abdi may be used as a nickname for Abdiel, but it's also a separate biblical name (the Old Testament mentions three different men going by this name).
• Abdon. We think this biblical place name and boys' name sounds a bit too much like the word "abandon". What do you think?
• Abel. Clocking in at just four little letters, the name of Adam and Eve's younger son gets right to the point. The biblical Abel's tragic death—he was slain by his brother Cain—may give some parents pause, however.
• Abiel. Who else thinks this biblical name, borne by King Saul's grandfather, deserves more baby name love?
• Abner. After long neglect, Abner is turning up on birth certificates once again.
• Abram. This was the biblical patriarch's original name before he was given the name Abraham.
• Achim. This boys' name comes from the New Testament, where it belongs to an ancestor of Joseph, Jesus' earthly father.
• Adam. Given Adam's importance in the Christian narrative, it's hardly surprising so many Christian parents have chosen this biblical appellation for their sons.
• Adar. The Old Testament contains several references to the month of Adar, the twelfth month.
• Adiel. This vaguely biblical name belongs to a number of minor characters in the Old Testament.
• Adin. This name may look like a retooling of Aiden, but it's actually a biblical name mentioned in passing as the name of a patriarch whose "sons" returned from the Babylonian exile.
• Adlai. The name Adlai is mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as the father of Shaphat, one of King David's herdsmen. As a baby name, it also carries presidential vibes via Adlai Stevenson, the 23rd vice president of the United States.
• Alvah. This biblical place and tribal name was still occasionally bestowed on baby boys at the beginning of the 20th century, but has since fallen into a deep sleep.
• Alvan. Alvan makes a fleeting appearance in the Old Testament as one of the sons of Shobal.
• Amad. This one is mentioned in passing in the Bible as a place name.
• Ami. Described in the Bible as one of King Solomon's servants whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile in Ezra 2. Its biggest impediment to success? The similarity to the feminine given name Amy.
• Amos. Short in length, strong in impact.
• Amoz. Swap out the last letter in Amos, and you arrive at Amoz, the name of the prophet Isaiah's father.
• Amzi. A short, Z-powered moniker from the Old Testament.
• Anan. Anan traces its biblical origins to the Old Testament, where it appears as the name of one of the leaders who sealed the renewed covenant in Nehemiah 10.
• Aner. A little-known name from the Old Testament.
• Ara. There's only a brief mention of the name Ara in the Bible, where it's listed as the name of one of Asher's descendants.
• Arad. A biblical (and contemporary) place name, as well as a Jewish surname. As an American baby name, Arad hasn't seen much use since the 1800s.
• Aram. In the Bible, this name belongs to one place and several minor characters. As a baby name, Aram has yet to capture American parents' notice.
• Aran. Like many short names, this name has multiple possible origins. As for its biblical roots, the Old Testament lists Aran as a son of Dishan.
• Ardon. A contemporary place name, as well as a Bible-inspired baby name that traces its biblical roots to the Old Testament, where it appears as the name of a descendant of Hezron.
• Arnon. In the Bible, Arnon is the name of a river mentioned several times in Scripture. Today's parents may like that it sounds like Arnold with a modern edge.
• Asa. This name has a lot going for it: it is short and simple, it has biblical connotations via King Asa of Judah, and it comes with literary cred having appeared as a character in numerous works of fiction.
• Asaph. This name belongs to several biblical figures, the most famous of whom is probably the Levite singer who lent his name to The Psalms of Asaph.
• Ashan. The name of a city in the lowlands of Judah.
• Asher. The appealing biblical meaning of Asher, "happy", combined with the stylish -er ending, makes Asher a contemporary winner!
• Ater. Want a name that's as unique as your son? This short boy's name is about as rare as it gets, and it also makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament as the name of a patriarch whose descendants returned to the Promised Land from the Babylonian exile.
• Azel. In the Bible, Azel is a descendant of King Saul, as well as a place not far from Jerusalem.
• Aziel. Calling all music lovers! This name is borne in the Old Testament by a Levite musician.
• Azor. The name Azor appears in Matthew's account of the genealogy of Christ through Joseph.
• Boaz. In the Bible, Boaz is the famous second husband of Ruth, as well as an ancestor of both King David and Jesus Christ. As a baby name, Boaz has so far escaped the spotlight.
• Buz. A short, one-syllable name from the Old Testament that looks and sounds like the laid-back nickname Buzz.
• Cain. The story of Cain and Abel will always hinder this name's rise in Christian circles. As a secular name, the future looks a little brighter for Cain (especially if you choose the spelling Kane or Kain).
• Caius. A variation of Gaius.
• Caleb. On virtually no one's baby name list a hundred years ago, Caleb is the rags-to-riches story of the baby name world.
• Cyrus. In the Bible, this is the name of the Persian king who invaded the Babylonian Empire and freed the Jewish captives.
• Dan. A short, easy one-syllable boy's name borrowed from one of Jacob's twelve sons.
• David. A biblical classic with perennial appeal.
• Dedan. The name Dedan appears in the Bible as both a place name and the personal name of a couple of minor figures.
• Demas. Demas figures in the New Testament as an early follower of Jesus and a fellow worker of Paul.
• Deuel. Borne by the father of Eliasaph, a leader of the tribe of Gad.
• Eber. This name claims multiple origins from across the world. As for its biblical roots, Eber is perhaps best known as the name of a great-grandson of Noah's son Shem and the father of Peleg, though there are also a number of other Ebers in the Bible. In Luke, the name is spelled Heber.
• Eden. A biblical place name with a modern sensibility; has been used for both boys and girls.
• Eder. This one is a biblical name twice over, appearing in the Bible as both a place name and a personal name. And if you add an accent mark to the first E, and you'll have a contemporary Brazilian given name!
• Edrei. An ancient city located in present-day Syria, known to us from the Old Testament. As a baby name, Edrei has largely escaped American parents' notice.
• Ehud. Ehud figures in the Old Testament as the second Judge of Israel. Outside the Bible, it's a well-established given name in Israel but resides on the fringes in the U.S.
• Eker. Most people are probably unaware of Eker's biblical background because this name is only mentioned in passing in the biblical genealogies.
• Ekron. A place name from the Old Testament.
• Elam. This one appears in the Bible as both a place name and a personal name.
• Eldad. One half of the biblical Eldad and Medad duo.
• Eli. After seeing steady but limited use for decades, Eli suddenly surged in popularity in the 2010s.
• Elim. An oasis with twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, mentioned in the Old Testament in connection with the exodus from Egypt.
• Elon. An Old Testament place name and personal name, brought to you by the South African-born billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
• Enam. This one makes a brief appearance in the Bible in reference to a town located in the lowland district of Judah.
• Enan. All we know about the biblical Enan is that he was the father of Ahira, a chief of the tribe of Naphtali. As a baby name, Enan has yet to catch on.
• Enoch. Belonging to one of the andeluvian patriarchs in the Old Testament, this long-lost biblical name is now being brought back to the fold by some forward-thinking parents.
• Enosh. Not to be confused with Enoch, Enosh is Seth's son and a grandson of Adam in the Old Testament.
• Eran. In the Bible, Eran is a grandson of Ephraim and the patriarch of a tribe called the Eranites.
• Eri. Eri makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament as one of Gad's sons.
• Esau. A short and simple biblical name belonging to Jacob's twin brother. The complicated relationship between Jacob and Esau, as well as the fact that Esau means "hairy", may make Esau a difficult sell.
• Esrom. A variation of Hezron.
• Etham. Not to be confused with Ethan, Etham is one of the locations the Israelites visited following their exodus from Egypt.
• Ethan. A nice, short biblical name without an ostentatiously religious feel.
• Ezra. If you're after a name that sounds ancient and contemporary at the same time, here's one that hits the bull's-eye.
• Ezri. Described in the Old Testament as King David's agricultural chief. Not to be confused with Ezra.
• Felix. Though the name Felix also appears in the Bible, it's more likely Felix's fetching sound, literary underpinnings, and wonderful meaning ("happy" or "lucky") that are keeping this name on the charts.
• Gad. This one-syllable name can be seen as a variation of Gaddiel, or as a separate biblical name belonging to two Old Testament characters, the first being Jacob's seventh-born son and forefather of the tribe of Gad, and the second being a prophet in the time of King David.
• Gaius. This short but substantial name belongs to a couple of New Testament figures, but for many people, the first person that comes to mind is Gaius Julius Caesar.
• Golan. A biblical town and, why not, a baby name.
• Gomer. Best known as the unfaithful wife of Hosea the prophet, but there's also a male biblical character called Gomer (Noah's son Japheth had a son named Gomer).
• Heber. The name of more than a handful of biblical characters.
• Helam. An unusual appellation with biblical place name credentials.
• Hiram. Rarely popping up on new birth certificates today, this Old Testament boys name was fair game back in the 1800s.
• Iddo. A relatively common name in Israel, this Old Testament prophet name is rarely used in the U.S.
• Imri. A well-established name in Israel, this name belonging to two minor Old Testament characters is rarely heard in the U.S.
• Ira. This Old Testament name was in the Top 100 in the US in the late 1800s but is rarely used today. The fact that this three-letter moniker is also an acronym for a number of things may be to blame.
• Isaac. Isaac Newton, Isaac Asimov, the biblical Isaac... Take your pick!
• Isai. The Latin form of Jesse. Issai is an alternate spelling.
• Izhar. A well-established name in Israel, this Old Testament name remains a rarity in America.
• Jabez. On sound alone, this name borrowed from a minor biblical character could succeed, but the fact that its roots are in the Hebrew word for "pain" have put a damper on the name.
• Jabin. There are two Jabins mentioned in the Bible, both of whom are kings of a Canaanite town called Hazor and enemies of Israel. If that doesn't bother you, Jabin could make an interesting alternative to Jacob.
• Jacob. With a tried-and-true name like Jacob, there's no guesswork. Perfect if you want to play it safe!
• Jadon. This name may sound like a variation of the modern Jayden, but Jadon is actually an ancient name of biblical provenance: in the Old Testament, Jadon is one of the men who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
• Jael. The Old Testament heroine sports a name that can be used for either sex in modern-day America.
• Jagur. Chances are you've never met a Jagur, and you probably never will—unless you grab this biblical place name for your little guy!
• Jair. Jair is the name of several biblical figures but is primarily associated with the eight Judge of Israel.
• Jakim. Most people are probably unaware of Jakim's biblical beginnings because the name belongs to only a couple of minor Old Testament characters.
• Jalon. A name briefly mentioned in the biblical genealogies as the fourth son of a certain Ezrah (not the famous one).
• James. A biblical classic that never seems to go out of style.
• Jamin. If Jamie is too common for your liking, how about Jamin, a perfectly legit biblical name borne by several minor Old Testament characters?
• Jared. The name Jared appears in the Book of Genesis as a great-great-great grandson of Adam and Eve.
• Jason. Borne by an early Christian convert mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, the biblical name Jason also has an appealing meaning: healer.
• Javan. In the Bible, this name belongs to the fourth son of Japheth and the forefather of the Greek people.
• Jazer. A rarely-heard boy's name with biblical place name panache.
• Jehu. The biblical origins of this name trace back to the Old Testament, where the name Jehu belongs to the tenth king of Israel.
• Jeiel. Jeiel was presumably a common name in the ancient Middle East, and several Jeiels appear in the Bible.
• Jered. This name may look like a spelling variation of the more popular Jared, but it's actually a biblical name in its own right, being the name of a couple of minor biblical characters.
• Jesse. A solid biblical name borne in the Bible by the father of King David.
• Jezer. Jezer gets its biblical cred from being one of the sons of Naphtali and the patriarch of a family called the Jezerites.
• Joab. Prominently featured in Scripture, Joab was one of King David's soldiers as well as his nephew. He played a leading part in many of David's victories, but his characteristic ruthlessness may put parents off.
• Joah. Or, swap the B for an H, and you've got Joah, the name of several minor Old Testament characters.
• Joash. This name belongs to several figures in the Bible, including two infamous kings.
• Job. If you're an intrepid baby namer looking for a biblical moniker that's sure to get people talking, Job—pronounced "Jobe"—should do the trick.
• Joed. The name of a Benjaminite mentioned in passing in the Old Testament. Not to be confused with Joel.
• Joel. Borne in the Old Testament by one of the Minor Prophets, this name might be perfect for parents looking for a short and solid biblical name that's nicely familiar, but not overly popular.
• John. Biblical powerhouse that parents never seem to grow tired of.
• Jonah. A charming boy's name borrowed from an Old Testament prophet.
• Jonam. This name appears in Luke's account of the genealogy of Christ.
• Jonan. A variation of Jonam.
• Jonas. In some versions of the Bible, this is the name of the prophet Jonah. Jonas can also refer to the father of the apostles Peter and Andrew, though most versions of the Bible refer to him as John.
• Jorah. Jorah may be a Game of Thrones character, but the name Jorah also has a surprising biblical link: in the Old Testament, "the sons of Jorah" are among the first to return from the Babylonian exile.
• Jorim. Another name mentioned in Luke's genealogy of Jesus.
• Joses. Best known as the name of one of Jesus' brothers, this name might work if you can't decide between Moses and Joseph.
• Juan. The Spanish version of the English John.
• Jubal. Mentioned only in one Bible passage, Lamech's son Jubal is considered the "inventor of music" by some Christians, so this name might strike a chord with music-loving parents.
• Judah. The name of the fourth son of Jacob and Leah has been bounding up the charts. What do you think of it?
• Judas. Let's leave this one in the Bible...
• Jude. For some parents, this name brings to mind the Epistle of Jude, the penultimate book of the Bible; for others, it's the name of the talented British actor Jude Law.
• Kaleb. A variation of Caleb.
• Kamon. In the Bible, Kamon is briefly mentioned as the place where Jair was buried. Outside the Bible, Kamon is perhaps best recognized as a Japanese surname and given name.
• Kenan. The biblical roots of Kenan go back to Genesis, where it belongs to one of Adam and Eve's great grandsons.
• Kish. There are several men called Kish in the Bible, but the Benjaminite father of King Saul is the most famous of the pack.
• Laban. In the Bible, Laban is the brother of Rebekah and the father of Leah and Rachel. Today, Laban is at home as a French surname.
• Lael. In the Bible, Lael is briefly listed as the name of the father of Eliasaph, a Gershonite leader. In the modern world, this name could work for either gender.
• Levi. A succinct, no-nonsense name that has been bounding up the charts.
• Linus. Linus may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think about biblical names, but the Bible does indeed feature a man called Linus. And let's not forget St. Linus, the second pope in Catholic history (who may have been the same person as the one mentioned in the Bible).
• Lot. An Old Testament name probably best left in the Bible...
• Lucas. The Latin equivalent of Luke.
• Luke. Rarely heard a century ago, Luke has since become a firm fixture on the American baby name charts.
• Maaz. One of the many minor biblical figures only mentioned briefly in the biblical genealogies.
• Machi. In the Bible, this name belongs to the father of one of the Twelve Spies dispatched by Moses to scout out the land of Canaan.
• Mark. Mark is a classic biblical name that has been embraced by non-believers as well.
• Micah. Yet another name borrowed from an Old Testament prophet, this time belonging to the author of the Book of Micah.
• Micha. The German and Dutch variation of Micah. Like its English equivalent, Micha has been used for both girls and boys.
• Moses. A quiet classic with drenched in biblical gravitas.
• Nahum. One of the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Nahum.
• Nain. The site of one of Jesus's public miracles also works as a baby name.
• Neri. Appearing in the Bible in Luke's genealogy of Christ, this name has a bright meaning, being derived from the Hebrew word ner, meaning "candle" (or basically any source of light).
• Nisan. Likely too close to the Japanese automobile manufacturer to ever break onto the American baby name scene in a big way. As for the biblical connection, Nisan is the name of the first month of the Jewish year in the Old Testament.
• Noah. One of the best-known Old Testament figures, and one of the top baby name choices among today's parents.
• Obed. Several men don the name Obed in Scripture, the most famous of whom is probably Boaz and Ruth's son Obed, who is the future father of Jesse and grandfather of King David. He is also listed as an ancestor Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.
• Oded. The name of two biblical characters, the first being a prophet from Samaria, and the second being the father of the prophet Azariah.
• Ohad. This name gets its biblical claim to fame from belonging to one of the sons of the Old Testament Simeon (Jacob's son).
• Omri. The name of several people mentioned in the Bible, including the infamous sixth King of Israel.
• Ophir. A doubly biblical name, Ophir is the name of both a man and a region in the Bible: the man is mentioned in passing as a son of Joktan, while the region—which is famous for its gold—is featured prominently in Scripture.
• Padon. Mentioned fleetingly in the Bible as a temple servant whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile.
• Pau. The pinz-sized Pau packs a punch: Pau is the Catalan equivalent of Paul as well as a Catalan word meaning "peace", in addition to which it's the name of numerous modern-day places as well as the name of an ancient Edomite city mentioned in the Bible.
• Paul. A biblical classic that sometimes goes out of style but always comes back again.
• Pedro. The Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of the English Peter.
• Peleg. A now-forgotten given name that was perfectly baby-appropriate in the 18th century America, as well as an Jewish surname. Biblically, Peleg was one of the sons of Eber, an ancestor of Abraham.
• Perez. Perez appears in the biblical genealogies as a son of Judah and a grandson of Jacob. Today, the name is common as a Jewish surname and, if spelled with an é (Pérez), a Spanish surname.
• Peter. A solid biblical name that has seen plenty of use in secular circles as well.
• Rei. Perhaps best known as a Japanese unisex name, Rei also has biblical cred: in the Old Testament, Rei is one of the people who remained loyal to King David when Adonijah attempted to become king.
• Reuel. The name of several minor characters in the Bible, Reuel has a bit of a retro vibe as well as an unexpected literary connection via John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J. R. R. Tolkien.
• Rufus. This biblical name had some style currency until the mid-twentieth century, but has since disappeared from view.
• Salah. A variation of Shelah.
• Salem. Like so many other contemporary place names, Salem traces its roots to the Bible, where it refers to the royal city of King Melchizedek, which is thought to be the same as Jerusalem.
• Salim. The site of John's last baptisms doubles as an intriguing baby name possibility.
• Saul. King Saul was not a great king, but him being the first king of Israel has contributed to the name's popularity among Jewish families. Christians may be tempted by the name's connection to Paul the Apostle, known as Saul of Tarsus before his conversion.
• Sem. A variation of Shem.
• Sered. This name belongs to one of Zebulun's sons and the progenitor of a tribe called the Seredites.
• Seth. A one-syllable name borne in the Bible by the third son of Adam and Eve.
• Shaul. A variation of Saul.
• Shem. Shem features in the Book of Genesis as a son of Noah.
• Sidon. First and foremost a biblical city, Sidon also appears as the name of Canaan's eldest son in the Book of Genesis.
• Silas. A retro-cool comeback name that made its debut in the U.S. Top 100 in 2021. In the Bible, Silas is a distinguished member of the early Christian community and a companion of the apostle Paul.
• Simon. There's no shortage of biblical figures called Simon, or Simeon, which lends this name plenty of biblical cred.
• Sion. A variation of Zion.
• Tabor. As in Mount Tabor.
• Tahan. In the Bible, Tahan is a descendant of Ephraim and the patriarch of a family called the Tahanites.
• Teman. A biblical place name and given name.
• Tiago. The Portuguese version of James.
• Tilon. This name is only mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as a son of Shimon.
• Timon. In the Bible, this name belongs to one of the first seven deacons elected by the apostles to serve the early Christian community in Jerusalem.
• Tiras. The name Tiras is only mentioned in passing in the Bible as a son of Japheth.
• Titus. This name comes from The Epistle to Titus, one of the three pastoral epistles of the New Testament.
• Uel. A currently overlooked boy's name borrowed from a minor biblical figure mentioned in passing in the Book of Ezra.
• Uri. Looking for a short and simple biblical name with a bright meaning? Try Uri, which is derived from the Hebrew word for "light".
• Uzzi. A short form of Uzziel or Uzziah—or a separate biblical name belonging to several minor Old Testament characters.
• Yael. A transliteration of Jael.
• Zabdi. An obscure Old Testament name that's unlikely to become a huge hit any time soon.
• Zadok. A zippy name borne by several Old Testament characters, Zadok last made waves in the colonial era.
• Zair. This one is mentioned in passing in the Bible as a place name. As a modern baby name, it's predominantly used by Muslim families.
• Zared. Another spelling of Zered, a brook mentioned in the Bible.
• Zenas. This name is found in the New Testament, where it belongs to an early follower of Jesus mentioned briefly in the Epistle to Titus.
• Zered. The name of a biblical stream located in present-day Jordan.
• Zidon. A variation of Sidon.
• Zion. An old, biblical place name with a modern sound.