200 Unique and Unusual Biblical Names for Girls (A to Z List)

Looking for an uncommon or unique biblical name for a baby girl? From Abilene to Zuriel, here are 200 Bible-inspired names that are sure to make your daughter stand out.

• Abida. Borne by a male descendant of the patriarch Abraham in biblical times, the final "a" throws this name into the girls' column in modern-day America.
• Abijah. In the Bible, Abijah is a unisex name, belonging to both male and female characters.
• Abilene. If you're looking for an ununcommon biblical name that starts with the letter A, here's a beautiful biblical place name that's yet to hit the mainstream.
• Abital. (or Avital). Borne in the Old Testament by one of King David's wives.
• Achaia. An arresting A-name with biblical place name credentials. In the Bible, Achaia is a region located in the southern part of what is now Greece and is mentioned several times in the New Testament.
• Achsah. (sometimes transliterated as Aksah). A neglected biblical name borne by Caleb's daughter.
• Adaiah. This one appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but it's U.S., it's also a girl's name.
• Adar. Adar, which is a month in the Hebrew calendar and appears in the Bible several times, also counts as a girls' nature name: turns out, it's the plural form of the Welsh word aderyn, meaning "bird".
• Adina. (or Adinah). The name of an Old Testament soldier doubles as a modern girl's name. An alternate spelling is Adinah.
• Adna. A biblical male name turned girl's name. Credit the feminine na-ending for the crossover!
• Ahava. The name of the Babylonian river on the banks of which Ezra gathered together the Jewish exiles before returning to Jerusalem from Babylon.
• Ahlai. Cropping up as a male name in the Old Testament, Ahlai today gets a spot on Team Pink's roster.
• Aijalon. Pick this gender-neutral biblical place name, and you're set whether you give birth to a girl or a boy.
• Amal. This name shows up as a male name in the Bible but feels feminine to the Western sensibility. Its most notable contemporary bearer: Amal Clooney.
• Amana. The name of a mountain mentioned in the Old Testament.
• Amariah. A biblical male name that has been appropriated as a modern baby name for girls.
• Ami. This name doesn't have a particularly religious feel, but it does occur in the Bible—once: Ami was one of King Solomon's servants whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile in Ezra 2.
• Amzi. This name appears as a male name in the Bible but could easily make a gender switch.
• Anab. A biblical place name: Anab was 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 the Old Testament, Anani today leans feminine in the U.S.
• Ananiah. Not to be confused with Ananias, Ananiah with an "h" appears as a male name and a place name in the Bible, but is more likely to belong to a girl in the contemporary U.S.
• Apphia. In the Bible, this name belongs to an early Christian woman mentioned in Paul's epistle to Philemon.
• Aquila. The early Christian missionary Aquila the New Testament talks about was a male, but in the contemporary U.S., this name moves freely across gender lines.
• Ara. This one makes a solitary appearance in the Bible, as a male descendant of Asher, but in current times, Ara reads unisex.
• Arah. This Old Testament name was gendered male in biblical times but has since joined the girls' team.
• Areli. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, it feels all-girl.
• Asa. Traditionally considered a boy's name, this name borrowed from a biblical king feels unisex in the modern world.
• Asenath. According to the Book of Genesis, Asenath was the wife of Joseph and the mother of his sons Manasseh and Ephraim, who later became forefathers of two Israelite tribes.
• Atarah. (or Atara). The name of the second wife of Jerahmeel, a descendant of Judah.
• Athaliah. Sound-wise, great! The only problem is the association with the biblical queen Athaliah, whose reign was marked by tyranny and religious apostasy. You may want to go with Attalia instead!
• Attalia. One of the cities Paul and Barnabas passed through on their missionary journeys. Not to be confused with Athalia, the evil queen.
• Azaliah. The name Azaliah appears in the Old Testament as a masculine given name, but the -liah ending has edged it into girls' territory in 21st-century America.
• Azaniah. By swapping out one letter in Azaliah, your arrive at Azaniah, another biblical possibility with the zippy nickname Aza.
• Azariah. Borne by several biblical men, Azariah can be used for both girls and boys in modern-day America.
• Azel. A unisex name that gets its biblical cred from being briefly listed as descendant of King Saul in 1 Chronicles.
• Bathsheba. One of the wives of King David and the mother of King Solomon. As a baby name, Bathsheba has failed to appeal to the masses.
• Bela. (or Belah). A male name and a place name in the Bible, but a heavily feminine-leaning baby name in the modern American context.
• Berea. The name of an ancient city mentioned in the Bible in connection to Paul's evangelistic journeys.
• Bernice. (or Berenice). Dripping with retro charm, this biblical pick with the ready-made nickname Bernie is yours for the taking.
• Bethel. Bethel gained some popularity in the late 1910s and early 1920s, but never made it to the top of the charts. Appearing frequently as a place name in the Old Testament, the biblical meaning of Bethel is "House of God".
• Bethlehem. A biblical place name with an eminently accessible nickname (Beth).
• Bethsaida. The name of the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip; bonus points for the built-in nickname (Beth)!
• Beulah. A biblical place name that has a long history of use as a baby name, too.
• Calah. This rare girl's name is mentioned in passing in the Bible as a place name.
• Cana. This one crops up in the Bible as the site of one of Jesus's public miracles.
• Candace. Mentioned briefly in Acts 8 as the name an Ethiopian queen.
• Carmel. A biblical place—and a baby name.
• Carmi. The name of a couple of minor biblical figures mentioned in the Old Testament. While the biblical Carmis were all male, this name skews feminine in the U.S.
• Cherith. The name of a brook mentioned in the Bible.
• Cilicia. The name of the birth place of Paul the Apostle—and an intriguing baby name possibility.
• Clauda. A small island mentioned in the Bible in connection to Paul's travels. As a baby name, Clauda has escaped American parents' notice.
• Corinth. The name of a biblical city with connections to the missionary work of 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. Borne in the Bible by an Athenian woman whom St. Paul converted to Christianity.
• Dannah. This one is mentioned in passing in the Bible as a place name.
• Dinah. Introduced in the Old Testament as the daughter of Jacob and Leah. In the baby name world, it is a vintage gem full of unearthed potential.
• Dor. A short, shiny name derived from the French d'or, meaning "of gold" or "golden", or a biblical name borrowed from an ancient port city. A bit too close to the word "door" for our liking.
• Dorcas. The biblical Dorcas, also called Tabitha, was an early Christian who made things, especially clothing, for the needy in Joppa.
• Elienai. The first unusual E-name on our list is Elienai, the name of one of Benjamin's male descendants listed in the Old Testament. As a modern baby name, Elienai leans heavily toward the feminine.
• Elika. This name belongs to one of King David's "Mighty Warriors" in the Bible but falls squarely on the girls' side in 21st-century America.
• Elim. This biblical place name comes in at just four letters. Less is more, as they say!
• Elisha. A unisex baby name borrowed from an Old Testament prophet.
• Elisheba. (also Elisheva). The name Elisheba is only mentioned in passing in the Bible as the wife of the prophet Aaron.
• Eri. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in contemporary America, it might have more potential as a girl's name.
• Esli. The name Esli shows up in Luke's genealogy of Jesus. While the biblical Esli was a male, this name leans female in the contemporary U.S.
• 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.
• Evi. There's a lot to like about this name, but its biblical backstory isn't one of those things: in the Bible, Evi is a one of the Midianite chiefs slain by the Israelites during their sojourn in Moab.
• Ezri. The name Ezri makes a brief appearance in the Old Testament as the name of King David's agricultural chief. Not to be confused with Ezra.
• Galatia. An ancient region referenced in the Bible.
• Galilee. A place drenched in biblical history and, why not, a baby name.
• Gera. Gera appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but because of the a-ending, we hear girl.
• Giah. This one makes a brief appearance in the Bible as a place name.
• Hadar. A last name and a female given name in Israel, as well as a place name, Hadar (or Hadad) appears as a male name in the Bible.
• Hagar. Let's leave this one in the Bible—deal?
• Hali. A biblical place that makes a plausible girl's name. Fun fact: hali means "hug" in colloquial Finnish.
• Hanan. Male biblical characters called Hanan are legion, but in modern-day America, the name Hanan skews feminine on today's playgrounds.
• Hananiah. Borne by a considerable number of men in the Bible—some good, some less so. As a modern baby name, Hananiah has a unisex vibe.
• Havilah. A long, lilting appellation with biblical place name cred.
• Helah. Briefly mentioned in the Bible as one of the two wives of Ashhur, Noah's grandson.
• Heli. A Finnish girl's name with an unexpected biblical connection: in the Bible, the name Heli briefly appears in the Gospel of Luke as the father of Joseph, Mary's husband.
• Hosanna. Sounds more possible now than ever.
• Huldah. A biblical prophetess name lost in the sands of time. Can also be spelled without the final "h".
• Imri. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but could also work for a girl in the modern world.
• Iri. While the floral Iris is the toast of the town, the pared-down Iri remains a rarity. In Bible, Iri is briefly mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the brave soldiers in Bela's clan.
• Jaala. (or Jaalah). Described in the Bible as one of King Solomon's servants whose descendants returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile.
• Jaazaniah. A masculine-coded name in biblical times; a female-leaning name in modern times.
• Jael. (or Yael). An Old Testament heroine who played a pivotal role in the demise of the Canaanite army commander Sisera.
• Janai. Janai is mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as a leader of the tribe of Gad who lived in the region of Bashan. While the biblical Janai was a male, the name falls on the girls' side of the gender divide in the U.S. Jannai with two N's is listed as an ancestor of Jesus in the New Testament.
• Jarah. Just one letter away from the biblical classic Sarah, Jarah sounds like a girls' name, even though its biblical bearer was a man.
• Jedidah. The mother King Josiah sports an exotic-sounding name that would be sure to turn heads on the playground.
• Jemima. Perfectly wearable in the U.K., but the "Aunt Jemima" associations pretty much knock this one out of consideration in the U.S. In the Bible, Jemima (or Jemimah) is the name of one of Job's beautiful daughters.
• Jerusalem. A place name steeped in biblical history.
• Jerusha. The mother of King Jotham has a name that sounds like a smoosh of Jerusalem and Natasha.
• Jochebed. In the Bible, this ornate name belongs to Levi's daughter who gave birth to Moses, Miriam and Aaron.
• Judea. Judah has become a popular choice for baby boys, while Judea has potential for girls.
• Junia. In the Bible, this name makes a brief appearance in Paul's letter to the Romans.
• Kanah. A stream mentioned in the Bible—and one of the rarest baby names on this list.
• Kelaiah. (sometimes transliterated as Kelita). The name of a minor Old Testament figure. While the biblical character was a male, most 21st-century parents seem to associate this name with girls.
• Kelita. A male name in the Bible; a girls' name in the contemporary U.S.
• Keren. In the Bible, Keren-Happuch is one of Job's three beautiful daughters, born to him after his fortunes were restored.
• Keturah. If Sarah, the name of Abraham's first wife, is too common for your taste, how about Keturah, the name of the patriarch's second wife?
• Keziah. (or Kezia). The name of one of Job's beautiful daughters, born to him after his restoration from affliction.
• Lael. In the Bible, the name Lael makes a brief appearance as the father of the Gershonite leader Eliasaph. As a modern baby name, Lael could work for either gender.
• Libni. Now a girl's name, Libni appears as a male name in the Bible.
• Lois. Lois makes a short but impressive appearance in the Bible as the pious maternal grandmother of Timothy.
• Luz. A Spanish and Portuguese word meaning "light", and coincidentally, a biblical baby name: in the Old Testament, Luz is another name for the biblically important town of Bethel.
• Lycia. A geopolitical region mentioned in the Bible in connection to the apostle Paul's missionary journeys. As a baby name, Lycia has not yet been widely discovered.
• Madai. The name of a male descendant of Noah, Madai is used as a girl's name in contemporary America.
• Magdala. If you want something more distinctive than Magdalena, try Magdala, the name of Mary Magdalene's home town.
• Mahli. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, it might work better for girls.
• Mareshah. A male name and a place name in the Bible, with potential as a girls' name in the contemporary world.
• Mashal. A name with multiple origins/meanings. As for the biblical connection, Mashal appears in the Old Testament 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.
• Melea. Borne in the Bible by a male ancestor of Joseph, Melea is in circulation as a girl's name in the contemporary U.S.
• Melita. The name Melita is used in some versions of the Bible to refer to the island of Malta.
• Memphis. For many people, the first association is the city in Tennessee. But let's back up! Memphis is actually borrowed from the name of an ancient Egyptian city mentioned several times in the Bible.
• Menna. (sometimes transliterated as Menan). The name Menna makes a brief appearance in the Gospel of Luke as a male ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary. As a modern baby name, however, it registers on the girls' side of the charts.
• Merab. King Saul's eldest daughter, Merab, was supposed to marry David, but Saul changed his mind and Merab ended up marrying Adriel from the town of Meholah.
• Merari. On sound alone, the name of one of Levi's sons definitely has baby name potential, especially for girls, but the meaning ("bitter") is less appealing.
• Meribah. This biblical place name has yet to catch on as a baby name.
• Micah. A prophet name that has been used for both girls and boys.
• Micaiah. Not to be confused with the prophet of the Book of Micah, Micaiah is also a biblical prophet, known for commitment to always speaking the truth. As a baby name, Micaiah has been used for both girls and boys.
• Michal. A unisex name borne by King Saul's younger daughter who married 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.
• Mishal. Also known as Mashal, Mishal is a town mentioned in the Bible. As a baby name, it's mostly used in Muslim communities.
• Naarah. This one traces its biblical origins to the Old Testament, where it belongs to one of Ashhur's wives.
• Nazareth. The famous home town of Jesus is now a baby name, too.
• Neah. A biblical place name and an unusual girl's name that looks like a hybrid of Nia and Leah.
• Neariah. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament but is used for girls in the contemporary U.S.
• Neri. The name of a man in Jesus's earthly lineage, as per Luke's account. Can also be used for girls in the contemporary U.S.
• Neriah. A male name in the Old Testament, Neriah today feels at home with the girls.
• Neziah. In the Bible, Neziah refers to an ancestor of temple workers who made it back to their homeland from the Babylonian exile. As a baby name, Neziah strikes as an equal-opportunity option that can be used for both girls and boys.
• Nimrah. This name takes its biblical inspiration from Beth-Nimrah, the name of an ancient city in Transjordan. As a female given name, it's mostly used by Muslim families.
• 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 feels more feminine.
• 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. This one may look like a misspelling of Oprah, but avid readers of the Bible know that Orpah is in fact the biblical original, borne in the Old Testament by one of Naomi's two daughters-in-law (the other being Ruth).
• Peniel. A biblical place name; sometimes transliterated as Penuel.
• Persis. Persis makes a brief appearance in the New Testament as the name of a Roman woman who was an early follower of Jesus.
• Philadelphia. Brings to mind the city in Pennsylvania. But did you know that there's also a biblical city called Philadelphia?
• Prisca. The name Priscilla, associated with the biblical power couple Priscilla and Aquila, is said to be a Roman diminutive for Prisca.
• Rahab. One of the most thought-provoking heroines of the Old Testament. As a baby name, its similarity to the word "rehab" may put parents off.
• Ramiah. The name Ramiah makes a fleeting appearance in the Old Testament. Outside the Bible, it's perhaps best recognized as an Indian surname but has also been used as a girls' name in the U.S.
• Reaiah. A biblical male name with potential for girls in the contemporary world.
• Rei. A well-established Japanese given name, as well as a surprising biblical possibility: in the Old Testament, Rei is briefly mentioned as the name of a man who maintained true allegiance to King David when Adonijah rebelled.
• Rhesa. The name Rhesa is mentioned in passing in the Gospel of Luke as an ancestor of Joseph, Mary's husband. While the biblical Rhesa sported a pair of XY chromosomes, the final "a" pushes Rhesa onto the female side in modern-day America.
• Rhoda. This New Testament name occasionally popped up on birth certificates in the first half the 20th century, but has since disappeared from view. Could it be time for a comeback?
• Rinnah. The name Rinnah is mentioned in passing in the Old Testament as a male descendant of Judah, but in modern-day America, Rinnah strikes a feminine vibe.
• Salma. On the masculine side of the ledger in biblical times, this name is today firmly in the girls' camp.
• Salome. Thinking about the woman who asked for John the Baptist's head on a platter as a reward for a dance? Forget her, and let your daughter know she was named after the other biblical Salome, the righteous biblical Salome who was the wife of Zebedee, the mother of the disciples James and John, and a female follower of Jesus.
• Samaria. As in the biblical region/city.
• Seba. A place name and a male name in the Bible, Seba has been adopted as a girls' name by contemporary parents.
• Sela. A biblical place—and a baby name.
• Serah. The name Serah is listed in the biblical genealogies as a daughter of Asher and a granddaughter of Jacob.
• Seraiah. The Old Testament is peppered with men called Seraiah, but to the contemporary ears, Seraiah sounds more like a girl's name.
• Shalisha. Mentioned fleetingly in the Bible in reference to a place of uncertain location.
• Shammah. There are several men called Shammah in the Old Testament, but in contemporary America, Shammah can be used for either gender.
• Sheba. A biblical place name, most famously associated with the story of the Queen of Sheba, a monarch who travels to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom. As a baby name, Sheba has yet to catch fire.
• Sheerah. The name Sheerah is mentioned in passing in the biblical genealogies as a female descendant of Ephraim, accredited with building three cities.
• Shelah. Although Shelah appears as a male name in the Bible, most people in the U.S. think of it as a girls' name.
• Shemaiah. The name of multiple biblical figures, all male. As a modern baby name, Shemaiah reads female.
• Shemariah. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, Shemariah has a distinctly feminine feel.
• Sheva. Sheva appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but the final "A" nudges it girlward in contemporary America.
• Shifra. (or Shiphrah). The name of a courageous midwife who stood up against Pharaoh and kept delivering Hebrew baby boys in Egypt.
• Shiloah. This name appears in the Bible only once, in reference to the "the gentle waters of Shiloah". Not to be confused with Shiloh.
• Shua. A biblical male name that could easily be rebooted as a modern girls' name.
• 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. A beautiful girl's name taken from the famous biblical mountain.
• Smyrna. A biblical place name probably best left in the Bible...
• Suah. The name Suah is listed in the biblical genealogies as a male descendant of Asher. In 2024, however, it might be better suited for a girl.
• Talitha. This name takes its inspiration from the Aramaic phrase "Talitha cumi", meaning "Little girl, arise", which Jesus famously used in connection to the resurrection of Jairus's daughter.
• Tamar. Borne by two biblical characters, both of whom had their struggles... Despite that, Tamar has seen some use as a baby name, perhaps because of its nice, fresh sound and its sweet, nature-inspired meaning ("date palm").
• Tarea. While the Old Testament describes Tarea as a male descendant of King Saul, most if not all Tareas born in the contemporary U.S. have been girls.
• 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. This name makes a brief appearance in the Bible as a male descendant of Ephraim, but in the U.S., it reads feminine.
• Terah. Reminiscent of Sarah and Tara, this name has a feminine ring to it in the contemporary world, but in the Bible, it belongs to the father of Abraham.
• Timna. This is one of the few names have been borne by both male and female biblical characters, and if you add an "h", it becomes a biblical place name (Timnah).
• Timnah. A biblical place name. As a baby name, Timnah is about as unique as they come.
• Tirzah. In the Old Testament, this is the name of both a city and a daughter of Zelophehad.
• Tola. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in the U.S., it leans feminine.
• Troas. An ancient port city mentioned in the Bible in connection to the apostle Paul's travels. As a baby name, Troas has been slipping out of notice.
• Tryphena. In the Bible, the name Tryphena makes a brief appearance in Paul's letter to the Romans.
• Ulla. A secular female given name in some northern European countries, but it also occurs in the Bible—but as a male name.
• Vashti. The name of a strong-willed Persian queen known to us from the Old Testament.
• Zabdi. There are several men called Zabdi in the Bible, but in the U.S, it could also be used for girls.
• Zelah. A rare girl's name with biblical place name cred. British actress Zelah Clarke is a notable bearer.
• Zemirah. (or Zemira). Zemirah, the name of one of Benjamin's male descendants listed in 1 Chronicles 7, feels rather feminine by today's standards.
• Zerah. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in modern-day America, it offers a feminine sound similar to Sarah.
• Zeruiah. A daring baby name choice for that won't go unnoticed, this name is borne in the Bible by one of King David's sisters and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
• Zia. In the Bible, this name belongs to as a male member of the Gadite clan, but as a modern baby name, Zia leans heavily toward the feminine.
• Zillah. The name of one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain.
• Zilpah. In the Old Testament, Zilpah appears as Leah's handmaid who bore Gad and Asher to Leah's husband Jacob.
• Zina. This name appears as a male name in the Old Testament, but in contemporary America, it goes to the girls.
• Zion. Usually given to boys, but works for girls, too.
• Zipporah. A singular faith-filled name belonging to Moses' wife.
• Ziza. This name appears in the Bible as a male name but feels feminine to a modern English speaker.
• Zorah. A strong, alluring girl's name borrowed from a biblical city.
• Zuriel. In the Old Testament, Zuriel is used as a male name, but today, it has unisex appeal.