Biblical Baby Names for Boys and Girls

“What’s in a name?” asks Shakespeare’s Juliet. From a biblical standpoint, the answer is: quite a lot. Time and again the Scriptures underscore the saving power of the divine name as well as God’s intense interest in human names. The Catechism reflects this perspective when it reminds us that “God calls each one by name. Everyone’s name is sacred. The name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of the dignity of the one who bears it” (2158).

For each of us, our name reflects our unique identity as a son or daughter of the Father. When Jesus addresses the weeping Mary Magdalene as “woman,” she mistakes Him for the gardener. But when He calls her by her name, she immediately realizes that her beloved Savior has conquered the grave.

Names are important. And in a world where Muhammad is now the most popular baby boy’s name in the United Kingdom, it’s more crucial than ever that Christian parents take seriously their God-given responsibility of naming their child. While Catholics have a wide range of rich and beautiful names to choose from, the following list offers some specifically biblical inspiration for parents looking to find the perfect fit.

Biblical Names for Boys

• John Mark—the full name of St. Mark the Evangelist, who was a traveling companion to both St. Paul and St. Barnabas (see Acts 12:12,25). According to tradition, Mark also spent time working for St. Peter, who served as the source for his Gospel. Mark later went on to found the episcopal see of Alexandria, Egypt, where he was martyred around the year 68.

• Asher—the eighth son of Jacob and the founder of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. According to the rabbis, Asher was known for being a peacemaker, while the book of Genesis explains that his name means “happy” or “blessed” (see Genesis 30:13).

• Tobias—He’s the protagonist in the Old Testament book of Tobit, which is named after his father. Tobias is befriended by the archangel Raphael, who helps him meet and marry the lovely Sarah. His name means “God is good.”

• Apollos—a native of Alexandria whose name was pagan in origin. Despite this, Apollos was a devout Jew who later converted to Christianity and became famous for his debating prowess (see Acts 18:28). Apollos also played a crucial role in the founding of the Corinthian church, as St. Paul recognized: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

• Crispus—The name comes from the Latin meaning “curly-headed.” Crispus was a leader of the Jewish synagogue in Corinth, but he was so moved by the preaching of St. Paul that he “believed in the Lord, together with all his household” (Acts 18:8). There is also a St. Crispin, made famous by Shakespeare’s play Henry V, who lived in the third century and was martyred under the emperor Diocletian.

• Aquila—His name is Latin for “eagle.” With his wife, Priscilla, he played a major role in the early Church. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers who at some point converted to Christianity (see Acts 18:3). From there they became zealous evangelists, so much so that Paul could affectionately call them his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).

• Clement—Here I should declare a conflict of interest! Nevertheless, Clement is a worthy New Testament name coming from the Latin word for “merciful.” In his epistle to the Philippians, St. Paul praises Clement as one of his co-workers (see Philippians 4:3). Clement went on to become the fourth pope in Rome, and he was the author of an important letter to the Corinthian church. According to tradition, he was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. 

Biblical Names for Girls

• Tirzah—a name referring both to one of the daughters of Zelophehad (see Numbers 26:33) and to an ancient Israelite city. This city is remembered in the Song of Songs: “You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners” (6:4). The name means “delight” in Hebrew.

• Priscilla—Together with her husband, Aquila, she was known for opening up her home as a space for Christian worship (see 1 Corinthians 16:19). At one point, Paul even credits the couple for having risked their own necks to save his life (see Romans 16:4). Tradition recognizes Priscilla and Aquila as martyrs, and their feast is celebrated on July 8th. 

• Abigail—Her name means “my father rejoices.” She married David (before he became king) following the death of her first husband, Nabal. This future queen was known for her intelligence, beauty, loyalty, and discretion (see 1 Samuel 25). In Jewish tradition, she is remembered as one of the seven prophetesses to God’s people. 

• Evangeline—This name doesn’t technically belong to anyone in the Bible, but it stems from the Greek euaggelion (in Latin, evangelium), meaning “good news” or “gospel.” The word appears over 75 times in the New Testament, including in 2 Timothy which speaks of the grace which “has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). 

• Tabitha—a prominent disciple living in Joppa who was known for “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). After she fell sick and died, St. Peter miraculously raised her from the dead. Her name—rendered as Dorcas in Greek—means “gazelle.”

• Junia—She is mentioned only fleetingly in the New Testament, where St. Paul praises her for being outstanding among the apostles (see Romans 16:7). Together with a man named Andronicus, who may have been her husband, she was at one time imprisoned with Paul. Her name comes from the Latin word for “young” or “youthful.”

• Lois—the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of St. Timothy, and someone who is praised for her “sincere faith” (see 2 Timothy 1:5). We don’t know much about her story or even the precise meaning of her name, but tradition suggests that she was a Jewish convert to the Faith. She and her extended family appear to be well known to St. Paul, who took her grandson under his wing.

What’s in a name? More than you would think. And while Juliet might be right on one level that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, surely she would admit that a rose by the name of babble, phlegm, or brick would not sound as sweet. Human language is not just an arbitrary exercise, and some names are better than others. 

So let your choice of name for your son or daughter be the fruit of careful discernment. And try to ensure their name reflects not only who they are but also whose they are as a beloved child of the One who calls each of us by name, just as He called Mary Magdalene in the garden.