Believe it or not, some of the most popular baby names today come from the bible. If parents are thinking of choosing a popular biblical name for their baby girl, here are some of the favorites, what role they played in biblical history and what the biblical name means.
Rebecca (means "a snare")
The name Rebecca comes from the Hebrew name "Rivqah" and may have derived from an Aramaic name. Rebecca of the Old Testament was the mother of Jacob and Esau and the wife of Isaac. Today the biblical name Rebecca is a popular one for a first name or middle name for a baby girl in Christian families.
Rachel (means "ewe")
Rachel is a Hebrew name and one of the most popular biblical names for a girl. Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob and mother to Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel was not used as a popular name among Christian families until after the Reformation.
Sarah or Sara (means "lady" or "princess")
Another common Hebrew name is Sarah, sometimes spelled Sara. Sarah from the Old Testament was the wife of Abraham. She gave birth to their son Isaac at the age of 90. Sarah continues to be among the popular biblical names to choose from today and can often be found near the top of the most popular baby name lists.
Mary (meaning is not known, but could be "sea of bitterness" or "beloved")
A biblical name that is a favorite for Christian families is Mary. There were several Marys in scripture including the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers. Mary has been one of the most popular English names since the 16th century, as well as the Latin version of the name, Maria. Other derivations of the name Mary include the Hebrew "Miryam" and the Greek "Mariam." The meaning of the name Mary is not completely known, but it is possible it derives originally from Egypt
Leah (means "weary")
Leah is a popular Hebrew name from Genesis. Leah was the first wife of Jacob and they had six sons and one daughter together. This name was initially a popular baby name for girls in Jewish families, but became more common in Christian families after the Protestant Reformation.
Elizabeth (means "my God is an oath")
The popular biblical name Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name "Elisheva". There were two well-known Elizabeths in scripture; Elisheba, the wife of Aaron and Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and mother of John the Baptist. The name Elizabeth has been more popular since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is likely parents will find this popular biblical name in the top popular baby names for girls.
If parents need additional resources to find a popular biblical baby girl name, there are many websites and other references that can provide alphabetical listings and meanings to help them in their search for the perfect name for their own baby girl.
References:
The NIV Study Bible. Zondervan Corporation, 1995.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
Join the Conversation