Christian Boy Names and their Meaning

The focus of this post today is Christian Boy Names and their Meaning and I have documented most of the names I could come across. This is not the exhaustive list but a good place to start for parents looking for Christian related names for their baby boy.

See also: Christian Girl Names A to Z with Meaning In The Bible

Christian Boy Names and their Meaning

Old Testament / Hebrew Origin Names

1. Aaron - "Mountain of strength" or "exalted." Moses' brother and Israel's first high priest - Exodus 4:14
2. Abel - "Breath" or "vapor." Adam and Eve's second son, known for his righteous sacrifice - Genesis 4:2
3. Abraham - "Father of many nations." The patriarch of the Israelites and father of faith - Genesis 17:5
4. Adam - "Man" or "earth." The first man created by God in the Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:7
5. Amos - "Carried by God" or "burden bearer." A prophet who spoke against social injustice - Amos 1:1
6. Asher - "Happy" or "blessed." One of Jacob's twelve sons and a tribe of Israel - Genesis 30:13
7. Caleb - "Devotion to God" or "wholehearted." A faithful spy who entered the Promised Land - Numbers 13:6
8. Daniel - "God is my judge." A prophet known for faithfulness in the lion's den - Daniel 6:16
9. David - "Beloved." Israel's greatest king, a man after God's own heart - 1 Samuel 16:13
10. Elijah - "The Lord is my God." A powerful prophet who called down fire from heaven - 1 Kings 18:36
11. Elisha - "God is salvation." Elijah's successor who performed many miracles - 2 Kings 2:12
12. Ethan - "Strong," "enduring," or "firm." Known for his wisdom - 1 Kings 4:31
13. Ezra - "Help" or "helper." A priest and scribe who led Israelites back to Jerusalem - Ezra 7:6
14. Gideon - "Mighty warrior" or "feller of trees." A judge who defeated the Midianites with 300 men - Judges 6:12
15. Isaac - "He laughs" or "laughter." Abraham and Sarah's promised son - Genesis 21:3
16. Isaiah - "Salvation of the Lord." Major prophet who prophesied about the Messiah - Isaiah 1:1
17. Jacob - "Supplanter" or "holder of the heel." Became Israel, father of the twelve tribes - Genesis 25:26
18. Jeremiah - "The Lord exalts" or "appointed by God." The weeping prophet who warned of judgment - Jeremiah 1:5
19. Joel - "The Lord is God." A prophet who prophesied about the Day of the Lord - Joel 1:1
20. Jonah - "Dove." The reluctant prophet who was swallowed by a great fish - Jonah 1:17
21. Joseph - "He will add" or "God increases." Jacob's favored son who became ruler in Egypt - Genesis 37:3
22. Joshua - "The Lord is salvation." Moses' successor who led Israel into the Promised Land - Joshua 1:1
23. Levi - "Joined" or "attached." Jacob's third son and the priestly tribe - Genesis 29:34
24. Micah - "Who is like the Lord?" A prophet who foretold the Messiah's birthplace - Micah 5:2
25. Moses - "Drawn out of water." God's chosen leader who delivered Israel from Egypt - Exodus 2:10
26. Nathan - "He gave" or "gift from God." Prophet who confronted King David about his sin - 2 Samuel 12:1
27. Nehemiah - "The Lord comforts." Rebuilt Jerusalem's walls after the exile - Nehemiah 1:1
28. Noah - "Rest" or "comfort." Built the ark and survived the great flood - Genesis 6:8
29. Reuben - "Behold, a son." Jacob's firstborn son - Genesis 29:32
30. Samuel - "God has heard" or "asked of God." Prophet, priest, and judge who anointed kings - 1 Samuel 1:20
31. Seth - "Appointed" or "placed." Adam and Eve's third son, born after Abel's death - Genesis 4:25
32. Solomon - "Peace." David's son, the wisest and wealthiest king of Israel - 1 Kings 3:12
33. Jethro - Excellence - Exodus 3:1 - Moses' father-in-law who advised him about delegating authority.

New Testament / Greek Origin Names

1. Andrew - "Manly" or "strong." One of the twelve apostles, Simon Peter's brother - John 1:40
2. Barnabas - "Son of encouragement." An early church leader who traveled with Paul - Acts 4:36
3. Bartholomew - "Son of Talmai." One of the twelve apostles, possibly also called Nathanael - Matthew 10:3
4. Cornelius - "Horn." A Roman centurion who was the first Gentile convert - Acts 10:1
5. James - "Supplanter." Name of two apostles, including Jesus' brother - Matthew 4:21
6. Jason - "Healer." A believer in Thessalonica who sheltered Paul - Acts 17:5
7. John - "God is gracious." The beloved disciple and author of five New Testament books - John 13:23
8. Jude - "Praised." One of Jesus' brothers and author of the epistle of Jude - Jude 1:1
9. Luke - "Light-giving." Physician, historian, and author of Luke and Acts - Colossians 4:14
10. Mark - "Warlike" or "dedicated to Mars." Author of the Gospel of Mark - Acts 12:12
11. Matthew - "Gift of God." Tax collector turned apostle and gospel writer - Matthew 9:9
12. Nathanael - "Gift of God." An Israelite in whom there was no deceit - John 1:47
13. Paul - "Small" or "humble." The apostle to the Gentiles, wrote 13 New Testament epistles - Acts 13:9
14. Peter - "Rock" or "stone." Leader of the apostles, given the keys to the kingdom - Matthew 16:18
15. Philip - "Lover of horses." One of the twelve apostles who brought Nathanael to Jesus - John 1:43
16. Silas - "Wood" or "forest." Paul's missionary companion and co-author of epistles - Acts 15:40
17. Simon - "He has heard." Original name of Peter and name of another apostle - Matthew 4:18
18. Stephen - "Crown" or "garland." The first Christian martyr, full of faith and the Holy Spirit - Acts 6:5
19. Thomas - "Twin." The apostle who doubted but later believed in the resurrection - John 20:28
20. Timothy - "Honoring God." Paul's young protégé and pastor of Ephesus - Acts 16:1
21. Titus - "Honorable." Paul's companion and church leader in Crete - Titus 1:4
22. Zacharias (Zechariah) - "The Lord remembers." Father of John the Baptist, a priest - Luke 1:5

Names of Saints and Early Church Fathers

1. Ambrose - "Immortal." Bishop of Milan who influenced Augustine's conversion - Referenced in church history
2. Augustine - "Great" or "magnificent." Bishop of Hippo, author of "Confessions" and "City of God" - Influenced by Romans 13:13-14
3. Benedict - "Blessed." Founder of Western monasticism and the Benedictine Order - Inspired by Matthew 5:3-12
4. Clement - "Merciful" or "gentle." Early Pope and author of epistles to Corinthians - Mentioned in Philippians 4:3
5. Cyprian - "From Cyprus." Bishop of Carthage and early church martyr - Lived Acts 11:19-20 principles
6. Dominic - "Of the Lord." Founded the Dominican Order for preaching and teaching - Followed Matthew 28:19
7. Francis - "Free man" or "from France." St. Francis of Assisi, known for humility and love of nature - Lived Matthew 19:21
8. Gregory - "Watchful" or "vigilant." Pope Gregory the Great, reformed the church - Exemplified 1 Peter 5:2
9. Ignatius - "Fiery one." Bishop of Antioch, wrote letters on Christian doctrine - Followed 2 Timothy 1:7
10. Jerome - "Sacred name." Translated the Bible into Latin (Vulgate) - Dedicated to 2 Timothy 2:15
11. Justin - "Just" or "righteous." Early Christian apologist and martyr - Defended 1 Peter 3:15
12. Lawrence - "Laurel-crowned." Deacon and martyr known for charity to the poor - Lived Acts 6:1-3
13. Martin - "Warlike" or "dedicated to Mars." Bishop of Tours known for evangelism - Followed Mark 16:15
14. Nicholas - "Victory of the people." Bishop of Myra, known for generosity - Exemplified Acts 20:35
15. Patrick - "Noble" or "patrician." Patron saint of Ireland, missionary - Obeyed Matthew 28:19
16. Vincent - "Conquering" or "victorious." Deacon and martyr of Zaragoza - Endured Revelation 2:10

Virtue and Attribute Names

1. Amen - "So be it" or "truly." Expression of agreement with God's truth - Revelation 3:14
2. Asher - "Happy" or "blessed." Represents the blessing of joy - Genesis 30:13
3. Clement - "Merciful" or "gentle." Reflects God's mercy - Philippians 4:3
4. Constantine - "Constant" or "steadfast." Represents unwavering faith - 1 Corinthians 15:58
5. Emmanuel (Immanuel) - "God with us." Name prophesied for the Messiah - Matthew 1:23
6. Felix - "Happy" or "blessed." Roman governor who heard Paul - Acts 23:24
7. Gabriel - "God is my strength." Archangel who announced Jesus' birth - Luke 1:26
8. Jedidiah - "Beloved of the Lord." Solomon's name given by God - 2 Samuel 12:25
9. Jesse - "Gift" or "God's gracious gift." Father of King David - 1 Samuel 16:1
10. Malachi - "My messenger." The last prophet of the Old Testament - Malachi 1:1
11. Nathaniel - "Gift of God." Another form of Nathanael - John 1:45
12. Raphael - "God heals." An archangel in apocryphal texts - Associated with Exodus 15:26
13. Theophilus - "Loved by God" or "friend of God." Recipient of Luke's gospel - Luke 1:3
14. Theodore - "Gift of God." Variant meaning divine gift - Based on James 1:17
15. Zephaniah - "Hidden by God" or "protected by God." Prophet who prophesied judgment and restoration - Zephaniah 1:1
16. Jonathan - "God has given" - 1 Samuel 13:2 - Son of Saul who formed a covenant friendship with David.

Kingly and Royal Names

1. Cyrus - "Sun" or "throne." Persian king who freed the Jews from exile - Isaiah 45:1
2. David - "Beloved." Israel's greatest king and man after God's own heart - 1 Samuel 13:14
3. Hezekiah - "God strengthens." Righteous king who trusted God - 2 Kings 18:5
4. Jehoshaphat - "The Lord judges." King who sought the Lord - 2 Chronicles 17:3-4
5. Josiah - "The Lord supports" or "heals." Reformed worship in Judah - 2 Kings 22:2
6. Lemuel - "Devoted to God." King whose mother taught him wisdom - Proverbs 31:1
7. Melchizedek - "King of righteousness." Priest-king who blessed Abraham - Genesis 14:18
8. Rehoboam - "He enlarges the people." Solomon's son, first king of Judah - 1 Kings 11:43
9. Saul - "Asked for" or "prayed for." Israel's first king - 1 Samuel 9:2
10. Solomon - "Peace." Wisest and wealthiest king of Israel - 1 Kings 3:12
11. Uzziah - "The Lord is my strength." Long-reigning king of Judah - 2 Chronicles 26:4-5
12. Zechariah - "The Lord remembers." Name of several kings and prophets - 2 Kings 15:8

Final Thoughts

Picking the right name for your son matters a lot as it is the first and most enduring gift you can give your child. We named our son "Blessed" and we have seen so blessings extended to him and well as his full commitment to God's work.