Before naming your child after a significant biblical character, it is imperative to know at least some information about their life and what their name actually means.

Here are the origins and meanings of 50 male and female biblical names - with a few variations.

Girls

1. Abigail

Source: 1 Samuel 25:3

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Father of Exaltation"

2. Hagar

Source: Genesis 16:1

Origin: Egyptian/Semitic

Meaning: "Foreigner," "the one who escaped" or "flight"

3. Ana/Anna/Hannah

Source: I Samuel 2:1

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Favor" or "grace"

4. Claudia

Source: Matthew 27:19

Origin: Latin

Meaning: "Enclosure" or "haven"

5. Deborah

Source: Judges 4:4

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Bee"

6. Diná/Dinah

Source: Genesis 34: 1

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Judgment"

7. Esther

Source: Book of Esther

Origin: Persian

Meaning: "Star"

8. Eunice

Source: 2 Timothy 1:5

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "Good" or "victory"

9. Eva/Eve

Source: Genesis 3:20

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Gathering," "declaration" or "humility"

10. Isabel

Source: Luke 1:13

Origin: Variation of the Hebrew name "Elisabeth."

Meaning:"God is oath" or "consecrated of God"

11. Joana/Johanna

Source: Luke 24:10

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "God has been gracious"

12. Lia/Leia/Leah

Source: Genesis 29:17

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Weary"

13. Lydia

Source: Acts 1:14

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "From the almond tree"

14. Magdalene

Source: John 20:18

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Tower of God"

15. Mary

Source: Matthew 1:16

Origin: Greek name that comes from the Hebrew name "Miriam"

Meaning: Many meanings have been attributed to this name, including "myrrh" and "stubbornness."

16. Martha

Source: Luke 10:40

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Lady," "woman of the boss" or "housewife"

17. Miriam

Source: Micah 6:4

Origin: Egyptian

Meaning: "bitter" or "myrrh"

18. Naomi

Source: Ruth 2:1

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Delightful" or "delight of the Lord"

19. Priscilla

Source: Romans 16:3

Origin: Latin

Meaning: "Longevity"

20. Rachel

Source: Genesis 29:18

Origin: Unsure, but one of the Semitic languages

Meaning: "Female sheep or ewe"

21. Rebecca

Source: Genesis 24:60

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Tied" or "secure"

22. Ruth

Source: Book of Ruth

Origin: Unknown

Meaning: Since the origin of the name is unknown, there is a lot of speculation about its meaning. Some have suggested Ruth means "friend," "old lady" or "companion."

23. Sara/Sarah/Sarai

Source: Genesis 17:15

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Princess" or "noble lady"

24. Tabitha

Source: Acts 9:36

Origin: It is the Aramaic name of Dorcas.

Meaning: "Gazelle" or "elegant"

25. Talita

Source: Mark 5:41

Origin: Aramaic

Meaning: It's not a proper name in the Bible, but it means "little girl."

BOYS

1. Abel

Source: Genesis 4:2

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Stream"

2. Abraham

Source: Genesis 12:1-2

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "His strength"

3. Adam

Source: Genesis 2:7

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Living man"

4. Ben-Hur

Source: I Kings 4:8

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of Ur"

5. Benjamin

Source: Genesis 35:24

Origin: It comes from the Hebrew word Ben-iamin

Meaning: "Son of the right hand" or "beloved"

6. Caleb

Source: Numbers 32:12

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Dog"

7. Carmel

1 Kings 18:20

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Fruitful field"

8. Daniel

Source: The Book of Daniel

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "God is my judge"

9. David

Source: I Samuel 16:13

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "The beloved"

10. Emanuel

Source: Matthew 1:23

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "God is with us"

11. Enoch

Source: Genesis 5:22

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Started" or "dedicated"

12. Stephen/Estevan

Source: Acts 6:18

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "Crown"

13. Felipe

Source: John 1:44

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "He who leans on his military complex"

14. Gabriel

Source: Luke 1:26

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Man of God"

15. Isaac/Isaac

Source: 1 Chronicles 1:34

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "He will laugh"

16. Israel

Source: Genesis 46:1

Origin: Unknown

Meaning: "He will be a prince with God" or "God's governor"

17. Jacob

Source: Genesis 46:2

Origin: From the Latin name Iacubus

Meaning: "Supplanter" or "he who holds the heel"

18. John/Johann

Source: 1 John

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "The Lord is gracious"

19. Joseph

Source: Genesis 37:3

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "He (God) will add," "increaser" or "may God add"

20. Joshua

Source: Book of Joshua

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "The Lord is salvation"

21. Levi

Source: Genesis 35:23

Origin: The origin of this word is disputed. But experts have narrowed it down to Minaean word for "priest" or from the Hebrew word "iawa" which means "to join."

Meaning: "Joined"

22. Mathew/Matheus

Source: Matthew 9:9

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Gift of the Lord"

23. Moses

Source: Numbers 20:6

Origin: It could be from the Latin name "Mosheh," but it also might come from the Egyptian word for water.

Meaning: "He who extracts" or "he who draws out of the waters"

24. Samuel

Source: 1 Samuel 3:4

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Heard of God" or "name of God"

25. James

Source: Acts 1:13

Origin: Derived from the Hebrew name "Ya'akov" (Jacob)

Meaning: James doesn't have a meaning, but Jacob means "Supplanter" or "he who holds the heel."

This is a translation and adaptation of the original article, "50 nomes bíblicos poderosos para dar a seu bebê - suas origens e significados," published on familia.com.br.