One of the churches I served as pastor had many babies born to our church members each year. On occasion, one or both of the parents would ask me what I thought about a specific name, particularly a name in the Bible.
I did not have all the tools and technology we have today, so I did my best to research the names they were considering. Today, we can go to the Social Security database and get the names given to babies each year. I did just that and, with the help of technology, found the names that have a biblical origin.
My criterial were simple. The name had to be a biblical name, and it had to fall out of the top 500 rankings for the past five years.
Here are the girls’ names:
- Keziah
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Cassia” (fragrant spice; beauty, restoration)
- Scripture: Job 42:14
- Tirzah
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Delight, pleasantness”
- Scripture: Song of Songs 6:4
- Noa
-
- Rank: Outside top 1,000 (U.S. girls)
- Meaning: “Movement, motion”
- Scripture: Numbers 27:1
- Adah
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Adornment, beauty”
- Scripture: Genesis 4:19
- Shiphrah
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Beautiful, fair”
- Scripture: Exodus 1:15
- Hadassah
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Myrtle tree” (peace, blessing)
- Scripture: Esther 2:7
- Apphia
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: Often understood as “fruitful” or “increasing”
- Scripture: Philemon 1:2
And here are the rankings for the boys’ names:
- Boaz
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Strength” or “swiftness”
- Scripture: Ruth 2:1
- Amos
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- Rank: ~#600–800
- Meaning: “Burden” or “carried by God”
- Scripture: Amos 1:1
- Jethro
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Excellence” or “abundance”
- Scripture: Exodus 18:1
- Zebulun
-
- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Honor” or “dwelling”
- Scripture: Genesis 30:20
- Eliakim
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “God will establish”
- Scripture: 2 Kings 18:18
- Malachi
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- Rank: ~#500–700 (varies by year)
- Meaning: “My messenger”
- Scripture: Malachi 1:1
- Canaan
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- Rank: Outside top 1,000
- Meaning: “Lowland” or “land of promise (by association)”
- Scripture: Genesis 12:5
A Closing Thought
These names sit in a rare category:
They are known—but not common.
They are biblical—but not overused.
They are distinct—but not difficult.
Let me hear your thoughts on names for children, particularly biblical names.
Posted on April 6, 2026
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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