Biblical and Botanical Girl Middle Names

Girl Names
1

We are looking for middle names for our daughter. [name_m]Her[/name_m] first name is a classic timeless name so we want to go a bit more adventurous for the middle name, but still familiar enough as a female name that she can use it as an alternate name if desired.

I prefer biblical-associated names. [name_m]The[/name_m] typical [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Esther[/name_f], etc are a bit too common for our tastes though. My favorites are:
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]- truth
[name_f]Jubilee[/name_f]- freedom and forgiveness
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]- refers to angels

My husband prefers botanical-associated names like
[name_f]Rhea[/name_f]- flowing stream, also a bird
[name_f]Kalina[/name_f]- viburnum blossoms
[name_f]Zinnia[/name_f]- a flower, also associated with friendship and loyalty

So far, the only name we can agree on is [name_f]Juniper[/name_f], but it’s not fitting quite right.
Would love any suggestions at the intersection of biblical and botanical

1 Like
2

[name_m]Welcome[/name_m] to Nameberry!

[name_f]Olive[/name_f] / [name_f]Olivet[/name_f]
[name_m]Cypress[/name_m]
[name_f]Anise[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lotus[/name_f]
[name_m]Myrtle[/name_m]
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Acacia[/name_f]
[name_f]Shoshana[/name_f] / [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] (“lily”)
[name_f]Keziah[/name_f] (“cassia, cinnamon”)
[name_f]Tamar[/name_f] (“palm tree”)
[name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] (“myrtle”)
[name_f]Rhoda[/name_f] (“rose”)

1 Like
3

[name_f]Vaia[/name_f] is a Greek name meaning “palm branch”, referring to [name_m]Palm[/name_m] [name_f]Sunday[/name_f]!

I believe lilies of the valley are also mentioned in the Bible - two names with that meaning are [name_f]Gwenonwy[/name_f] and [name_f]Kielo[/name_f].

1 Like
4

I think [name_f]Olivet[/name_f] / [name_f]Olive[/name_f] / [name_f]Olivine[/name_f] works really well here! :dove:

[name_m]Other[/name_m] ideas:

[name_f]Galilee[/name_f]

[name_f]Journey[/name_f]

[name_f]Mercy[/name_f]

1 Like
5

[name_f]Laurel[/name_f]
[name_f]Dove[/name_f]
[name_f]Eden[/name_f]
[name_f]Freesia[/name_f] (not really Biblical but the “free” part feels like a virtue connection)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_m]Oak[/name_m] / [name_m]Oakley[/name_m]
[name_f]Palmer[/name_f]
[name_f]Angelica[/name_f] (angel connection + an herb)
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] (herb, roses are mentioned in the Bible, and [name_f]Mary[/name_f])

A few of these have animal rather than plant connections but I suggested them in case you enjoy them.

6

[name_f]Keziah[/name_f] / [name_f]Kezia[/name_f] / [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] came to mind right away :slight_smile:
[name_f]Rhoda[/name_f]
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f]
[name_f]Almendra[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Tamar[/name_f] / [name_f]Tamara[/name_f]
[name_f]Acacia[/name_f]

7

I really like [name_f]Alethea[/name_f], [name_f]Jubilee[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], and [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f]! Also my IRL name- [name_f]Tamara[/name_f]- comes from [name_f]Tamar[/name_f] referenced in the Bible and means palm tree so is both nature and biblical :slight_smile:

[name_m]Other[/name_m] suggestions: (some of these are Hebrew which people have mixed opinions on non-Jewish folks using, I don’t know your background so I am just putting them out there if you feel they are appropriate for you)
Honora/Honoria
[name_m]Psalm[/name_m]
Halleluiah
[name_f]Sunday[/name_f]
[name_m]Blessing[/name_m]
[name_f]Genesis[/name_f]
[name_f]Epiphany[/name_f] (manifestation, also the day the 3 wise men come to [name_m]Jesus[/name_m])
[name_f]Vesper[/name_f] (evening prayers, “Evening star”)
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] (bringer of good news, associated with spreading faith)
[name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] (a saint’s name, means sweet speaking)
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] (“hope”)
[name_f]Anais[/name_f] (“Grace”)
Laila/Leila (“Holy”)
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f] (“Birthday of the Lord”)
[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] (Gift of [name_m]God[/name_m])
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] (Gift of [name_m]God[/name_m])
Magdalen/Magdelene(a) (associations with [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Magdalen[/name_f])
[name_f]Raphaela[/name_f] (version of an archangel’s name)
Gabrielle(a) (version of an archangels name)
[name_f]Damaris[/name_f] (Greek NT biblical name, early convert)
[name_f]Apphia[/name_f] (NT Biblical name, means bountiful)
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f] (NT biblical name, wiped Jesus’ face)
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] (NT biblical name)
[name_f]Noemi[/name_f] (French variation of [name_f]Naomi[/name_f])
[name_f]Athalie[/name_f] (Hebrew/French, [name_m]God[/name_m] has delivered us)
[name_f]Hosanna[/name_f] (Hebrew, Deliver us)
[name_f]Salome[/name_f] (Hebrew, peace)
[name_f]Galilee[/name_f] (NT Biblical place name)
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f] (Biblical place name)
[name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] (Biblical place name)
[name_f]Keziah[/name_f] (OT name, means cassia tree)
[name_f]Dinah[/name_f] (OT/Hebrew name)
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f] (OT/Hebrew [name_f]Name[/name_f], flowering field)
[name_f]Keturah[/name_f] (OT/Hebrew name, Abraham’s second wife)
Zilla/Zillah (OT [name_f]Name[/name_f])
[name_f]Odeya[/name_f] (Hebrew, I will thank [name_m]God[/name_m])
[name_f]Arella[/name_f] (Hebrew, messenger from [name_m]God[/name_m], angel)
[name_f]Selah[/name_f] (Hebrew, [name_m]Praise[/name_m])
[name_f]Ayla[/name_f] (Hebrew-oak tree, Turkish-Moonlight, halo)

[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] (flower)
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f] (plant)
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f] (herb)
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] (flower)
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] (flower/plant)
[name_m]Sorrel[/name_m] (Plant)
[name_f]Lavender[/name_f] (herb/flower/color)
[name_f]Camellia[/name_f] (flower)
Jessamine/Jasmine (flower)
[name_f]Dove[/name_f] (bird, associated with peace)
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] (tree, associated with peace)
[name_f]Sable[/name_f] (animal/color)
[name_f]Tempest[/name_f] (storm)
[name_f]Fauna[/name_f] (animals or young deer)
[name_f]Fawn[/name_f] (animal)
[name_f]Fern[/name_f] (plant)
[name_f]Hyacinth[/name_f] (flower)
[name_f]Nightingale[/name_f] (bird)
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] (flower)
[name_f]Lapis[/name_f] (blue stone)
[name_f]Rue[/name_f] (herb)
[name_m]Rowan[/name_m] (tree)
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] (tree)
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] (tree)
[name_m]Linden[/name_m] (tree)
[name_f]Primrose[/name_f] (flower)
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] (herb)
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (tree, “cinnamon”)
[name_f]Laurel[/name_f] (tree, associated with victory)
[name_f]Acacia[/name_f] (flower/bush, means "thorny)
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] (fruit/tree, means “merciful”)
[name_f]Solstice[/name_f]
[name_f]Meadow[/name_f]
[name_f]Prairie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ember[/name_f]
[name_f]Arbor[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] (“dove”)
[name_f]Roisin[/name_f] (“little rose”)
Una/Oona (“lamb”)
[name_f]Delta[/name_f] (“mouth of the river”)
[name_f]Yvette[/name_f] (“Yew Tree”)
[name_f]Yvonne[/name_f] (“Yew wood”)
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] (“elm tree”)
[name_f]Pomona[/name_f] (“fruit tree”)
Sylvia/Sylvie (“of the Forest”)
[name_f]Lumi[/name_f] (“snow”)
[name_f]Eira[/name_f] (“snow”)
[name_f]Elain[/name_f] (“fawn”)
[name_f]Seren[/name_f] (“star”)
Maris/Marin/Marina (“of the Sea”)
[name_f]Calla[/name_f] (“beautiful”, type of lily)
[name_f]Soleil[/name_f] (“sun”)
Leonie/Leona (“lion”)
[name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] (“purple flower”)
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] (“fair flower”)
[name_f]Cerelia[/name_f] (“springtime”)
[name_f]Alouette[/name_f] (“Lark”)
[name_f]Bryony[/name_f] (“to sprout”, type of vine)
Lilias/Lileas (Latin variations of [name_f]Lily[/name_f])
[name_f]Liliwen[/name_f] (“white lily”)
[name_f]Anthea[/name_f] (“flowery” & is similar to [name_f]Alethea[/name_f])

My picks from the suggestions for you would [name_f]Anthea[/name_f], [name_f]Vesper[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Linnea[/name_f], [name_f]Paloma[/name_f], [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f], [name_f]Sunday[/name_f], and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]

1 Like
8

[name_f]Zipporah[/name_f] / [name_f]Tzipporah[/name_f] - from the Old Testament but also means “bird”
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f] - means “green shoot” but also mentioned in the [name_m]New[/name_m] Testament
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f] - the saint who wiped Jesus’s face with a towel but also another name for [name_m]Speedwell[/name_m]
[name_f]Embla[/name_f] - Old Norse for “elm” but also in Norse mythology, [name_f]Embla[/name_f] and her husband were the first humans (reminds me of [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_m]Adam[/name_m])
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] - literally just a combination of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and the word gold
[name_f]Nyssa[/name_f] - the name of an ancient town where [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] was bishop in the 4th century but also the genus name of the [name_m]Tupelo[/name_m] tree
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] - means lily but also a biblical woman
[name_f]Shoshana[/name_f] - see [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f] - like an [name_m]Almond[/name_m] [name_f]Blossom[/name_f] from [name_m]Exodus[/name_m]
Convallaria - the genus name for lily of the valley (Song of [name_m]Solomon[/name_m])
[name_f]Henna[/name_f] - a flower but also the common name for camphire (Song of [name_m]Solomon[/name_m])
Naré - Armenian for pomegranate (Song of [name_m]Solomon[/name_m])
Figgy - fig tree (Song of [name_m]Solomon[/name_m])
[name_f]Pennyroyal[/name_f] - a mint (Matthew)
[name_f]Laurel[/name_f] - laurel tree (Isaiah)
[name_m]Bay[/name_m] - laurel tree (Isaiah)
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f] - crocus (Isaiah)
[name_f]Acacia[/name_f] - the same as the Shittah tree (Isaiah)
[name_f]Marjolaine[/name_f] - the [name_m]French[/name_m] word for marjoram. Hyssop is believed to be Syrian marjoram (Exodus)
[name_m]Thistle[/name_m] - (Matthew)
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - cinnamon (Psalm)

1 Like
9

Abilene — “meadow” (Nicknames: Abby, Lena, Billie, Abba)

Alona — “oak tree” (Nicknames: Lona, Oona, Ally, Lonnie, Loni)

Ayla — “oak tree” or “halo of moonlight” (Nicknames: Aylie, Ace, Lala, Ay, Laya)

Calla — “beauty” (Nicknames: Cal, Callie, Allie, Cally)

Cassia — “cinnamon” (Nicknames: Cass, Cassie, Sia, Cassy)

Clementia — “merciful, gentle” (Nicknames: Clem, Clemmie, Tia, Clemmy)

Dalia — “branch, vine, flower” (Nicknames: Dali, Lia, Dee, Dally)

Demetria — “earth mother” (Nicknames: Demi, Dee, Metria, Tree, Ria)

Dymphna — “fawn, little deer, little poet” (Nicknames: Dymph, Effie, Nina, Dim)

Eden — “place of pleasure, delight” (Nicknames: Edie, Den, Edy)

Edith — “prosperous in war” (Nicknames: Edie, Ed, Dithie, Ede)

Hazel — “hazelnut tree” (Nicknames: Haze, Zel, Zella, Hazy)

Holly — “the holly tree” (Nicknames: Holls, Ollie, Hol)

Isadora — “gift of the moon / supreme goddess” (Nicknames: Izzy, Dora, Isa, Dori)

Keziah — “cinnamon bark” (Nicknames: Kez, Kezzy, Zia, Kiki)

Kinneret — “harp” (Nicknames: Kin, Kinny, Ret, Rin)

Magdalena — “high tower” or “of Magdala” (Nicknames: Maggie, Lena, Magda, Mags)

Marigold — “golden flower” (Nicknames: Goldie, Mari, Mary, Golda)

Noa — “movement, motion” (Nicknames: Noey, Nonni)

Renata — “reborn” (Nicknames: Ren, Renny, Ata, Reni)

Rimonah — “pomegranate” (Nicknames: Rimi, Mona, Rim, Ro)

Sage — “wise, healthy” or “herb”

Sapphira — “sapphire, blue gemstone” (Nicknames: Fifi, Phira, Fira)

Selah — “pause, praise” (Nicknames: Sel, Selly, Lala, Sela)

Susanna — “lily, rose” (Nicknames: Sue, Susie, Zanna, Suzu, Suki)

Talia — “dew of God” (Nicknames: Tali, Lia, Tal, Tally)

Zibiah — “gazelle, doe” (Nicknames: Zibi, Bea, Bibi, Zee)