[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries!
As a matter of interest, I’m looking to try and scout out names with meanings that relate to my faith as a [name_m]Christian[/name_m]. For example, I really like [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] which means “my God has answered.” I just think it would be nice to give any future babies names that are very meaningful in this way, and also attractive!
Give me all your suggestions. Thanks!
My favorite is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] (which applies to all forms of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], honestly)–“my God is a vow”! I also like [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] (“harvester”–from that verse where [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] says, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!”), [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] (one of [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]’ names is [name_f]Lily[/name_f] of the [name_f]Valley[/name_f]), [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] (several purported meanings, but “prayerful” is one of them!), [name_f]Arianne[/name_f]/[name_f]Ariana[/name_f]/[name_f]Ariadna[/name_f] (“very holy one”), [name_f]Lux[/name_f]/[name_f]Luz[/name_f]/[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] (“light”, like [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] is!), [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] (“messenger”), and there’s always virtue names ([name_f]Verity[/name_f]! [name_f]Grace[/name_f]! [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]! [name_f]Hope[/name_f]! [name_f]Joy[/name_f]!) and Bible names in general can be a wealth of inspiration. I love the idea of something like [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] that isn’t outright [name_m]Christian[/name_m], but can definitely take on a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] meaning!
Or even Biblical place names like [name_f]Olivet[/name_f], [name_f]Bethany[/name_f], [name_m]Judah[/name_m], [name_u]Eden[/name_u], etc., are also lovely!
I also think [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f], the feminine form of [name_m]Emanuel[/name_m]/[name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m], is gorgeous, too!
I really love [name_f]Briella[/name_f] and [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f], which mean “God is my strength.” The masculine form of these, [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], has the same meaning and the incredible Bible connection. I also love the unisex [name_u]Dara[/name_u], with the connection to biblical wisdom. [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Teresa[/name_f], and [name_u]Clare[/name_u] are notable saint names. [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] has the fantastic meaning “gift of God.” Another recommendation is the name [name_f]Faith[/name_f] itself, which is a virtue name and a key component of Christianity.
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] (resurrection) is one of my favorites that you might like. [name_f]Jane[/name_f]/[name_m]John[/name_m] (plus all the different forms-- [name_m]Ian[/name_m], [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f], etc.) means “God is gracious.” [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] (lily), [name_f]Christabel[/name_f] (beautiful [name_m]Christian[/name_m]), [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] (lamb), [name_f]Esther[/name_f] (star-- plus you could use a lot of other star names-- [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], [name_f]Estelle[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f]), [name_f]Constance[/name_f], [name_u]Vida[/name_u]/[name_f]Vita[/name_f] (life), [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] (life), [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] (means hope), and [name_f]Natalie[/name_f]/[name_f]Natasha[/name_f] (birth) are some others.
There are tons of names meaning “light” or some form of light-- [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], and [name_f]Ilene[/name_f] for girls; [name_m]Abner[/name_m], [name_m]Beacon[/name_m], [name_m]Kiran[/name_m], [name_m]Zain[/name_m], [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], Ner, or [name_m]Oran[/name_m] for boys.
I love the way the [name_m]John[/name_m]/[name_f]Jane[/name_f] family refers to divine grace - such a beautiful concept. [name_f]Mercy[/name_f]-related names such as [name_f]Clemency[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementina[/name_f] are lovely too.
There are countless names whose meanings related to God, such as the Hebrew [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] (“God has heard”), [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] (“God is my judge”), [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] (“lion of God”), Elior (“God is my light”), Azarel (“God has helped”), [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] (“God is salvation”), etc., the Greek-derived [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] (“gift of God”), [name_m]Timothy[/name_m] (“honouring God”) and [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] (“theophany”), or the Germanic [name_m]Oswin[/name_m] (“friend of God”), [name_m]Osborne[/name_m] (“bear of God”) and [name_m]Godfrey[/name_m] (“peace of God”).
It can also be subtler and more personal: for example, I love Psalm 42, so I might use a deer-related name such as Feena.