Names derived from the Bible - like Tobias, Matthias, Miles, Elliott

Trying to find names for our second boy. Our first is Tobias (Toby).

My husband is more concerned about how the name sounds, he also likes more old fashioned names. I am more concerned about the name having a biblical (either directly about God or more symbolic) meaning, I also want it to be a little unique but not too out there. With our first, I think we met in the middle nicely with Tobias because it sounds classic but also unique, it has a cute nickname, and it has a really great meaning (God is good). It comes from the biblical name Tobiah.

In my current name search I found more names that are variants of biblical names, such as:
Elliott (from Elijah)
Miles (from Michael?)
Matthias (from Matthew)

I love these names, but either my husband doesn’t like them or they don’t work for us for other reasons — but I’m hoping there’s something similar in style out there that I haven’t discovered yet that we’ll both love!! I like that they have biblical meaning but are a step away from the names that are more commonly associated with the Bible, making them feel a little more unique.

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[name_u]Welcome[/name_u] to NB!

Some direct names that are lesser used:

[name_m]Hananiah[/name_m] (the Hebrew name of Shadrach) nn [name_m]Han[/name_m], [name_f]Niah[/name_f]
[name_m]Benaiah[/name_m] (one of David’s mighty men) nn [name_m]Ben[/name_m]
[name_m]Reuben[/name_m] (originator of one of the twelve tribes of Israel) nn [name_u]Rue[/name_u], [name_m]Ben[/name_m]
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m] (also one of the twelve tribes)
[name_u]Jericho[/name_u] (city from the OT story) nn [name_u]Jerry[/name_u], Ko
[name_u]Elisha[/name_u] (successor of Elijah) nn [name_u]Eli[/name_u]
[name_m]Zachariah[/name_m] (one of the minor prophets) nn [name_m]Zach[/name_m], [name_m]Riah[/name_m]
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] (one instructor in Proverbs) nn [name_m]Lem[/name_m]

Some more indirect honors:

[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] (from [name_u]Psalm[/name_u] 23, etc) nn [name_m]Shep[/name_m]
[name_u]Callum[/name_u] (“dove”) nn [name_u]Cal[/name_u]
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] (“young lion”) nn [name_u]Leo[/name_u]

Hopefully these help :slight_smile:

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[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] is a lovely name, I also like [name_m]Tobiah[/name_m].

[name_u]Elijah[/name_u] is stunning :heart_eyes:

Maybe you might like…

[name_m]Caspar[/name_m] (from Gaspar)
[name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]
Ismael/Ismail
[name_u]Moses[/name_u]
Jonah/Jonas
[name_u]Amos[/name_u]
[name_m]Joel[/name_m] (the lord is God)
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m] (God supports or The fire of the Lord)
[name_u]Ezra[/name_u]
[name_m]Saul[/name_m] (asked or inquired of God)
[name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] (God has given)
[name_m]Samson[/name_m]
[name_u]Gideon[/name_u]
[name_u]Seth[/name_u]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_u]Zion[/name_u]
[name_m]Adriel[/name_m] (God’s helper or Man’s saver)
[name_m]Joses[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] (God is salvation)
[name_m]Jared[/name_m]
[name_m]Jaziel[/name_m] (allotted by God)
[name_m]Jedediah[/name_m] (friend of God)
[name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m] (the [name_m]Lord[/name_m] exalts)
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m] (messenger of God)
[name_u]Micah[/name_u] (who is like God)

[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_u]Sparrow[/name_u]
[name_u]Noel[/name_u]
[name_m]Ezekial[/name_m]
[name_m]Jeremy[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucian[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]
[name_m]Justin[/name_m]
[name_u]Christian[/name_u]
[name_m]Zane[/name_m]

[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] (st Sebastian)- bastian/bash is so cute
[name_u]Davis[/name_u] (David) - [name_m]Davey[/name_m]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]

I love T0bias! In my head I always put [name_u]Gideon[/name_u] with T0bias. I think they just make a great pairing.

I love [name_u]Elijah[/name_u]! [name_u]Miles[/name_u] is gorgeous but doesn’t feel biblical. [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] is handsome but feels stylistically different from T0bias.

You’ve had lots of lovely suggestions so count any repeats as me being in agreement with the berries

T0bias and…

[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m]
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m]
[name_u]Daniel[/name_u]
[name_m]Reuben[/name_m]
[name_m]Benaiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_u]Nehemiah[/name_u]
[name_m]Abraham[/name_m]
[name_m]Jacob[/name_m]
[name_u]Ezra[/name_u]
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Joshua[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]
[name_u]Micah[/name_u]
[name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m]
[name_u]Joseph[/name_u]
[name_u]Jonah[/name_u]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps

[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] and…

[name_m]Benedict[/name_m] (Ben, Ned)
[name_m]Abram[/name_m] (Bram)
[name_m]Casper[/name_m] (Cass, [name_u]Perry[/name_u], Cap)
[name_m]Reuben[/name_m] (Ben, Rue)
[name_m]Samson[/name_m] (Sonny / [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], Sammy)
[name_m]Zaccai[/name_m] / [name_m]Zakkai[/name_m] / Zachai (Zac, Kai)
[name_u]Robin[/name_u] (Robbie, Bobby)

Adler “eagle” (echoes Isaiah 40:30-31)

Aquila “eagle” (also fellow believer in the epistles)

Aquilo “eagle”

Ambrose Christopher “immortal bearer of Christ”

Benicio “blessed”

Cashel “castle; stone fortress” (Psalm 18, Jeremiah 16, etc.)

Cornelius “horn” (Psalm 18 & etc—the horn of our salvation)

Declan (possibly “man of prayer”)

Florin/Florian “flourishing”

Hugo “heart, mind, soul” (even greater meaning when combined with a strong middle such as Hugo Vincent, Hugo Christopher, Hugo Benedict, etc.)

Wilfred “desires peace”

Frederic “peaceful ruler”

Leonidas “lion” (bold as a lion/lion of Judah)

Leander “lion-man”

Leandro “lion-man”

Lysander “liberator”

Prosper

Valentine “strong & healthy” (Valentine Christopher etc.)

Leopold “brave people”

Nicolai “people of victory”

Oswald/Oswell “divine power” (points to God as divine ruler when paired with strong middle)

Kendric “royal ruler; champion” (again, paired with a middle such as Elliott, Elijah & etc.)

Felix “happy; fortunate” (blessed)

Jasper “bringer of treasure”

Casper “bringer of treasure”

Lazaro/Lazarus “God is my helper”

Gamaliel “God is my reward”

Josiah “God supports; heals”

Erasmus “beloved; desired”

Corwin “heart’s friend”

Galvin “sparrow” (do not be anxious for anything, God cares for even the sparrows)

Clemens/Clement “merciful”

Leoric “beloved ruler”

Caius “rejoice”

Lowen “joy”

Waldo “to rule” (could pair w/strong meaningful middle)

Vaughn “small” (could be named after Paul, which means “small,” and significant of humility and God’s love for His creation despite His great magnitude and an echo of the verse “what is man, that You are mindful of him?”

Jedidiah “beloved of the Lord”

Jeremiah “appointed by God” (all believers receive spiritual gifts and are called to serve in love)

Brenin, Landry, Roric (all names with “king/ruler” meanings, again to pair with middles that point to Christ, Yahweh, salvation from God, etc.)

Zedekiah “the Lord is just”

Justus “justice”

Jonah “dove”

Jethro “excellence” (father-in-law of Moses/ also the verse that exhorts us to pursue/think on “whatever is noble/excellent/good/pure, [etc.]”

Gilbert “shining pledge”

Ozias/Oziah “salvation”

Osmond “divine protection”

Hezekiah “God gives strength”

Zebedee/Zebehiah “gift of God”

Carwyn “blessed love”

Gage “oath; pledge”

Othniel “lion of God; strength of God” (OT judge & relative of Caleb)

Balin Dominic “mighty sword belonging to the Lord” (sword of Spirit/Word, or symbolic of His justice & holiness)

Hope this helps somehow! :blush:

I didn’t think [name_u]Miles[/name_u] came from the bible/ from [name_u]Michael[/name_u].

[name_m]Mateo[/name_m]
[name_u]James[/name_u]
[name_m]Jenkin[/name_m] (John)
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m]
[name_m]Asriel[/name_m]
[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_u]Asher[/name_u]
[name_u]Luca[/name_u]
Dewy (David)
Seamus/Hamish (James - Jacob)
[name_u]Jacoby[/name_u]
Elias/Ilyas
[name_u]Issa[/name_u] (from Isaac/Isaiah)
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_m]Thijs[/name_m] (Matthew)
[name_m]Benji[/name_m]
[name_m]Niel[/name_m]
[name_m]Ewan[/name_m]
[name_u]Evan[/name_u]
[name_m]Eoin[/name_m]
[name_u]Jan[/name_u]
[name_m]Yan[/name_m]
[name_m]Hans[/name_m]
[name_m]Hannes[/name_m]
[name_m]Johan[/name_m]
[name_m]Anders[/name_m]
[name_m]Andreas[/name_m]
[name_u]Andre[/name_u]
[name_m]Petros[/name_m]
[name_m]Cephas[/name_m]
[name_m]Paolo[/name_m]
[name_u]Eli[/name_u]
[name_m]Boaz[/name_m]
[name_m]Ananias[/name_m]
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]
[name_u]Ezer[/name_u]
[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m]
[name_m]Zachary[/name_m]
[name_m]Malachy[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaias[/name_m]
[name_m]Jeremy[/name_m]
[name_m]Remiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]
[name_m]Darius[/name_m]
[name_u]Noe[/name_u]
[name_m]Moise[/name_m]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions so far! Some really great ones!

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