Beyond Noah and Mary
The Bible is filled with thousands of names, but most parents only consider a handful of the most popular ones. If you're looking for a biblical name that stands out, consider these rare gems — names that appear in scripture but are virtually unknown in modern naming circles.
Rare Biblical Girl Names
Name Meaning Scripture Keziah "Cassia" (fragrant spice) Job 42 Tirzah "Delight" Numbers Hadassah "Myrtle" Esther Shiphrah "Beautiful" Exodus Apphia "Fruitful" Philemon Tryphena "Delicate" Romans Bilhah "Troubled" Genesis Zibiah "Female gazelle" 2 Kings Sherah "Princess" 1 Chronicles Persis "Persian woman" Romans Hephzibah "My delight is in her" 2 Kings Jedidah "Beloved" 2 Kings Meshullemeth "Friend" 2 Kings Abijah "God is my father" 1 Chronicles Azubah "Forsaken" 1 Kings Rare Biblical Boy Names Name Meaning Scripture Micaiah "Who is like God?" 1 Kings Jabez "Sorrow" 1 Chronicles Naphtali "My struggle" Genesis Philemon "Affectionate" Philemon Joses "He will add" Mark Alphaeus "Changing" Matthew Havilah "Circle" Genesis Mahlon "Sickly" Ruth Boaz "Swiftness" Ruth Jethro "Excellence" Exodus Elkanah "God has possessed" 1 Samuel Hillel "Praise" Judges Ibzan "Splendid" Judges Jairus "He enlightens" Mark Kenan "Possession" Genesis Why Choose a Rare Biblical Name? Rare biblical names offer the best of both worlds: the depth and meaning of scripture combined with the uniqueness of a name that few others share. Names like Keziah and Micaiah are unmistakably biblical yet genuinely rare, making them spectacular finds for parents who want a name that's both meaningful and distinctive.