Naming your baby is the first important decision you will make in his life. Even if you have decide to select one of the many Christian names for your child, you still need to be sure that it will be suitable throughout his life. Christian baby names usually come from characters or words in the Bible, and are usually Hebrew, Greek or Latin in origin, although some have Slavic, Germanic or Celtic roots.
The Christian meaning of names may also play a role in your selection. The name Andrew, for example, means “warrior” in Greek, and Joan means “God is gracious” in Hebrew.
Top Christian Baby Names for Girls
- Abigail, a name that pops up in several places in the Bible, was one of the top ten most popular girl baby names in the United States in 2011. The name is Hebrew in origin and means “Father in rejoicing.” Abby is the nickname used most often for Abigail.
- There is some debate on whether the use of Candace in the Bible was a name or a title, such as Pharoah. The name is Greek in origin and means “Queen of servants.”
- Once considered ‘old-fashioned,’ Chloe continues to gain in popularity as a Christian baby girl name. Chloe was the woman who advised Paul of the growing unrest in the local church. This Greek name means “green plants.”
There are many variations of the name Elizabeth, including Elsa, Elsbet, Eliza, Isabel, Lisa, Lizbet and Liza. Elizabeth, who was married to the priest, Zechariah, is a Hebrew name meaning “God is her oath” or “promise of God.”
Top Christian Baby Names for Boys
- Eli is a very popular name in the Jewish society, but it is gaining traction as a popular Christian name for boys. Its origin is Hebrew, and the name means “ascending” or “going up, on high.” Eli served as a high priest in Israel for roughly 40 years.
- Caleb is a Hebrew name meaning “bold” or “brave.” In the Bible, he served as one of Moses’ spies who forged ahead to survey Canaan.
- The name Gideon has seen a recent bout of popularity, no doubt due to the character with the same name portrayed in the television series, “Criminal Minds.” Gideon was a fitting name for an FBI profiler, as it means “destroyer” or “mighty warrior.” This is a Hebrew name that represents one of Israel’s greatest warriors.
- Jacob has been a popular Christian baby name for baby boys for many years. This Hebrew name has a few interpretations of the meaning, including “he takes by the heel,” “to succeed” and “to replace.” In the Bible, Jacob was the second son of Isaac and Rebekah, and a twin brother to Esau.
Saints’ Names
Catholics often use the names of the Saints for their offspring, and with over 5,000 Catholic saints, there are plenty of unique baby names to choose from. Female saints’ names run the gamut, from the traditional (Christina, Julia and Mary), to the more unique (Charity, Thea and Delphina) all the way to the downright unusual (Darulagdach, Syncletica and Rusticula). Male saint names are varied as well, and include everything from common names, such as Brendan, George and Leo, to the more unusual, including Aloyisius, Vitus and Dunstan.
Many people may want to continue the tradition of using a particular Saint’s name that runs in the family, but they may not be particularly fond of the name itself. You can make your family happy and still give your own twist to the name by simply pulling the name from another language. Catherine, for example, is a popular Catholic saint’s name for girls, but many people find it old-fashioned or may not like the popular nickname, Cathy. Turn to the Celtic language and you will find that Caitlin is the Gaelic version of the name.