During my years working as a pediatric behavioral specialist, I spent a lot of time helping parents navigate the early building blocks of identity. Long before a baby learns to speak, their name serves as their very first anchor for self-concept.
In fact, peer-reviewed research published in PubMed Central suggests that how we feel about our names is closely tied to our developing self-esteem.
If you are also expecting a little boy, you might want to look at our list of biblical boy name ideas.
Choosing a name with deep historical roots and profound meaning is a wonderful way to ground your daughter’s identity. Biblical girl names offer an unmatched variety, ranging from the fierce strength of ancient queens and prophetesses to the gentle melody of Hebrew origins.
To help you narrow down your choices, I have compiled a list of one hundred brilliant biblical girl names, organized by their specific vibe.
And once you narrow down your favorites, check out our guide on unique baby girl names.
Classic & Timeless Biblical Girl Names
These are the names that have graced birth certificates for hundreds of years. They are universally recognized, elegantly simple, and will absolutely never go out of style.
- Mary: Meaning “bitter” or “beloved.” The most classic of all biblical names, carried by the mother of Jesus.
- Elizabeth: Meaning “pledged to God.” A regal, timeless name with endless nickname potential (Eliza, Beth, Ellie).
- Sarah: Meaning “princess.” The matriarch of the Old Testament and a perennial favorite.
- Rachel: Meaning “ewe.” A beautiful, soft-sounding classic.
- Anna: Meaning “grace.” A simple, elegant name that translates beautifully across cultures.
- Rebecca: Meaning “to tie, to bind.” A sturdy, traditional name.
- Martha: Meaning “lady.” A vintage classic that feels ready for a modern revival.
- Eve: Meaning “life.” The very first woman. A sleek, single-syllable name with immense power.
- Joanna: Meaning “God is gracious.” A softer alternative to Joanne.
- Julia: Meaning “youthful.” Mentioned briefly in Romans; a stunningly classic choice.
- Susanna: Meaning “lily.” A floral, melodic classic.
- Abigail: Meaning “my father is joyful.” A cheerful, highly popular traditional name.
- Hannah: Meaning “favor” or “grace.” A beautiful palindrome that never loses its appeal.
- Leah: Meaning “weary” (historically), but practically, it’s a soft, beloved classic.
- Miriam: Meaning “drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved.” Moses’ sister; a strong, classic choice.
- Ruth: Meaning “compassionate friend.” A short, vintage name carrying a story of incredible loyalty.
- Bethany: Meaning “house of figs.” A New Testament place name that has become a beloved girls’ name.
- Lydia: Meaning “woman from Lydia.” An early businesswoman in the New Testament; a gorgeous, classic name.
- Claudia: Meaning “enclosure.” A strong Roman name mentioned in the New Testament.
- Naomi: Meaning “pleasantness.” A gentle, vintage classic experiencing a massive surge in popularity.
Strong & Heroic Biblical Women
If you want to name your daughter after a woman of action, leadership, and immense bravery, look to the heroines of the Bible. These names carry a fierce, undeniable strength.
- Esther: Meaning “star.” A courageous queen who saved her people.
- Deborah: Meaning “bee.” A fierce judge and prophetess who led an army.
- Jael: Meaning “mountain goat.” A fierce, decisive warrior woman in the Old Testament.
- Phoebe: Meaning “radiant, shining one.” A trusted deaconess in the early church.
- Priscilla: Meaning “ancient.” A prominent early church leader and teacher.
- Salome: Meaning “peace.” A dramatic, bold New Testament name.
- Tamar: Meaning “date palm.” A name associated with strong, resilient women in the Old Testament.
- Zipporah: Meaning “bird.” The courageous wife of Moses.
- Junia: Meaning “born in June.” Praised by Paul as being “outstanding among the apostles.”
- Tabitha: Meaning “gazelle.” A woman known for her good works and charity.
- Hulda: Meaning “weasel” or “mole” (historically), she was a highly respected prophetess.
- Lois: Meaning “most desirable.” Timothy’s grandmother, praised for her sincere faith.
- Eunice: Meaning “good victory.” Timothy’s mother, a woman of strong faith.
- Bernice: Meaning “bringer of victory.” A strong, regal name.
- Candace: Meaning “queen mother.” A title for queens in ancient Ethiopia.
- Vashti: Meaning “beautiful.” A queen who bravely refused to be paraded by her husband.
- Michal: Meaning “who is like God.” A princess and daughter of King Saul.
- Ahinoam: Meaning “my brother is pleasant.” A strong, ancient royal name.
- Bithiah: Meaning “daughter of Yahweh.” Traditionally the name of the Pharaoh’s daughter who saved Moses.
- Shiphrah: Meaning “beautiful.” A brave midwife who defied the Pharaoh to save infants.
Unique & Hidden Gem Biblical Names
For parents who want a biblical connection but desire a name that is completely unexpected, the Bible is full of rare, beautiful, and highly unique options.
- Keziah: Meaning “cassia tree” or “sweet-scented spice.” One of Job’s beautiful daughters.
- Jemimah: Meaning “dove.” Another of Job’s daughters; a sweet, vintage gem.
- Keren: Meaning “horn of eyeshadow” (representing beauty). The third daughter of Job.
- Shiloh: Meaning “tranquil” or “peace.” A beautiful, gender-neutral biblical place name.
- Hadassah: Meaning “myrtle tree.” The beautiful Hebrew name of Queen Esther.
- Adina: Meaning “slender, delicate.” A gentle, highly unique option.
- Atarah: Meaning “crown.” A regal, completely under-the-radar name.
- Beulah: Meaning “married.” A vintage, poetic name with a soft sound.
- Damaris: Meaning “calf, gentle.” A beautiful, melodic New Testament name.
- Drusilla: Meaning “fruitful.” A bold, dramatic Roman name in the New Testament.
- Hepzibah: Meaning “my delight is in her.” A highly unique, poetic name.
- Jerusha: Meaning “possession.” A quirky, vintage-sounding gem.
- Keturah: Meaning “incense.” Abraham’s second wife; a beautifully exotic-sounding name.
- Mahala: Meaning “tender” or “disease” (historically), but sounds incredibly lyrical and modern.
- Orpah: Meaning “back of the neck” or “fawn.” A unique Old Testament name.
- Peninnah: Meaning “pearl.” A gorgeous, underused alternative to Penelope.
- Sapphira: Meaning “sapphire.” A stunning, gem-inspired New Testament name.
- Talitha: Meaning “little girl.” From the Aramaic phrase spoken by Jesus. Incredibly sweet and unique.
- Tirzah: Meaning “favorable” or “pleasant.” A beautiful, slightly edgy Old Testament name.
- Zillah: Meaning “shadow.” A cool, sharp-sounding ancient name.
Gentle & Melodic Biblical Names
These names are soft, vowel-heavy, and flow beautifully off the tongue. They fit perfectly with the modern trend of airy, gentle girls’ names.
- Eden: Meaning “place of pleasure, delight.” A stunning, modern-sounding biblical place name.
- Chloe: Meaning “green shoot.” A fresh, popular New Testament name.
- Ada: Meaning “adornment.” A short, vintage name that packs a soft punch.
- Ariel: Meaning “lion of God.” While often used for boys historically, it is a beautifully melodic choice for a girl.
- Carmel: Meaning “garden” or “orchard.” A soft, nature-inspired biblical place name.
- Dinah: Meaning “judged” or “vindicated.” A sweet, underused vintage classic.
- Havilah: Meaning “stretch of sand.” An incredibly beautiful, flowing biblical place name.
- Mara: Meaning “bitter.” A short, sleek name with a soft sound.
- Micah: Meaning “who is like God.” A gentle, gender-neutral option.
- Noa: Meaning “motion.” A separate name from Noah, belonging to a bold Old Testament woman. Very popular right now.
- Ophira: Meaning “gold.” A lyrical, exotic-sounding gem.
- Rhoda: Meaning “rose.” A sweet, vintage floral name from the New Testament.
- Salma: Meaning “peace.” A soft, elegant option.
- Sarai: Meaning “my princess.” The original name of Sarah; slightly more melodic and edgy.
- Selah: Meaning “to pause and reflect.” A musical term from the Psalms that makes a stunning, gentle name.
- Sharon: Meaning “a plain.” A vintage, melodic place name.
- Shoshana: Meaning “lily” or “rose.” The beautiful Hebrew version of Susanna.
- Yael: Meaning “mountain goat.” A sleek, soft-sounding version of Jael.
- Zilah: Meaning “shadow.” A soft, short, ‘Z’ name.
- Zion: Meaning “highest point.” A deeply meaningful, melodic place name often used for girls today.
Virtue & Meaning-Based Names
Sometimes the most “biblical” name is not a character from the text, but a word that represents the core tenets of the faith. These virtue names are timeless and deeply meaningful.
- Grace: Meaning “undeserved favor.” The ultimate elegant virtue name.
- Hope: Meaning “expectation of good.” A short, sweet, optimistic name.
- Joy: Meaning “great pleasure.” A cheerful, bright middle or first name.
- Faith: Meaning “complete trust.” A sleek, classic virtue name.
- Charity: Meaning “generous love.” A slightly vintage virtue name ready for a comeback.
- Mercy: Meaning “compassion.” A sweet, Puritan-style virtue name.
- Patience: Meaning “ability to wait.” A soft, vintage-sounding virtue.
- Peace: Meaning “tranquility.” A bold, modern-sounding virtue name.
- Amariah: Meaning “promised by God.”
- Eliana: Meaning “my God has answered.” A stunning, highly popular name with a profound meaning.
- Seraphina: Meaning “ardent, fiery.” Derived from the heavenly seraphim.
- Evangeline: Meaning “bearer of good news.” A romantic, literary, and deeply faithful name.
- Hosanna: Meaning “deliver us” or “save now.” A joyful exclamation used as a unique name.
- Genesis: Meaning “origin” or “beginning.” A strong, modern-sounding name from the first book of the Bible.
- Jubilee: Meaning “ram’s horn” (a time of celebration and freedom). A joyful, energetic name.
- Maranatha: Meaning “our Lord comes.” A highly unique, melodic Aramaic phrase.
- Gloria: Meaning “glory.” A vintage classic tied to praise.
- Trinity: Meaning “three in one.” A theological concept turned into a strong modern name.
- Shiloh: Meaning “his gift” or “peace.”
- Halle: Derived from Hallelujah, meaning “praise the Lord.” A spunky, modern tribute.
Sloane’s Take
“As a boy mom who has only ever had to navigate boy names, compiling this list gave me major name envy. If I had a daughter, I would definitely dig into these hidden gem biblical names. There is something so incredibly empowering about giving a little girl a name like Deborah or Jael: women who were absolute leaders. Pairing a short first name with a classic middle name from our curated baby girl middle names list creates a beautiful balance.”
Final Thoughts
Naming your daughter is an incredible privilege. A biblical name offers a beautiful blend of history, faith, and profound meaning. Whether you choose a name that sounds like a quiet prayer or a fierce battle cry, you are giving her a legacy to carry forward.
Say your favorites out loud, write them down, and see which one feels right. When you find the perfect name, you will just know.
Which of these biblical girl names is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!