• Aaron
• Abel
• Abraham
• Adam
• Benjamin
• Caesar
• Cain
• Eli
• Isaac
• Jonah
• Jacob
• Jeremiah
• Joshua
• Malachi
• Matthew
• Moses
• Nathanael
• Saul
• Solomon
• Zachariah

Aaron

Mountaineer, mountain of strength, shining light. The name is Hebrew in origin. Aaron was the older brother of Moses in the Old Testament. He was an excellent public speaker and the spokesman for Moses, and was the first high priest of the Israelites.

Abel

Breath, vanity. The name is Hebrew in origin. He was the 2nd son of Adam and Eve, the first humans God put on the earth. Abel was a shepherd who was murdered by his brother Cain who was jealous of his favour in the eyes of God. Abel was the first person to die, and the first martyr of the church.

Abraham

Father of a multitude. The name is Hebrew in origin. Abraham was the son of Terah. His original name was Abram which God changed to Abraham, as a symbol of his promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. Abraham had eight sons, Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishak and Shuah.

Adam

Red complexioned man. The name is Hebrew in origin. Adam was the first human created by God from the dust of the earth, and his wife Eve was created from his rib. They lived in the Garden of Eden and were tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge, upon which God expelled and cursed them.

Benjamin

Son of the right hand, fortunate. The name is Hebrew in origin. Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachael (and one of Joseph’s eleven brothers). Rachael, who died giving birth to him originally named him ‘Benoni’ which means ‘son of my pain’ but his father later changed this to Benjamin.

Caesar

Long haired. The name is Latin in origin. Caesar is the name taken by Roman Emperors after Julius Caesar. In the New Testament, the Caesar was also the sovereign of Israel. Jewish people paid tribute to him, and all Roman citizens had the right to appeal to him.

Cain

Possession, a spear. The name is Hebrew in origin. The name is that of the biblical town in Judah, and of the brother of Abel who murdered him in a jealous rage when God refused his offering but accepted the sacrifice of Abel. Cain was also a son of Adam and Eve.the word of Christianity.

Eli

Ascension. The name is Hebrew in origin. Eli was the son of Ithamar, and grandson on Aaron. He was also the High Priest and judge of Israel for forty years.

Isaac

Laughter, he laughs. The name is Hebrew in origin. He was the son of Abraham and Sarah, who were very old when their son was born. When God told Abraham he was to be a father at the age of 100, he thought God was laughing at him and so Isaac was named.

Jonah

Dove. The name is Hebrew in origin. Jonah was a prophet of Israel who was famously swallowed by a whale inside which he spent three days and nights repenting his disobedience to God. The whale vomited him out, and Jonah went on to spread the word at Ninevah.

Jacob

To follow, to succeed, supplanter. The name is Hebrew in origin. Jacob was the father of Joseph and his eleven brothers (and one sister!). He was married to the sisters Leah and Rachael, and also had two concubines. His twin brother was Esau.

Jeremiah

Raised up or appointed by God. The name is Hebrew in origin and is the name of at least nine men in the bible. He was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament whose prophesies are recorded in the Book of Jeremiah.

Joshua

God is my salvation. The name is Hebrew in origin, and Jesus is the English/Greek version of the name. There were four men named Joshua in the bible, including one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land of Canaan.

Malachi

Messenger of God, angel. The name is Hebrew in origin. Malachi was the last of the prophets who authored the last book of the Old Testament.

Matthew

Gift of God. The name is Greek in origin. Matthew was the son of Alpheaus, and a tax collector for the Roman Government. He was one of the twelve apostles, and wrote one of the gospels which told of the life and teachings of Jesus.

Moses

Saved from the water, son. The name is Hebrew in origin. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. Just before Moses was born, Pharoah ordered the murder of all Hebrew baby boys. His mother hid him in the bushes along the river Nile where he was found by an Egyptian princess, and adopted by her. Moses was the prophet who received the Ten Commandments from God and led the oppressed from Egypt.

Nathanael

Gift of God. The name is Hebrew in origin. He was one of the twelve apostles, and he is generally accepted to be the same person as Bartholomew. Nathaniel is the more popular modern spelling.

Saul

Asked for, wished for. The name is Hebrew in origin. Saul was the first King of Israel, and was the original name of the disciple Paul who was visited by God on the road to Damascus. He changed his evil ways and became a close disciple of Jesus.

Solomon

Peaceful. The name is Hebrew in origin. Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was the King of Israel for forty years during a time which was described as a ‘golden age’. He was famed for his wisdom and learning.

Zachariah

Remembered by the Lord. The name is Hebrew in origin. Zachariah was a High Priest who was married to Elizabeth. Their son was John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus in the River Jordan.

Source: Biblical baby names

Photography: Eric Fleming @Flickr