Names

New Testament Names

New Testament names come from the world of Jesus, the apostles, and the earliest Christian communities. Many are Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, or Latin forms that later moved into English through church tradition.

100 curated entries Editorial notes US-focused naming context
100 entries
Popular first Old Testament New Testament Less common choices
01

Paul

Paul is a Latin name usually understood to mean small or humble.

Paul is the apostolic name associated with missionary journeys, New Testament letters, and the early church.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Paul is one of the central New Testament apostles and a foundational Christian name honored across all major traditions.

Open guide
02

Matthew

Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning gift of God.

Matthew is associated with the apostle and Gospel writer. The name has been one of the durable classics of English-speaking Christian naming.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Matthew is a New Testament name for the apostle and first evangelist, established across Christian traditions as Saint Matthew.

Open guide
03

Luke

Luke is a Greek-rooted name traditionally associated with Lucania or, in later popular use, light.

Luke is tied to the Gospel of Luke and Acts. It is short, familiar, and strongly connected with New Testament storytelling.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Luke is a New Testament name for Paul's companion and Gospel writer, established across Christian traditions as Saint Luke the Evangelist.

Open guide
04

John

John is a Hebrew-rooted name meaning the LORD is gracious.

John means the LORD is gracious and is carried by several major New Testament figures.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

John is a central New Testament name and one of the most foundational Christian names across all major traditions.

Open guide
05

Phoebe

Phoebe is a Greek name usually understood as bright, radiant, or shining.

Phoebe appears in Romans as a woman commended by Paul. The name has a bright Greek sound and an early church association.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Christian cultural usage

Phoebe is a New Testament figure named in Romans and a biblical name in vintage Christian use, without a deep church-naming tradition.

Open guide
06

Grace

Grace is an English virtue name meaning favor, mercy, or undeserved kindness.

Grace is a New Testament concept rather than a character name. It names the generous favor at the center of much Christian teaching.

Biblical? As a word or concept Christian? Virtue or theological name

Grace is not the name of a biblical person, but it is one of the clearest Christian virtue names, drawn from a central New Testament concept.

Open guide
07

Jesus

08

Mary

Mary is a biblical name with a debated Hebrew meaning, often linked with Miriam.

Mary is one of the central names of Christian history.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Mary is the biblical name of the mother of Jesus and other New Testament women, and it is one of the most foundational and widely honored names across all Christian traditions.

Open guide
09

Joseph

Joseph is a Hebrew name often explained as may he add or God will add.

Joseph is a biblical classic tied to providence, protection, and faithful responsibility.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Joseph is a major biblical name carried by the Genesis patriarch and Mary's husband, and it is deeply established across Christian traditions through Saint Joseph and long church use.

Open guide
10

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Hebrew-rooted name often understood as my God is an oath or God is my abundance.

Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist and a long-standing Christian classic.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Elizabeth is a New Testament name borne by the mother of John the Baptist and one of the most durable foundational Christian names.

Open guide
11

Zechariah

Zechariah is a Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh has remembered."

Zechariah means the LORD remembers and appears in both Old and New Testament contexts.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Zechariah is a biblical name borne by both the Old Testament prophet and the father of John the Baptist, and it is a foundational Christian name across traditions.

Open guide
12

Anna

Anna is a Hebrew-rooted name usually connected with grace or favor.

Anna is a prophetess in Luke and a classic Christian girl's name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Anna is a biblical name from Luke, used across Christian communities for centuries and reinforced by the tradition of Saint Anne.

Open guide
13

Simeon

Simeon appears in both Old and New Testament contexts and has a long Hebrew naming history.

14

Mark

Mark is a Latin-rooted name often connected with Mars, though Christian use is shaped by the Gospel of Mark.

Mark is tied to Gospel tradition and early Christian mission.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Mark is a New Testament name for John Mark and the second evangelist, established across Christian traditions as Saint Mark.

Open guide
15

Peter

Peter is a Greek name meaning rock or stone.

Peter is an apostolic name connected with rock imagery, restoration, and leadership.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Peter is one of the central New Testament apostles and a foundational Christian name honored across all major traditions.

Open guide
16

Andrew

Andrew is a Greek name often connected with courage, manliness, or strength.

Andrew is one of Jesus's first disciples and a long-used apostolic name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Andrew is a biblical name, one of the twelve apostles, with deep and longstanding use across major Christian traditions.

Open guide
17

James

James is an English form of Jacob, traditionally connected with supplanter or holder of the heel.

James is carried by several New Testament figures and has deep English Christian use.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

James is the English biblical name of several New Testament figures and a foundational Christian classic used across all major traditions.

Open guide
18

Philip

Philip is a Greek name meaning lover of horses.

Philip is an apostolic name and also belongs to an evangelist in Acts.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Philip is a New Testament apostolic name and a foundational Christian name honored as a saint across major traditions.

Open guide
19

Bartholomew

Bartholomew is usually understood as son of Talmai.

Bartholomew is one of the twelve apostles and a formal New Testament name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Bartholomew is a biblical name, one of the twelve apostles, with long apostolic and saintly heritage across major Christian traditions.

Open guide
20

Thomas

Thomas is an Aramaic name meaning twin.

Thomas is apostolic, scholarly, and widely used across Christian traditions.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Thomas is a biblical name borne by the apostle, and it is a foundational Christian name across traditions.

Open guide
21

Simon

Simon is a Hebrew-rooted name commonly connected with hearing or he has heard.

Simon is a major New Testament name borne by Peter, Simon the Zealot, and others.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Simon is a biblical name borne by Simon Peter and other New Testament figures, and it is a foundational apostolic Christian name.

Open guide
22

Jude

Jude is related to Judah and is commonly connected with praise.

Jude is a New Testament name connected with the letter of Jude and apostolic tradition.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Jude is a New Testament name for the apostle and letter-writer, established across Christian traditions through Saint Jude Thaddaeus.

Open guide
23

Judas

24

Matthias

Matthias is commonly understood as gift of God.

Matthias is chosen in Acts to take the place of Judas among the apostles.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Matthias is a biblical apostolic name, chosen in Acts to complete the Twelve, and a foundational Christian name honored as a saint across major traditions.

Open guide
25

Barnabas

Barnabas is a New Testament name traditionally explained as son of encouragement.

Barnabas is associated with encouragement, generosity, and missionary partnership.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Barnabas is a biblical name from Acts, an early apostolic leader honored as a saint across major Christian traditions.

Open guide
26

Silas

Silas is a New Testament name, often linked with Silvanus and possibly connected with woodland or forest imagery.

Silas is a New Testament missionary name with a compact modern sound.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Silas is a biblical name borne by Paul's missionary companion in Acts, and it carries cross-tradition Christian heritage through his apostolic and saintly memory.

Open guide
27

Timothy

Timothy is a Greek name meaning honoring God.

Timothy is a pastoral New Testament name associated with sincere faith.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Timothy is a biblical name borne by Paul's coworker, and it is a foundational Christian name across traditions.

Open guide
28

Titus

Titus is a Latin name whose exact meaning is uncertain.

Titus is a New Testament coworker name connected with church order.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Titus is a biblical name borne by Paul's coworker, and it carries cross-tradition Christian heritage through the New Testament letter and his saintly memory.

Open guide
29

Stephen

Stephen is a Greek name meaning crown or wreath.

Stephen is remembered as the first Christian martyr in Acts.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Stephen is a biblical name borne by the first Christian martyr in Acts, and it is a foundational Christian name across traditions.

Open guide
30

Apollos

Apollos is an eloquent early Christian teacher mentioned in Acts and 1 Corinthians.

31

Aquila

Aquila is an early Christian coworker of Paul, often named with Priscilla.

32

Priscilla

Priscilla is a Latin name meaning ancient or venerable.

Priscilla is an early Christian teacher and coworker in Acts.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Christian cultural usage

Priscilla is a New Testament coworker of Paul and a biblical name in long vintage Christian use, without a deep church-naming tradition.

Open guide
33

Lydia

Lydia is a Greek name meaning woman from Lydia, an ancient region of Asia Minor.

Lydia is an early Christian convert in Acts and a classic biblical girls name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Lydia is a New Testament name for the first named convert at Philippi, venerated across Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican traditions and long used by Christian families.

Open guide
34

Chloe

Chloe is a Greek name often understood as green shoot, blooming, or young green growth.

Chloe is named in 1 Corinthians and has long been used as a Christian girl's name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Christian cultural usage

Chloe is a New Testament name mentioned in 1 Corinthians, used today mainly as a popular modern name with a real but modest biblical footprint.

Open guide
35

Claudia

Claudia appears in 2 Timothy among Christians sending greetings.

36

Damaris

Damaris is an Athenian woman in Acts who responds to Paul's preaching.

37

Dorcas

Dorcas is the Greek name of Tabitha and a strong charity-associated choice.

38

Tabitha

Tabitha is an Aramaic name meaning gazelle.

Tabitha is remembered in Acts for generosity and good works.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Christian cultural usage

Tabitha is a biblical name borne by the Joppa disciple of Acts 9, used among Christians as a gentle, recognizable name without a major church-tradition heritage.

Open guide
39

Joanna

Joanna is commonly understood as the LORD is gracious.

Joanna is a follower of Jesus named in Luke.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Tradition-specific

Joanna is a New Testament name from Luke, established in Christian tradition especially through her Orthodox commemoration among the myrrh-bearing women.

Open guide
40

Susanna

Susanna is a biblical and Christian tradition name with long use.

41

Martha

Martha is an Aramaic name often understood as lady or mistress of the house.

Martha is a friend of Jesus remembered for service and confession of faith.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Martha is a New Testament name for the sister of Lazarus who confesses Jesus as the Christ, honored across Christian traditions as Saint Martha and long used by Christian families.

Open guide
42

Lazarus

Lazarus is commonly connected with God has helped.

Lazarus is connected with Jesus raising his friend from the dead in John.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Foundational across traditions

Lazarus is a biblical name for the man Jesus raised in John 11, honored across Christian traditions including the Orthodox Lazarus Saturday feast.

Open guide
43

Magdalene

Magdalene means connected with Magdala, a place name from the region of Galilee.

Biblical? As a variant Christian? Foundational across traditions

Magdalene is not an independent biblical personal name but the 'of Magdala' byname of Mary Magdalene, and it carries deep cross-tradition Christian standing through her role as first resurrection witness.

Open guide
44

Nicodemus

Nicodemus is remembered for his night conversation with Jesus in John 3.

45

Cornelius

Cornelius is a centurion in Acts whose household receives the gospel.

46

Philemon

Philemon is the recipient of Paul's short letter about Onesimus.

47

Onesimus

Onesimus appears in Philemon and is associated with reconciliation and restored brotherhood.

48

Tychicus

Tychicus is a trusted messenger and coworker of Paul.

49

Gaius

Gaius appears in several New Testament settings as a Christian host and companion.

50

Erastus

Erastus is mentioned among early Christian coworkers in the New Testament.

51

Rufus

Rufus is named in Romans and may connect with the family of Simon of Cyrene.

52

Clement

Clement is a New Testament and early church name connected with mercy.

53

Epaphras

Epaphras is a coworker of Paul associated with prayer and the church at Colossae.

54

Justus

Justus is a New Testament name with a meaning connected to justice or righteousness.

55

Linus

Linus appears in 2 Timothy and later Christian memory.

56

Nathanael

Nathanael is called an Israelite without deceit in John's Gospel.

57

Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus is remembered for repentance, hospitality, and Jesus's seeking the lost.

58

Thaddeus

Thaddeus is a traditional apostolic name associated with one of the twelve.

59

Ananias

60

Sapphira

Sapphira appears in Acts in a sobering story about truth and the early church.

61

Junia

Junia is a Latin name often connected with youth or the Roman family name Junius.

Junia is named in Romans and has become an important early Christian girl's name.

Biblical? Yes Christian? Tradition-specific

Junia is a New Testament name from Romans 16:7, established mainly in Orthodox tradition through her commemoration with Andronicus, with a modern scholarly revival.

Open guide
62

Andronicus

63

Julia

Julia is greeted in Romans and belongs to the early Christian community.

64

Nereus

65

Olympas

66

Tryphena

Tryphena is greeted in Romans as a woman working in the Lord.

67

Tryphosa

Tryphosa is paired with Tryphena in Romans and belongs to the early church setting.

68

Persis

Persis is praised in Romans as a woman who worked hard in the Lord.

69

Euodia

70

Syntyche

Syntyche is named in Philippians as part of the early Christian community.

71

Lois

Lois is Timothy's grandmother and is remembered for sincere faith.

72

Eunice

Eunice is Timothy's mother and is remembered for sincere faith.

73

Apphia

Apphia is named in Philemon and belongs to the world of early Christian households.

74

Archippus

75

Demas

76

Crescens

77

Artemas

78

Zenas

79

Trophimus

80

Eutychus

81

Sopater

82

Aristarchus

83

Secundus

84

Tertius

85

Quartus

86

Fortunatus

87

Achaicus

88

Stephanas

89

Crispus

90

Sosthenes

91

Jason

92

Lucius

93

Manaen

94

Herod

95

Felix

Felix means happy or fortunate and has early Christian and biblical-era use.

96

Festus

97

Agrippa

98

Bernice

Bernice appears in Acts and belongs to the royal setting around Paul's testimony.

99

Drusilla

Drusilla appears in Acts in the account of Paul before Felix.

100

Rhoda

Rhoda appears in Acts in the story of Peter's release from prison.

Read next

After browsing this collection, compare related hubs such as all Christian names, Old Testament names, New Testament names, and biblical figure guides. These internal links help keep meaning, story, and naming tradition connected.