# Biblical Girl Names: 74 Names with Meanings and Stories

> 74 biblical girl names with meanings, verse references, and the women behind them -- classic, beautiful, and rare picks for Christian parents.

**Ages:** Ages 5+  
**Published:** 2026-10-03  
**Updated:** 2026-10-03  
**Canonical:** https://faithfulkids.app/blog/biblical-girl-names

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Here are 74 biblical girl names with their meanings, where each appears in Scripture, and the woman who carried it -- because the Bible's women are some of its bravest characters, and most baby name lists reduce them to a pretty sound. Deborah led a nation. Esther risked her life for her people. Ruth's loyalty got her into the family tree of Jesus. A girl named after one of them has a story to grow into, and wherever we have that story told for kids, the name links straight to it.

The list runs classic to rare: the timeless names, names of the Bible's remarkable women, soft and lyrical picks, New Testament names, and deep cuts almost nobody is using.

Naming a boy too? See our [biblical boy names](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/biblical-boy-names) -- or browse [all biblical names](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/biblical-names) in one place.

## Classic Biblical Girl Names

- **Abigail** — "my father's joy" (1 Samuel 25:3). Quick-thinking and brave, she talked an army out of a terrible mistake.
- **Hannah** — "grace, favor" (1 Samuel 1:2). [Her prayer](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/hannahs-prayer-for-kids) for a child -- and her promise -- gave Israel the prophet Samuel.
- **Elizabeth** — "God is my oath" (Luke 1:5). John the Baptist's mother, the first person to bless Mary out loud.
- **Sarah** — "princess" (Genesis 17:15). Abraham's wife, who laughed at God's promise and then held it in her arms.
- **Anna** — the Greek form of Hannah (Luke 2:36). The old prophetess who recognized the baby Messiah on sight.
- **Rachel** — "ewe, lamb" (Genesis 29:17). The shepherdess Jacob worked fourteen years to marry.
- **Leah** — often rendered "delicate" (Genesis 29:16). The overlooked sister whose line produced both priests and kings.
- **Rebekah** — "captivating" (Genesis 24:15). She watered ten camels for a stranger and changed history doing it.
- **Mary** — from the Hebrew Miriam; scholars differ on the meaning, with "wished-for child" and "beloved" the most common renderings (Luke 1:27). The [mother of Jesus](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/who-was-mary-mother-of-jesus-for-kids), who said yes to [the angel's news](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/an-angel-visits-mary-for-kids).
- **Ruth** — "companion, friend" (Ruth 1:4). [The loyal daughter-in-law](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/who-was-ruth-for-kids) whose "where you go, I will go" is still read at weddings.
- **Naomi** — "pleasantness" (Ruth 1:2). Ruth's mother-in-law, honest about her grief and restored in the end.
- **Esther** — "star" (Esther 2:7). The orphan who [became queen](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/esther-becomes-queen-for-kids) and [saved her people](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/esther-saves-her-people-for-kids) -- "for such a time as this."
- **Deborah** — "bee" (Judges 4:4). [Prophet, judge, and general](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/deborah-a-brave-leader-for-kids) -- the only person in Judges doing all three jobs at once.
- **Eve** — "life" (Genesis 3:20). The first woman, "mother of all living."
- **Miriam** — the Hebrew original of Mary (Exodus 15:20). Moses' quick-witted big sister, who watched over [the basket in the river](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/a-baby-in-a-basket-for-kids) and led Israel in its first worship song.
- **Joanna** — "God is gracious" (Luke 8:3). She helped fund Jesus' ministry and was there at the empty tomb.
- **Judith** — "praised" (Genesis 26:34). An old name that shortens to the friendlier Judy.
- **Dinah** — "vindicated" (Genesis 30:21). Jacob and Leah's daughter.

## Names of the Bible's Remarkable Women

If you want the name to come with a role model attached.

- **Hadassah** — "myrtle tree" (Esther 2:7). Esther's Hebrew name -- the one she carried before the palace.
- **Priscilla** — "venerable, ancient" (Acts 18:2). Tentmaker and teacher who, with her husband, corrected the most eloquent preacher of the day -- kindly, and in private.
- **Lydia** — "woman of Lydia" (Acts 16:14). The businesswoman in purple cloth, first convert in all of Europe.
- **Phoebe** — "radiant, bright" (Romans 16:1). Trusted to carry the letter to the Romans itself.
- **Tabitha** — "gazelle" (Acts 9:36). So loved for her generosity that the widows showed Peter the coats she'd made, and Peter raised her.
- **Martha** — "lady of the house" (Luke 10:38). The busy hostess who also delivered one of the great confessions of faith in John 11.
- **Rahab** — from Jericho's wall (Joshua 2:1). [She hid the spies](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/rahab-and-the-spies-for-kids), bet everything on Israel's God, and landed in the genealogy of Jesus.
- **Michal** — "who is like God?" (1 Samuel 18:20). Saul's daughter, David's first wife.
- **Jael** — "mountain goat" (Judges 4:17). The tent-dweller who ended a war. Not a gentle story -- but an unforgettable one.
- **Huldah** — a prophetess kings consulted (2 Kings 22:14). When Josiah found the lost Book of the Law, she's who he sent to.
- **Zipporah** — "bird" (Exodus 2:21). Moses' wife, a shepherd's daughter from Midian.
- **Shiphrah** — "beautiful" (Exodus 1:15). One of the two midwives who defied Pharaoh and saved a generation of boys.
- **Puah** — the other midwife (Exodus 1:15). Two names the Bible records on purpose, while that Pharaoh goes unnamed.

## Soft and Lyrical Biblical Girl Names

- **Selah** — the mysterious little word that pauses the Psalms (Psalm 46:7), now beloved as a name: a built-in reminder to stop and breathe.
- **Shiloh** — "peace" -- the town where the tabernacle rested (Joshua 18:1).
- **Bethany** — "house of figs" -- the village Jesus kept coming back to (John 11:1), home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
- **Eden** — "delight" (Genesis 2:8). The garden where the whole story starts.
- **Havilah** — a land of gold in Genesis 2:11; rare and melodic.
- **Carmel** — "garden, orchard" -- the mountain where Elijah faced down [the prophets of Baal](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/fire-from-heaven-for-kids) (1 Kings 18:19).
- **Tirzah** — "she is my delight" (Song of Solomon 6:4). A city so lovely it became a compliment.
- **Jemimah** — "dove" (Job 42:14). One of Job's daughters, born after the storm, famously beautiful.
- **Keziah** — "cassia, sweet spice" (Job 42:14). Jemimah's sister -- the second of Job's three daughters.
- **Keren** — short for Keren-happuch, the third (Job 42:14). The Bible notes Job gave his daughters an inheritance alongside their brothers -- unheard of in that world.
- **Abilene** — a region in Luke 3:1 with a soft, modern sound.
- **Sharon** — the fertile plain of the "rose of Sharon" (Song of Solomon 2:1).
- **Zion** — the hill God loved (Psalm 87:2); used today for girls and boys both.
- **Mara** — "bitter" (Ruth 1:20) -- the name Naomi briefly took in her grief. Parents use it now for its sound; its story is about honesty with God.

## New Testament Girl Names

- **Chloe** — "green shoot" (1 Corinthians 1:11). Her household kept Paul honestly informed -- a small, vital job.
- **Julia** — a Roman name from Paul's greetings (Romans 16:15).
- **Claudia** — another (2 Timothy 4:21), sent with greetings in Paul's last letter.
- **Rhoda** — "rose" (Acts 12:13). The servant girl so overjoyed Peter was free that she left him knocking at the gate.
- **Susanna** — "lily" (Luke 8:3). One of the women who supported Jesus' ministry out of her own means.
- **Eunice** — "good victory" (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy's mother, who taught him the Scriptures from childhood.
- **Lois** — Timothy's grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5) -- faith passed down three generations by name.
- **Damaris** — a woman of Athens who believed Paul [on Mars Hill](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/paul-in-athens-for-kids) (Acts 17:34).
- **Dorcas** — the Greek rendering of Tabitha (Acts 9:36); vintage enough to be due a comeback.
- **Candace** — the royal title of the Ethiopian queen (Acts 8:27), whose treasurer [went home with the gospel](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/philip-and-the-ethiopian-for-kids).
- **Magdalene** — "of Magdala" (Luke 8:2). Mary Magdalene was [first to see the risen Jesus](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/mary-sees-jesus-for-kids) -- the first witness of the resurrection.
- **Salome** — "peace" (Mark 15:40). Among the women at the cross and the empty tomb.
- **Apphia** — greeted by name in Philemon 1:2; two letters from "Sophia" and almost never used.
- **Persis** — "beloved" is how Paul describes her (Romans 16:12), a hard worker in the church at Rome.

## Rare Biblical Girl Names (Deep Cuts)

More like these -- for boys and girls -- in our [unique biblical names](https://faithfulkids.app/blog/unique-biblical-names) list.

- **Adah** — "ornament" (Genesis 4:19). One of the first women named in the Bible.
- **Zillah** — "shade" (Genesis 4:19). Her sister in the same verse.
- **Milcah** — "queen" (Genesis 11:29). Abraham's sister-in-law.
- **Iscah** — Milcah's sister (Genesis 11:29) -- possibly the ancient root of the name Jessica.
- **Bilhah** — mother of two of Israel's tribes (Genesis 30:3).
- **Serah** — a granddaughter of Jacob listed among the seventy who went to Egypt (Genesis 46:17).
- **Tamar** — "palm tree" (Genesis 38:6). Two bearers: a wronged woman who outwitted injustice, and David's daughter.
- **Atarah** — "crown" (1 Chronicles 2:26). Buried in the genealogies, ready for rediscovery.
- **Jerusha** — "inheritance" (2 Kings 15:33). A queen mother of Judah.
- **Noa** — one of Zelophehad's five daughters (Numbers 27:1), who petitioned Moses for their inheritance -- and won. Also the top girl's name in Israel for years.
- **Hoglah** — another of those five sisters (Numbers 27:1); their case changed Israel's law.
- **Abital** — "my father is dew" (2 Samuel 3:4). A wife of David.
- **Ahinoam** — "my brother is delight" (1 Samuel 25:43). Another.
- **Vashti** — the queen whose refusal opens the book of Esther (Esther 1:11). A controversial pick with a backbone.
- **Orpah** — Ruth's sister-in-law (Ruth 1:4) -- famously the inspiration, via a misspelling, for the name Oprah.

## How to Pick Well

1. **Read her story before you commit.** Jael is a gorgeous sound attached to a tent peg; Mara means "bitter" on purpose. None of that disqualifies a name -- but you'll be the one explaining it at bedtime, so choose a story you're glad to tell.
2. **Check the shortenings.** Elizabeth alone yields Liza, Beth, Elsie, Ellie, and Betty -- five daughters in one. Hadassah becomes Haddie. The nickname is the name, most days.
3. **Say it with the middle name.** Biblical first names love short middles (Ruth Anne, Esther May) and fight long ones.

And when she's old enough to ask "who was I named after?" -- every linked story above is a two-minute video in the Faithful Kids app, with a quiz at the end, so the answer sticks.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the most popular biblical girl name?**
Abigail, Elizabeth, Hannah, Leah, and Naomi all sit high on current U.S. charts, with Eden and Selah climbing fast. Mary -- the most common female name in all of Scripture -- has, remarkably, become the rare choice.

**What are beautiful biblical names for girls?**
Parents gravitate to the lyrical ones: Selah, Keziah, Jemimah, Tirzah, Shiloh, and Hadassah. All six are in the lists above with their stories.

**Who are the most important women in the Bible to name a daughter after?**
Esther (courage), Ruth (loyalty), Deborah (leadership), Hannah (prayer), Mary (faith), and Priscilla (teaching) each embody one virtue so clearly that the name practically comes with a life verse.

**Are there biblical girl names that don't sound old-fashioned?**
Plenty: Eden, Chloe, Phoebe, Noa, Shiloh, and Selah all read as fully modern -- most people don't realize they're biblical at all.

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*Faithful Kids (https://faithfulkids.app) — Bible video lessons for kids ages 5-15. This is the Markdown edition of the page above; the HTML page is canonical.*