Biblical figures

This page introduces a list of about 2,600 proper names from the Bible.

Some of the names are given with a proposed etymological meaning. For further information on the names included on the list, the reader may consult the sources listed below in the References and External Links.

Names play a variety of roles in the Bible. The names sometimes relate to the role of those characters in biblical narratives, as in the case of Nabal, a foolish man whose name means "fool." Names in the Bible can represent human hopes, divine revelations, or are used by prophets to illustrate their prophecies. See also Theophory.

Before the Protestant Reformation the most common names were Adam, Benjamin, Elias, Daniel, David, Joseph, Samson, and Solomon. After the Reformation names like Aaron, Elijah, Joshua, Moses, and Nathaniel were added to mainstream popularity. Saint names associated with the Roman Catholic Church were used less after the Reformation. Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the longest name in the Bible, and was much used as a given name. Mary and John are the most used of the Christian names.

Most of the meanings come from Hebrew, while many of the others come from Greek, Aramaic, or Latin.

Lists of biblical names

...
Wikipedia