Biblical names are the most stable name supply in history — three thousand years of continuous use, immune to fashion in a way nothing else is. They also carry their stories free of charge: name a son Ezra and he inherits "the rebuilder" whenever he needs it.
The current wave: minor-prophet and second-tier matriarch names — Ezra, Asher, Micah, Naomi, Abigail — familiar enough to be comfortable, fresh enough to feel chosen.
The list
- Noah — rest — the ark-builder
- Elijah — God is Yahweh — the fiery prophet
- Hannah — grace — Samuel's mother
- Naomi — pleasantness — Ruth's guide
- Samuel — God has heard — the king-maker
- Daniel — God is my judge — the lions' survivor
- Ruth — compassionate friend — the loyal daughter-in-law
- Ezra — help — the rebuilder
- Leah — the tender-eyed matriarch
- Rachel — the beloved wife
- Rebecca — the captivating bride
- Sarah — the princess-mother of nations
- Abigail — my father's joy — the wise peacemaker
- Miriam — the prophetess of the sea
- Esther — the hidden queen who saved her people
- Judith — the praised — the daring widow
- Anna — the prophetess who saw redemption
- Elizabeth — God's oath — John's mother
- John — God is gracious — the baptizer
- Jonah — the dove — the reluctant prophet
- Micah — who is like God — the justice prophet
- Isaiah — God saves — the poet prophet
- Josiah — God supports — the boy reformer
- Caleb — whole-hearted — the faithful scout
- Asher — happy — the blessed tribe
- Levi — joined — the priestly tribe
- Benjamin — son of the right hand
- Gabriel — God is my strength — the messenger
- Michael — who is like God — the archangel
- Eve — the living one — the first mother
Noah, Hannah, Elijah, Naomi and most of this list have full profiles in our collections — girls, boys.