Salem: Peace

March 3, 2023

If you’re looking for the meaning of Salem in Hebrew, you’ve come to the right place!

Salem is hands down one of the best toponyms in the Bible! (If you are curious about place names, you can read more about toponyms here.)

Salem has been at the top of our name list for many years because of it’s sweet meaning. There are many virtue names that have run their course (for now), but Salem fits the bill for something modern and edgy, with strong Biblical roots.

Salem

Original Language + Form: Hebrew שלם

Range of Meanings: Peace, Complete

Concept: Since Salem is derived from the Hebrew Shalom שָׁלוֹם, the deeper concept is that being complete or whole is what brings peace. As we see throughout the Bible, when things are in complete (whole), there is peace.

References or Context: Salem is first mentioned when we hear of King Melchizedek, who was a “priest of the most high God” in Genesis 14:18. (If you don’t know the story of Abraham and Melchizedek, now is a great time to catch up on this incredible story!) Because of the reference to the location of Salem in Psalms, the connection is made that Salem and Jerusalem are the same city.

In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
Psalm 76:2-3

If you like the biblical baby name Salem, you will love: Judea

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Judea: A Rare Beauty

March 1, 2023

What is the meaning of Judea in the bible?

There are many variations of Judea through out the Bible, in both Old & New Testament; including Judah and Jude. Most mentions have generally have good associations (minus the well-known Judas), however Judea is rarely used and definitely the most interesting choice for a little girl!

Judea

Original Language + Form: Greek Ἰουδαία adaption of the Hebrew יהודה

Range of Meanings: Land of the Jews

Concept: Judea, first called Judah, was derived from the Hebrew word meaning “to praise”

References or Context: Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea and even commissioned his disciples in Judea!

…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8

If you like the biblical baby name Judea, you will love: Olivet

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Iris: Rainbow

February 28, 2023

We never appreciated the name Iris enough… until studying the Greek to find it’s connection to the Bible! Did you know it means “rainbow”? Since rainbows are also a sign of God’s promise in the Bible, this name feels as though it has many Biblical connections for us today!

Iris

Original Language + Form: Greek ἶρις

Range of Meanings: Rainbow

Concept: Describing a brightly color halo or a circle of light

References or Context: Used twice in Revelation.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

Revelation 10:1

If you like the biblical baby name Iris, you will love: Meris

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Phero: A Royal Feel

February 28, 2023

The title Pharaoh has always been an intriguing one and it’s even been used, more often than you’d think, as a name for babies in the US (although King and Princess beat it by far on the name charts). Phero, which sounds similar, is Greek and used often in the Greek New Testament.

Phero

Original Language + Form: Greek φέρω

Range of Meanings: to carry, bring, endure, lead (driven)

Concept:

References or Context:

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

If you like the biblical baby name Phero, you will love: Salem

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Asa: Fit for a King

February 21, 2023

Asa name meaning is "healer". Asa was a biblical King of Judah.

The meaning of Asa is “healer”

Royalty in the Bible get a lot of notice, for either the good they did, or their failures. King Asa was said to be “wholly true to the LORD all his days” despite his failures, which is admirable (to say the least!)

Asa

Original Language + Form: Hebrew אסא

Range of Meanings: Commonly accepted to mean “healer”, but definitive meaning unknown.

Concept: unknown

References or Context: King Asa was the third king of the kingdom of Judah and his reign is dated some where between 913-869 BC (a total of 41 years). 1 Kings 15:14 says, “the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days.” A more complete story of Asa can be found in 2 Chronicles 14-16.

And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherimand commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace.

2 Chronicles 14:2-6

If you like the biblical baby name Asa, you will love: Esli

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Meris: Partakers

February 18, 2023

“M” names are wildly popular, coming second only to those starting with “j”. If you love the letter and are looking for an unusual biblical name, Meris is darling! It’s also close enough to many other common names, like Mary, to sound pleasantly familiar without loosing it’s unique edge.

Meris

Original Language + Form: Greek μερίς

Range of Meanings: Portion, a share

Concept: To be “partakers”, given an assigned amount, like in an inheritance.

References or Context:

but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:42

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Colossians 1:12

If you like the biblical name Meris, you will love: Salem

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Esli: Ancestor of Jesus

February 11, 2023

Meaning is usually what draws us personally to Biblical names, but on rare occasions there are names without meanings that we love. Esli is one of those! While there isn’t a lot of information about the name, it’s mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

Esli

Original Language + Form: Greek Ἐσλί

Range of Meanings: Possibly the Greek for the Hebrew “atsalyahu” meaning “Yah has reserved,” “set apart”, but definitive meaning unknown.

Concept: unknown

References or Context: An ancestor of Jesus, listed in Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:25)

If you like the biblical baby name Esli, you will love: Chara

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Rufus: Red

February 6, 2023

It’s a charming first-century Christian name. While the meaning might be simple, Rufus has two wholesome mentions in the New Testament.

Rufus

Original Language + Form: Latin rūfus

Range of Meanings: Red

Concept: n/a

References or Context: Who was Rufus in the Bible? First, Rufus was the son of Simon the Cyrenian who carried the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21). Second, he was a friend of Paul, “chosen in the Lord” (Romans 16:3). Some believe these two mentions may be the same man, but either way Rufus is documented to be a common Latin name during this time.

If you like the biblical baby name Rufus, you will love: Thelo

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Thelo: Willing

February 1, 2023

The name Thelo is close to Shakespeare’s “Othello” (but with out the depressing ending to that story.) It’s also similar to some modern favorites, like Theo or Milo, with the bonus of a beautiful biblical meaning.

Thelo

Original Language + Form: Greek θέλω

Range of Meanings: To will, intend, desire, wish

Concept: To show willingness to act or desire to do so

References or Context: Thelo is used 40 times in the New Testament, but many variations are used totaling up to 200 uses over all.

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the pious, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 9:13

“And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Matthew 8:2-3

If you like the biblical name Thelo, you will love: Bronte

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Bronte: Not the Author

February 1, 2023

When consider the biblical name Bronte, one can’t help but think of the charming Bronte sisters. Thus making this the perfect name for lovers of literature and those looking for a strong, un-flowery name for their daughter.

Bronte

Original Language + Form: Greek βροντή

Range of Meanings: Thunder

Concept: Very few of the biblical references of thunder are limited to literal weather occurrences. For example, in both the Old and New Testaments, God’s voice is described as being like thunder. The word is used to show the magnitude of awe due to the incredible audible power of thunder and explain the feeling of hearing the voice of the Lord.

References or Context:

“Father, glorify your name!”Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

John 12:28-29

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns…”

Revelation 19:6

If you like the biblical baby name Meris, you will love: Thelo

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