It’s being said that, due to quarantine, we’re bound to have a big baby boom over the next year or so. As much as we love every baby, if you’re of the mindset that we don’t really need any more Sophia’s or Aiden’s running around, allow me to assist you in choosing a truly original and Biblical moniker for your baby-to-be. These names not only carry the weight of two stone tablets, but I can guarantee that your little disciple in the making will be the only Mordecai gathered around the Fisher Price train set.
Azariah means “Yaweh” – Let’s be honest, if you choose a name who’s meaning happens to also be a sacred name for God, you are probably setting your child up for failure. We just can’t live up to that kind of pressure, am I right? As much as I would err on the side of caution with this one, it’s still a less risky choice than going with something like “Prince of Peace” or “Jehovah-Jireh.”
Zebulun – Is it biblical? Is it a star sign? Is it a Doctor Who character? Who really knows? Well, you obviously know that Zebulun was one of the 12 tribes of Israel, named after the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, you Bible scholar, you! You could always go with the ever popular “Benjamin” or “Joseph” if you wanted to keep it in the family, but, why not spice up their future Sunday School class with a name like Zeb (or Zebbie, if you happen to have a girl). Hopefully, though, they won’t be as forgettable as Zebulun from the Bible.
Myrrh – Good for both boys and girls, this gummy substance was one of the three gifts that the mega-wealthy wiseman gifted to baby Jesus. Hey, your own precious gift from above is worthy of a name of one of the most iconic gifts in the history of the world. You could always go with the alternative names “Gold” or “Frankincense” but you don’t really want your child to be associated with the most expensive essential oil, do you? Besides, Myrrh is a type of sticky goo, so your child is bound to be the glue of their friend group. Sounds like a win/win to me.
Shiphrah – Nothing says dainty little princess like the name Shiphrah, am I right? For starters, it means “beautiful” and in case photographic memory is not one of your Spiritual Gifts, she was one of the midwives who disobeys the Pharaoh’s order to kill any Hebrew boys they deliver. If Disney made animated films about Bible characters, Shiphrah would be their top selling Princess. Don’t miss out on this up and coming Biblical name sitting at a cool #9,973 on The Top 10,000 Baby Names list.
Tiglath-Pileser – If you’re on the lookout for a “Royal” name but find David, Solomon, or Nebuchadnezzar to be to on-the-nose, look no further than the ancient Assyrian King, Tiglath-Pileser. This name can be used as a first or first/middle name combination. Last names tend to fade into the background with this one, much like “Beyonce” or “Oprah.” Bonus: think about the nickname possibilities with this one! No one on the school yard is going to mess around when little Tiglath is on the way.
Zelophehad – There is some debate over whether this name means “first born” or “shadow from terror,” but honestly, you can’t go wrong with either. Zelophehad had five daughters and no sons to give an inheritance to, so it’s conjectured that he raised a case in order to allow women to become heirs. Talk about Girl Power! Little Zelo’s are world changers.* Whether they run for Political office or open a raw vegan chinchilla café, people will be hard pressed to forget a name like this.
*Based on personal assumption as there is no physical evidence of the use of this name in modern times.
Hopefully this list has gotten your unique baby name generator going, but don’t stop here! There certainly aren’t enough Shadrach’s, Vashti’s, or Methuselah’s running around the Chick-fil-A play place. The Bible is jam packed with one of a kind names, with only a fraction seeing the modern light of day. Who knows, “Jerubbaal” may be the next “John.”
Grace Dawson
Multimedia Storyteller
