Trending Biblical Baby Names for 2019

New Year, new names! As 2019 approaches, new beginnings become evermore relevant,

especially for parents who are expecting. In 2019, many parents to-be will be looking to the Bible for inspiration for their little one’s name.

According to the Huffington Post, “a rising number of parents are turning to the Bible for name inspiration for their kids.” Adam, Eve and Jacob are all-time favorites. Last year saw a rise of angelic names, according to parenting site Bounty.com.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President of the International Fellowship for Christians and Jews (IFCJ), speaking of the value of a good name, said, “Just the mention of the name of a great historical figure – George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln, for example -- is enough to conjure up feelings of admiration and respect. When our actions are honorable, our names, too, become honorable.”

Indeed, according to Jewish tradition, the first question that a person is asked after they pass away and enter the afterlife is, “What is your name?” Eckstein comments, “The underlying meaning is: “What name did you make for yourself? When we leave this world, all we take with us is our name.”

It says in the Bible, “A good name is better than fine perfume” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). As a good name is one of the most valuable things we own, naming a child is of upmost importance.

Likely to trend in 2019, the following Biblical names are gaining in popularity and represent some of the best, most popular baby names out there:

Girls

1. Ava- According to babycenter.com, in 2018, Ava was the third most popular name for baby girls born in the United States. Although not strictly Biblical, Ava is a variant of Eva and means “antiquity” in the Bible, according to motherhood website sheknows.com. Ava, like Eva, is also short form for the name “Chava” (“life” or ‘living one’) and the feminised form of the Hebrew word “Abba,” meaning “father.”

2. Jessica- According to Bounty.com, Jessica was the 15th most popular name for baby girls born in the United States. Jessica is an Anglicisation of the Biblical Iscah, the name of a daughter of Haran mentioned in Genesis 11:29. While the name has been popular since the 1990s, perhaps it is a fan favorite because of its Hebrew origin, meaning “God sees.”

3. Isabella - Isabella was the 4th most popular baby name for girls in 2018 and its popularity is still rising. Isabella, as well as Isabelle, means “God is perfection,” “devoted to God” or “God is my oath” in Hebrew. Its origins are from Elisheba, the wife of Aaron, the older brother of Moses and ancestor of the Jewish high priests, according to the Bible. Notes bounty.com, the element 'el' meaning 'God' was adapted to 'belle' meaning 'beautiful.'

4. Eva - Eva was the 37th most popular name for baby girls in 2018 and is continuing to become more popular. The name peaked in popularity in the late 1800s and is enjoying a rebirth in modern days. Eva is a variation of Eve, one of the most prominent characters in the Book of Genesis, Adam’s wife and the world’s first woman.

5. Abigail - Abigail was the 17th most popular name for girls in 2018 according to babycenter.com. Meaning “the father’s joy” in Hebrew, Biblical Abigail was King David’s intelligent and beautiful third wife. The name has been seeing a surge in popularity over the last 10 years and will likely continue to top the lists of girls born in 2019.

Boys

1. Noah - According to babycenter.com, Noah was the 2nd most popular name for boys in 2018 and is holding steady in popularity. Noah is a Biblical Hebrew name meaning “rest” and “comfort.” In the famous Biblical story, God chooses Noah to build the ark, and fill it with food and two of every animal to survive the great flood.

2. Jacob – Jacob, or Yaakov, means “God will protect” or “supplanter” in Hebrew. According to Bounty.com, Jacob was the seventh most popular name for boys in 2018, and will likely be popular in 2019. Of course, Jacob is an important Biblical patriarch, the father of 12 sons who gave their names to the 12 tribes of Israel.

3. Daniel - According to babycenter.com, Daniel was the 19th most popular name for boys in 2018, and will likely be popular in 2019. Although the name, meaning “God is my judge” in Hebrew, hit peak popularity in the late 1980s, Daniel’s Biblical foundations (Daniel was the hero in the book of Daniel, serving the king and remaining true to the God of Israel even in captivity) have perhaps influenced its popularity even to this day.

4. Caleb - According to babycenter.com, Caleb comes from the Hebrew word “dog” and is a symbol of devotion to God. In the Bible, Caleb leaves Egypt with Moses and is one of only two followers to make it to the Promised Land. In 2018, it was the 48th most popular name for boys in the United States, but its popularity is rising still.

5. Josiah - Josiah was #37 in 2018, and its popularity is rising quickly according to babycenter.com. In Hebrew, Josiah means “fire of the Lord,” and according to the Hebrew Bible, Josiah was the son of King Amon and Jedidiah, and instituted major religious reforms.