Here are some of the most popular biblical boy and girl baby names. Of course, it’s a matter of taste whether you like the name, how it sounds with your last name, and if you care about the meaning. Some people feel that their child will take on the characteristics of their names. Certainly in biblical times, it was thought that a person had the characteristics their name suggested. Today people are not as interested in the root meaning of a name and choose it because they like it.

For Boys

1.      Jesse meaning gift of God

2.      Alexander meaning defender of men

3.      Gabriel meaning God is my strength

4.      Jacob meaning one who takes the place of

5.      Zebediah meaning God has provided

6.      Luke meaning luminous, white

7.      Thaddeus meaning one who praises or confesses

8.      Isaac meaning laughter, one who laughs

9.      Nathan meaning God has given

10.  Joseph meaning God will add

For Girls

1.      Anna meaning grace

2.      Beulah meaning married

3.      Elizabeth meaning God’s promise

4.      Mary meaning wished for child

5.      Susanna meaning lily

6.      Tabitha meaning gazelle

7.      Eve meaning to live

8.      Joy meaning happy

9.      Sophia meaning wisdom

10.  Diana meaning bright, heavenly, divine

Many biblical names fall in and out of fashion while others make just about every baby name list. When you’re picking a list of possible names for your baby, consider several factors. One is your love of the name. If you don’t love it, don’t pick it. You’ll be hearing it for the rest of your life. Family traditions also can be a factor. If you’ve got a name in your family that you simply must use, perhaps you can add another biblical name as a middle name. You want to be sure that you choose a name that is not going to be a source of mockery in grade school. Little children find anything different funny. So if you would rather your child had a name that will keep her from being the source of amusement at recess, name her something other than Dorcus. (Yes, that’s a real biblical girl’s name.)

That said, never feel you have to be limited by names that are en vogue. Every generation seems to end up with a few names that will earn your kids numbers or nicknames in school. Too many Sarah's will make your daughter “Sarah 2” in class or “Sarah S.” If you don’t want your child to have to share their name with anyone else, think outside the usual. Of course the wider out of the normal scope you go, the more likely your child will be singled out. That can be a good thing if you want your child to be a leader and not a follower. But don’t get so wacky that your child has to change their name in adulthood just to get some peace.

Last names really do have to match first names. Think about your child learning to spell a long first name and a long last name and see if you might choose something simpler.

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All of the ultrasounds had been labeled "Baby A" and "Baby B." Although we thought we were prepared, the twin girls born on April 14, 1997, remained "Baby A" and "Baby B" as we sought for names that were worthy of such special, beautiful babies. When the girls were born, we looked at those tiny faces of the five (5) pound bundles of joy, and decided that none of the names on our list really "fit." I know it sounds silly that two unformed, premature infants would astound us in such a way as to make putting a name on a birth certificate such a perplexing feat. But, it is a permanent, lasting "label," if you will. Something more than what's put on a personalized baby blanket. Some believe it actually foretells a child’s destiny. (Some understand it will at least foretell a child’s treatment on the playground.)

Born in 1971, my parents named me "Starr." My father tells me it is due to his obsession with the television show, "Star Trek." My mother will say it is because a print of Van Gogh’s "Starry Night" hung in their bedroom. One of my mother’s hippie students came to visit me as a baby. Over a bowl of chocolate ice cream, she remarked, "Well" At least you didn’t name her" ‘COW’!" My grandmother said, "I am not going to call her that. That is not a name!" My mother asked, "What are you going to call her then?" Her response: "I don’t know, but I’m not going to call her THAT!" While thumbing through baby name books, I found my name, Starr, under the category of: "Names that are too much to live up to." Perhaps.

It was now time to name my children. After three (3) days of deliberation and prayer, we came up with the names "Zoe Claire" and "Skylar Ruth." Zoe means "life" in Greek. Claire means "bright & shining" in French. Skylar means "scholar" in Dutch, and Ruth is Biblical and means "compassionate friend." We announced the names of our twins to all of the family except my mother-in-law, Ruth. She came to the hospital and proclaimed, "Do my granddaughters have names yet?" The room was filled with relatives who were thrilled with the babies and the nomenclature. I told her their names were "Zoe" and "Skylar." With a laugh, she said, "No — really — what are their names?" Her reaction yielded a roomful of chuckles as my father whispered, "Ruth, they’re serious." Stunned, she replied, "Oh. What are their middle names?" "Zoe Claire and Skylar Ruth." Ignoring the fact that one of them bore her name, she continued in shock, "How do you spell those names?!"

Today, she thinks these names are both beautiful and God-given. My grandmother eventually felt the same about my stellar name. Do not be surprised if, on the day you meet your new offspring, you will be taken aback as we were, and throw out all preconceived notions of his or her destiny, and, most of all, the name he/she will carry with them throughout their life.

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In 2006, the top 10 U.S. baby girl’s names in order of popularity were Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella, Ava, Abigail, Olivia, Hannah, Sophia and Samantha. If you had twin girl’s in 2006, you likely went with one of the top names for twin girl’s handed out in the U.S. – Ella & Emma, Madison & Morgan, Gabriella & Isabella, or Faith & Hope.

Of course, the popularity of given names varies by state as cultural background and ethnicity play significant roles in the baby name selection process. Take the name Mia for instance, it was the #1 most popular girl’s name in Arizona and the 4^th most popular name given to girls in California. However, Mia ranked 13^th overall in the U.S. In Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota, the name Grace ranked in the top 5 while it ranked 17^th overall in the U.S.

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This year there weren’t any real surprises on the list of the most popular boy’s names in the United States. The most interesting trends showed up in the state by state analysis which clearly showed naming trends reflect the ethnic, local and cultural backgrounds of the parents. Across the U.S as a whole, the top 10 baby boy names of 2006 were as follows (in order of popularity): Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Ethan, Matthew, Daniel, Christopher, Andrew, Anthony and William.  The top five names on this list have been the top 5 names for boys for the last 3 years running.

As for the state by state tallies, the boys name Angel was ranked number 1 in Arizona, number 3 in California and Nevada. However, it ranked as the 17^th most popular name in the US overall.  Two of the top five names in Hawaii are Dylan and Elijah. Yet these names rank 26^th and 29^th respectively in the overall U.S.

Just for fun, you should visit the Social Security Administration’s website to see where the names of your children show up. Better yet, look up your name and your spouse’s name to see just how popular your names were in the year you were born. You might be surprised to see just how popular your name was back then.