Biblical Name Ideas and Recorded US Usage
Compare current imported counts for an editorial selection of names associated with biblical figures. Name use does not identify a family’s religion or beliefs.
By Marvin Tang · Content and calculations reviewed October 27, 2026.
National data scope: 65,411 imported name/sex/year records across 1880–2025. This is a selected subset of SSA records, with narrower historical coverage and catalog/rank filters. A missing row does not establish zero use or fewer than five uses. Figures below describe the stated selection. Data coverage and limits.
A named selection rather than a religious population estimate
The list below is an editorial set of familiar English forms associated with biblical figures. It is not an exhaustive list of biblical names, a literal-meaning category, or a classification of every tradition that uses each name. Families can choose the same spelling for religious, family, cultural, or personal reasons.
| Name | SSA sex list | 2025 count | Stored rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary | F | 2,230 | #125 |
| Sarah | F | 2,710 | #90 |
| Hannah | F | 3,973 | #56 |
| Ruth | F | 1,781 | #173 |
| Esther | F | 2,277 | #119 |
| Rebecca | F | 872 | #350 |
| Rachel | F | 1,225 | #250 |
| Leah | F | 3,880 | #58 |
| Miriam | F | 1,262 | #246 |
| Naomi | F | 4,644 | #47 |
| David | M | 6,794 | #35 |
| Daniel | M | 8,085 | #22 |
| Joseph | M | 7,303 | #29 |
| Samuel | M | 8,334 | #18 |
| Noah | M | 20,358 | #2 |
| Isaac | M | 5,953 | #47 |
| Jacob | M | 6,152 | #43 |
| Benjamin | M | 9,762 | #11 |
| Elijah | M | 11,111 | #7 |
| John | M | 8,027 | #23 |
Separate a name’s language, story, and present use
A linguistic origin does not establish religious affiliation. A name with a Hebrew root is not evidence that its bearer is Jewish or Christian. An Arabic-language name is not evidence that its bearer is Muslim. A name can also move between languages and appear in several religious or secular traditions.
When a specific scriptural figure matters to your family, read the relevant passage and check the form used in your own tradition. Translations and spelling conventions can differ. A popularity ranking cannot settle the historical meaning or spiritual significance of a name.
What the usage table helps you decide
The count gives context for the exact spelling in a stated US birth year and sex list. It can help compare familiarity within this selection. It cannot measure religious commitment, predict a child’s identity, or show how a name is used in another country. For a name without an imported row, investigate the source coverage before drawing a rarity conclusion.
Sources and interpretation
Popularity counts come from the US Social Security Administration baby-name files. SSA records applications for Social Security cards and separates exact spellings and recorded sex. Its public files apply privacy limits; this site applies additional import limits. National counts do not identify families, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, or the reason a name was chosen. Name origins are separate editorial fields, not SSA findings.
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