Culture and Lifestyle Our Favorite Boy Names from the Bible By Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah McGough runs the day-to-day operations in the Southern Living Birmingham office, responds to reader questions and comments, manages freelancer contracts, and invoices. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 29, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images Since the beginning of time, names have been an important thread throughout the Bible. From Adam and Eve to Mary and Joseph, they've woven the fabric that makes up the human race. Choosing a name is a significant task of being a parent and the chance to help define a child's character. When it comes to boy names, there is a bit more to think about. Has the father's name been passed down through generations? If so, hopefully it's a name that both Mom and Dad can agree on! Or do you want to skip the Jr., III, or even the IV but stay traditional? If you like traditional names, a good place to begin your search is in the Bible. Most of these names have been popular for centuries. While there were countless important men in the Bible, we would be hard-pressed to name our baby boy Shadrach or Abednego. Meanings of names make for an interesting study. While you probably wouldn't choose a name strictly based on its meaning, it could be a tipping point if you're undecided. Say you're wavering between Ainsley and Aidan then take a look at their meaning. Ainsley means "from the field of hermits" while Aidan means "like a fire." Nothing wrong with hermits but it could be the determining factor. All the men in my family have biblical names: Andrew, Michael, Matthew, Thomas, and John (I guess we're not very creative). My dad impressed upon us that our "name" was our most valuable asset and in the end it was all we had. My dad comes from a long line of proud people who were associated with their "good name" and he sure didn't want my brother or me damaging it. We may have dinged it a bit over the years but overall, I think it's safe to say it's still intact. 01 of 15 Andrew Southern Living 02 of 15 Asher Southern Living 03 of 15 Benjamin Southern Living 04 of 15 Elijah Southern Living 05 of 15 Jacob Southern Living 06 of 15 Joshua Southern Living 07 of 15 Levi Southern Living 08 of 15 Luke Southern Living 09 of 15 Matthew Southern Living 10 of 15 Micah Southern Living 11 of 15 Noah Southern Living 12 of 15 Reuben Southern Living 13 of 15 Seth Southern Living 14 of 15 Thomas Southern Living 15 of 15 Timothy Southern Living Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit