What are some male names from the Bible?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
Here are prominent and venerable male names from the Holy Scriptures, deeply rooted in Orthodox biblical tradition and liturgical commemoration:
1. The Holy Evangelists and Apostles
- Mark
- Origin: Latin name written as a Greek loanword in the New Testament.
- Significance: St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, the author of the Gospel of Mark, one of the Seventy Apostles, and the founder and first Pope of the Church of Alexandria.
- John / Youhanna
- Origin: Hebrew (Yohanan, "The Lord is gracious"), Greek loanword in Coptic.
- Significance: Borne by St. John the Beloved (the Evangelist, Theologian, and Apostle who leaned on the breast of Christ) and St. John the Baptist and Forerunner, the greatest born of women.
- Paul
- Origin: Latin/Greek loanword meaning "Small" or "Humble."
- Significance: St. Paul the Apostle, the chosen vessel to the Gentiles, author of fourteen canonical epistles.
- Peter
- Origin: Greek loanword meaning "Stone" or "Rock."
- Significance: St. Peter the Apostle, foremost among the Twelve in zeal, who confessed the divinity of Christ.
- Stephen
- Origin: Greek loanword meaning "Crown."
- Significance: St. Stephen the Archdeacon and Protomartyr (Acts 6–7), the first to shed his blood for Christ while beholding the heavens opened.
- Andrew
- Origin: Greek loanword meaning "Manly" or "Courageous."
- Significance: The First-Called apostle, brother of St. Peter.
- Matthew
- Origin: Hebrew (Mattityahu, "Gift of God"), Greek loanword in Coptic.
- Significance: The Apostle and Evangelist who left the tax office to follow Christ and authored the first Gospel account.
- Thomas
- Origin: Aramaic (Te'oma, "Twin").
- Significance: The Apostle who proclaimed the definitive confession of faith upon touching Christ’s wounds: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
2. The Holy Archangels
- Michael
- Origin: Hebrew ("Who is like God?").
- Significance: The Chief of the Heavenly Hosts and protector of God’s people (Daniel 10:13, Revelation 12:7). Commemorated on the 12th day of every Coptic month.
- Gabriel
- Origin: Hebrew ("God is my strength" or "Mighty man of God").
- Significance: The Archangel of the Annunciation who announced the Incarnation of Christ to the Theotokos (Luke 1:26) and interpreted visions to Daniel.
3. Old Testament Patriarchs and Righteous Men
- Joseph
- Origin: Hebrew ("May He add").
- Significance: Borne by Patriarch Joseph the Chaste, whose purity in Egypt and forgiveness of his brothers typified Christ; also borne by St. Joseph the Betrothed, the righteous guardian of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child.
- Abraham
- Origin: Hebrew ("Father of a multitude").
- Significance: The Patriarch of faith and friend of God, who prefigured the sacrifice of the Son of God on Mount Moriah.
- Isaac
- Origin: Hebrew ("Laughter").
- Significance: The promised son, who willingly offered himself upon the altar, an explicit type of the Crucified Lord.
- Jacob
- Origin: Hebrew ("He grasps the heel" / "Supplanter").
- Significance: The Patriarch who wrestled with God and saw the ladder reaching to heaven (a type of the Incarnation and the Virgin Mary).
4. Holy Prophets
- David
- Origin: Hebrew ("Beloved").
- Significance: The Prophet and King, ancestor of Christ according to the flesh, and author of the Psalms.
- Daniel
- Origin: Hebrew ("God is my judge").
- Significance: The Prophet who preserved his purity in Babylon, survived the lions' den, and prophesied the exact timing of Christ’s coming and the eternal Kingdom.
- Elijah
- Origin: Hebrew (Eliyahu, "My God is the Lord").
- Significance: The great prophet of zeal who defended the true worship of God on Mount Carmel and was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
- Samuel
- Origin: Hebrew ("Heard of God").
- Significance: The dedicated child of Hannah who served in the Tabernacle from youth and anointed King David.
- Moses
- Origin: Egyptian-Hebrew derivation ("Drawn out of water").
- Significance: The Prophet and Lawgiver who spoke with God face-to-face and led the people through the Red Sea.