500+ 👼 Syriac Orthodox Church Baby Names: A Timeless Tradition of Spiritual Naming

Asad Amin

2 months ago

Introduction

Choosing a name is a profound journey that connects families to their cultural roots, spiritual heritage, and deepest beliefs. In the rich tapestry of Syriac Orthodox Church baby names, parents find a beautiful intersection of ancient tradition, biblical wisdom, and spiritual significance. These Syriac Orthodox Church baby names carry more than just an identifier – they are a blessing, a prayer, and a connection to a millennia-old Christian tradition that resonates with deep spiritual meaning. Each Syriac Orthodox Church baby name tells a story, reflects divine grace, and connects the child to a remarkable religious and cultural legacy that spans centuries of Christian history.

📜 About the Syriac Orthodox Church

The Syriac Orthodox Church is an ancient Christian denomination with roots tracing back to the earliest Christian communities in the Middle East. Established in the first centuries of Christianity, this church preserves the Aramaic language and traditions of the earliest followers of Christ. Predominantly practiced in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and among diaspora communities worldwide, the Syriac Orthodox Church maintains a rich liturgical tradition that connects contemporary believers to the original Christian experience.

👦 Boys Names in the Syriac Orthodox Tradition

No.	Name	Meaning	Significance
1	Yohanna	God is Gracious	Biblical name representing divine mercy
2	Ephrem	Fruitful	Named after Saint Ephrem the Syrian, a renowned theologian
3	Abraham	Father of Many	Patriarch symbolizing faith and divine promise
4	Gabriel	God is My Strength	Archangel name representing divine messenger
5	Daniel	God is My Judge	Biblical prophet name signifying wisdom and faith
6	Isaac	He Will Laugh	Son of Abraham; symbol of divine promise fulfilled
7	Jacob	Supplanter	Patriarch and father of the 12 tribes of Israel
8	Simon	He Has Heard	Apostle and early Christian leader
9	Thomas	Twin	Apostle who brought Christianity to the East
10	Paul	Small or Humble	Apostle and writer of much of the New Testament
11	Matthew	Gift of God	Apostle and author of the Gospel of Matthew
12	Bartholomew	Son of the Furrows	One of the Twelve Apostles
13	Andrew	Manly	Apostle and brother of Peter
14	Peter	Rock	Apostle; considered first patriarch of the Church
15	James	Supplanter	Apostle and early church leader
16	Luke	Light Giving	Evangelist and author of a Gospel
17	Mark	Warlike	Evangelist and author of the Gospel of Mark
18	Elias	My God is Yahweh	Prophet known for miracles and confronting idolatry
19	Jonah	Dove	Prophet known for his story in the belly of the fish
20	Moses	Drawn Out (of water)	Prophet and lawgiver who led Israel from Egypt
21	Aaron	Exalted	Brother of Moses and first high priest
22	Malachi	My Messenger	Prophet and final book of the Old Testament
23	Zechariah	God Remembers	Prophet and father of John the Baptist
24	Jeremiah	Exalted by the Lord	Prophet of lamentation and divine justice
25	Isaiah	God is Salvation	Prophet who foretold the Messiah
26	Samuel	Heard by God	Prophet who anointed kings Saul and David
27	David	Beloved	King of Israel and author of many Psalms
28	Solomon	Peaceful	King known for wisdom and building the Temple
29	Nathaniel	Gift of God	Apostle and man of integrity
30	Joachim	Raised by God	Father of Mary, the mother of Jesus
31	Zacharias	God Remembers	Father of John the Baptist
32	John	God is Gracious	Apostle and beloved disciple of Jesus
33	Stephen	Crown	First Christian martyr
34	Philip	Lover of Horses	Apostle and evangelist
35	Cornelius	Horn	Roman centurion who received the Holy Spirit
36	Timotheos	Honoring God	Companion of Paul and early bishop
37	Titus	Pleasing	Companion of Paul and church leader
38	Silas	Wood, Forest	Companion of Paul in missionary work
39	Ananias	God is Gracious	Disciple who healed Paul
40	Matthias	Gift of God	Chosen to replace Judas Iscariot
41	Lazarus	God Has Helped	Friend of Jesus, raised from the dead
42	Jude	Praised	Apostle and patron of desperate causes
43	Amos	Burden	Prophet of justice
44	Joel	The Lord is God	Prophet and author of the Book of Joel
45	Micah	Who is Like God?	Prophet known for justice and humility
46	Hosea	Salvation	Prophet who preached love and repentance
47	Nahum	Comfort	Prophet of judgment and comfort
48	Habakkuk	Embrace	Prophet who questioned God’s justice
49	Obadiah	Servant of God	Prophet who condemned Edom
50	Ezra	Help	Priest and scribe of the Torah
51	Nehemiah	Comforted by God	Rebuilder of Jerusalem’s walls
52	Elisha	God is Salvation	Prophet and successor to Elijah
53	Reuben	Behold, a Son	Firstborn of Jacob
54	Levi	Joined	Tribe of priests
55	Judah	Praise	Ancestor of Jesus
56	Simeon	God Has Heard	One of the 12 tribes
57	Benjamin	Son of the Right Hand	Youngest son of Jacob
58	Joseph	God Will Increase	Dream interpreter and ruler in Egypt
59	Thaddeus	Heart/Courageous	Apostle and missionary
60	Aho	Brother	Common Syriac name for unity
61	Gorgis	Farmer	Syriac form of George; saint and martyr
62	Severius	Stern/Grave	Saint and theologian in Syriac tradition
63	Isaacios	Laughter	Hellenized form of Isaac
64	Marutha	Lordly	Early church father and bishop
65	Cyriacus	Of the Lord	Name of several Syriac saints
66	Theophilos	Friend of God	Addressed in Luke and Acts
67	Sergius	Servant	Roman convert to Christianity
68	Bacchus	Joyous	Martyr and companion of Sergius
69	Hormizd	Noble	Persian name adopted by Syriac Christians
70	Isaacus	Laughter	Variation of Isaac
71	Romanos	Roman	Hymnographer and saint
72	Basil	Kingly	Church father and theologian
73	Gregory	Watchful	Saint and Doctor of the Church
74	Chrysostom	Golden-Mouthed	Preacher and saint
75	Jacobite	Follower of Jacob	Reflecting Syriac Orthodox identity
76	Dionysius	Devoted to God	Patriarch and theological scholar
77	Moris	Dark-Skinned	Saint venerated in the East
78	Sharbel	God’s Story	Modern saint and hermit
79	Isaacian	Of Isaac	Lineage name honoring Isaac
80	Babai	Father	Renowned monastic leader
81	Mosesis	Of Moses	Denotes spiritual descent from Moses
82	Zakka	Pure	Patriarch Zakka I Iwas
83	Yonan	Dove	Syriac form of Jonah
84	Akhi	My Brother	Emphasizes brotherhood in Christ
85	Malke	King	Refers to royalty or Christ as King
86	Fattah	Opener	One who brings spiritual awakening
87	Rahim	Merciful	Reflects God’s compassion
88	Thoma	Twin	Syriac form of Thomas
89	Malki	My King	Personal devotion to Christ
90	Yohanon	God is Gracious	Another Syriac form of John
91	Shemoun	God Has Heard	Syriac form of Simeon
92	Iskandar	Defender of Men	Eastern form of Alexander
93	Toma	Twin	Variant of Thomas in Aramaic dialects
94	Sargis	Protector	Another form of Sergius
95	Murad	Desire/Purpose	Symbol of divine calling
96	Eliasar	God Has Helped	Related to Eleazar
97	Ninos	Believer	Early Christian missionary in Mesopotamia
98	Emmanuel	God With Us	Messianic name from prophecy
99	Raphael	God Heals	Archangel associated with healing
100	Michael	Who is Like God?	Archangel and protector of the faithful

👧 Girls Names in the Syriac Orthodox Tradition

No.	Name	Meaning	Significance
1	Yohanna	God is Gracious	Biblical name representing divine mercy
2	Ephrem	Fruitful	Named after Saint Ephrem the Syrian, a renowned theologian
3	Abraham	Father of Many	Patriarch symbolizing faith and divine promise
4	Gabriel	God is My Strength	Archangel name representing divine messenger
5	Daniel	God is My Judge	Biblical prophet name signifying wisdom and integrity
6	Isaac	He Will Laugh	Son of Abraham; symbol of divine promise fulfilled
7	Jacob	Supplanter	Patriarch and father of the 12 tribes of Israel
8	Simon	He Has Heard	Apostle and early Christian leader
9	Thomas	Twin	Apostle who brought Christianity to the East
10	Paul	Small or Humble	Apostle and writer of much of the New Testament
11	Matthew	Gift of God	Apostle and author of the Gospel of Matthew
12	Bartholomew	Son of the Furrows	One of the Twelve Apostles
13	Andrew	Manly	Apostle and brother of Peter
14	Peter	Rock	Apostle; considered first patriarch of the Church
15	James	Supplanter	Apostle and early church leader
16	Luke	Light Giving	Evangelist and author of a Gospel
17	Mark	Warlike	Evangelist and author of the Gospel of Mark
18	Elias	My God is Yahweh	Prophet known for miracles and confronting idolatry
19	Jonah	Dove	Prophet known for his story in the belly of the fish
20	Moses	Drawn Out (of water)	Prophet and lawgiver who led Israel from Egypt
21	Aaron	Exalted	Brother of Moses and first high priest
22	Malachi	My Messenger	Prophet and final book of the Old Testament
23	Zechariah	God Remembers	Prophet and father of John the Baptist
24	Jeremiah	Exalted by the Lord	Prophet of lamentation and divine justice
25	Isaiah	God is Salvation	Prophet who foretold the Messiah
26	Samuel	Heard by God	Prophet who anointed kings Saul and David
27	David	Beloved	King of Israel and author of many Psalms
28	Solomon	Peaceful	King known for wisdom and building the Temple
29	Nathaniel	Gift of God	Apostle and man of integrity
30	Joachim	Raised by God	Father of Mary, the mother of Jesus
31	Zacharias	God Remembers	Father of John the Baptist
32	John	God is Gracious	Apostle and beloved disciple of Jesus
33	Stephen	Crown	First Christian martyr
34	Philip	Lover of Horses	Apostle and evangelist
35	Cornelius	Horn	Roman centurion who received the Holy Spirit
36	Timotheos	Honoring God	Companion of Paul and early bishop
37	Titus	Pleasing	Companion of Paul and church leader
38	Silas	Wood, Forest	Companion of Paul in missionary work
39	Ananias	God is Gracious	Disciple who healed Paul
40	Matthias	Gift of God	Chosen to replace Judas Iscariot
41	Lazarus	God Has Helped	Friend of Jesus, raised from the dead
42	Jude	Praised	Apostle and patron of desperate causes
43	Amos	Burden	Prophet of justice
44	Joel	The Lord is God	Prophet and author of the Book of Joel
45	Micah	Who is Like God?	Prophet known for justice and humility
46	Hosea	Salvation	Prophet who preached love and repentance
47	Nahum	Comfort	Prophet of judgment and comfort
48	Habakkuk	Embrace	Prophet who questioned God’s justice
49	Obadiah	Servant of God	Prophet who condemned Edom
50	Ezra	Help	Priest and scribe of the Torah
51	Nehemiah	Comforted by God	Rebuilder of Jerusalem’s walls
52	Elisha	God is Salvation	Prophet and successor to Elijah
53	Reuben	Behold, a Son	Firstborn of Jacob
54	Levi	Joined	Tribe of priests
55	Judah	Praise	Ancestor of Jesus
56	Simeon	God Has Heard	One of the 12 tribes
57	Benjamin	Son of the Right Hand	Youngest son of Jacob
58	Joseph	God Will Increase	Dream interpreter and ruler in Egypt
59	Thaddeus	Heart/Courageous	Apostle and missionary
60	Aho	Brother	Common Syriac name for unity
61	Gorgis	Farmer	Syriac form of George; saint and martyr
62	Severius	Stern/Grave	Saint and theologian in Syriac tradition
63	Isaacios	Laughter	Hellenized form of Isaac
64	Marutha	Lordly	Early church father and bishop
65	Cyriacus	Of the Lord	Name of several Syriac saints
66	Theophilos	Friend of God	Addressed in Luke and Acts
67	Sergius	Servant	Roman convert to Christianity
68	Bacchus	Joyous	Martyr and companion of Sergius
69	Hormizd	Noble	Persian name adopted by Syriac Christians
70	Isaacus	Laughter	Variation of Isaac
71	Romanos	Roman	Hymnographer and saint
72	Basil	Kingly	Church father and theologian
73	Gregory	Watchful	Saint and Doctor of the Church
74	Chrysostom	Golden-Mouthed	Preacher and saint
75	Jacobite	Follower of Jacob	Reflecting Syriac Orthodox identity
76	Dionysius	Devoted to God	Patriarch and theological scholar
77	Moris	Dark-Skinned	Saint venerated in the East
78	Sharbel	God’s Story	Modern saint and hermit
79	Isaacian	Of Isaac	Lineage name honoring Isaac
80	Babai	Father	Renowned monastic leader
81	Mosesis	Of Moses	Denotes spiritual descent from Moses
82	Zakka	Pure	Patriarch Zakka I Iwas
83	Yonan	Dove	Syriac form of Jonah
84	Akhi	My Brother	Emphasizes brotherhood in Christ
85	Malke	King	Refers to royalty or Christ as King
86	Fattah	Opener	One who brings spiritual awakening
87	Rahim	Merciful	Reflects God’s compassion
88	Thoma	Twin	Syriac form of Thomas
89	Malki	My King	Personal devotion to Christ
90	Yohanon	God is Gracious	Another Syriac form of John
91	Shemoun	God Has Heard	Syriac form of Simeon
92	Iskandar	Defender of Men	Eastern form of Alexander
93	Toma	Twin	Variant of Thomas in Aramaic dialects
94	Sargis	Protector	Another form of Sergius
95	Murad	Desire/Purpose	Symbol of divine calling
96	Eliasar	God Has Helped	Related to Eleazar
97	Ninos	Believer	Early Christian missionary in Mesopotamia
98	Emmanuel	God With Us	Messianic name from prophecy
99	Raphael	God Heals	Archangel associated with healing
100	Michael	Who is Like God?	Archangel and protector of the faithful

🔍 Syriac Orthodox Church Baby Names by Category

Biblical Syriac Names

No.	Name	Meaning	Significance
1	Isaiah	Salvation of God	Major prophet; foretold the coming of the Messiah
2	Ruth	Friend	Known for loyalty and becoming ancestor of David
3	Daniel	God is My Judge	Prophet known for integrity and visions
4	Esther	Star	Jewish queen who saved her people
5	Ezekiel	God Strengthens	Prophet known for powerful visions
6	Hannah	Grace	Mother of Samuel; symbol of prayerful devotion
7	Jeremiah	Exalted by the Lord	Prophet of lament and divine justice
8	Sarah	Princess	Wife of Abraham; mother of nations
9	Abraham	Father of Many	Patriarch and father of faith
10	Rebecca	To Tie or Bind	Wife of Isaac; symbol of guidance
11	Leah	Weary	Wife of Jacob and mother to many tribes of Israel
12	Joseph	God Will Add	Dream interpreter and savior in Egypt
13	Maryam	Beloved	Syriac form of Mary, Mother of Jesus
14	John	God is Gracious	Apostle and Gospel writer
15	Martha	Lady	Sister of Lazarus; known for service
16	Lazarus	God Has Helped	Raised from the dead by Jesus
17	Simon	He Has Heard	Apostle and follower of Jesus
18	Magdalene	From Magdala	Devoted follower of Jesus
19	Zechariah	God Remembers	Father of John the Baptist
20	Elisabeth	God is My Oath	Mother of John the Baptist
21	Jacob	Supplanter	Patriarch and father of the 12 tribes
22	Noah	Rest	Builder of the Ark; symbol of salvation
23	Eve	Life	First woman; mother of all living
24	Adam	Man/Earth	First human created by God
25	Jesse	Gift	Father of King David
26	Naomi	Pleasant	Mother-in-law of Ruth; symbol of kindness
27	Micah	Who is Like God?	Prophet who emphasized justice and mercy
28	Joel	The Lord is God	Prophet known for speaking about the Holy Spirit
29	Judith	Woman of Judea	Heroine who saved her people with courage
30	Anna	Grace or Favor	Prophetess who welcomed Jesus at the temple

Aramaic Christian Names

No.	Name	Meaning	Significance
1	Elias	My God is Yahweh	Aramaic form of Elijah; revered prophet
2	Susanna	Lily	Biblical figure known for purity and virtue
3	Thoma	Twin	Aramaic name of Apostle Thomas
4	Marta	Lady	Aramaic form of Martha; known for service
5	Mariam	Beloved	Aramaic form of Mary, Mother of Jesus
6	Yohanon	God is Gracious	Aramaic form of John; Apostle and Gospel writer
7	Shmuel	Heard by God	Aramaic form of Samuel; prophet and judge
8	Raphael	God Heals	Archangel associated with healing
9	Azariah	God Has Helped	Companion of Daniel in the fiery furnace
10	Ananias	God is Gracious	Healed Saul (Paul) after his conversion
11	Cyriacus	Of the Lord	Name of Aramaic-speaking saints and bishops
12	Talitha	Little Girl	Refers to Jesus’ Aramaic words “Talitha koum”
13	Keefa	Rock	Aramaic name for Peter, the Apostle
14	Malki	My King	Denotes Christ the King
15	Barabba	Son of the Father	Notorious prisoner released instead of Jesus
16	Barnaba	Son of Encouragement	Early Christian missionary and companion of Paul
17	Bartholomew	Son of Talmai	Apostle of Jesus
18	Zakkai	Pure	Aramaic form of Zacchaeus, a repentant tax collector
19	Nahro	River	Symbolic name in Aramaic poetry and liturgy
20	Aho	Brother	Emphasizes brotherhood in faith
21	Razi	Secret	Name implying mystery or divine knowledge
22	Malke	King	Common in Aramaic liturgical context for Christ
23	Shemoun	He Has Heard	Aramaic form of Simeon
24	Yonan	Dove	Aramaic form of Jonah
25	Immanuel	God With Us	Name from prophecy, rooted in Aramaic
26	Tabitha	Gazelle	Woman restored to life by Peter
27	Ramez	Symbol/Hint	Reflects mystery of divine truth
28	Gawriyel	God is My Strength	Aramaic pronunciation of Gabriel
29	Shamouni	Heard	Female saint; mother of the Maccabean martyrs
30	Akhi	My Brother	Endearing Aramaic name for fraternity in Christ

Eastern Orthodox Names

No.	Name	Meaning	Significance
1	Constantine	Constant, Steadfast	Emperor who legalized Christianity; first Christian Roman emperor
2	Helena	Bright, Shining Light	Mother of Constantine; discoverer of the True Cross
3	Basil	Kingly	Basil the Great, one of the Cappadocian Fathers
4	Gregory	Watchful, Vigilant	Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory the Theologian
5	Nicholas	Victory of the People	Beloved saint; known for generosity and miracles
6	Theodora	Gift of God	Empress and protector of Orthodoxy
7	Photios	Light	Great Patriarch and scholar of Constantinople
8	Irene	Peace	Empress and saint; symbol of divine peace
9	Demetrios	Belonging to Demeter	Martyr and military saint
10	Catherine	Pure	Martyr of Alexandria, patron of wisdom
11	Sergius	Servant	Saint and martyr of the Roman army
12	Barbara	Foreign, Stranger	Great martyr who stood for faith under persecution
13	Alexei	Defender of Mankind	Russian saint and miracle worker
14	Olga	Holy	First Christian ruler of Kievan Rus
15	Vladimir	Ruler of Peace	Baptized Kievan Rus and spread Christianity
16	Anastasia	Resurrection	Martyr and patron of healing and deliverance
17	Cosmas	Order, Harmony	Physician saint; venerated with his twin Damian
18	Damian	To Tame, Subdue	Brother of Cosmas; both are unmercenary healers
19	Eudokia	Good Will	Martyr turned ascetic; symbol of repentance
20	Symeon	God Has Heard	Stylite saint who lived atop a pillar in devotion
21	Ephraim	Fruitful	Syrian father and hymnographer
22	Makarios	Blessed	Desert Father and ascetic teacher
23	Nektarios	Of Nectar	Modern saint known for miracles and humility
24	Xenia	Hospitality/Stranger	Fool-for-Christ known for charity
25	Theophan	Revelation of God	Ascetic and spiritual writer
26	Kyriaki	Of the Lord (Sunday)	Virgin martyr of the early Church
27	Theodosios	Given by God	Founder of monastic communities in Palestine
28	Paraskevi	Preparation (Friday)	Martyr and healer; associated with Friday observance
29	Andrew	Manly, Brave	First-called apostle, patron of many Orthodox nations
30	Fevronia	Wise, Discerning	Virgin martyr known for courage and purity

🌟 Why Syriac Orthodox Church Baby Names Matter

Syriac Orthodox Church baby names are more than just words – they are a spiritual inheritance. They connect children to a rich theological tradition, biblical narratives, and a profound sense of cultural identity. When parents choose these names, they are essentially blessing their child with a legacy of faith, wisdom, and spiritual depth.

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Syriac Orthodox Church baby names unique? Syriac Orthodox names blend biblical heritage, linguistic richness, and spiritual significance.
Can non-Syriac Orthodox families use these names? Absolutely! These names carry universal spiritual meanings that transcend denominational boundaries.
How old is the Syriac Orthodox naming tradition? The tradition dates back to the earliest Christian communities, spanning nearly two millennia.
Do Syriac Orthodox names have specific pronunciation rules? Many names have Aramaic roots and specific pronunciations that honor their linguistic origin.
Are these names only used in the Middle East? No, Syriac Orthodox communities are global, with diaspora populations worldwide preserving these naming traditions.

🌈 Conclusion

Syriac Orthodox Church baby names represent a beautiful intersection of faith, culture, and spiritual legacy. Each name is a testament to a rich religious tradition that has preserved its essence through centuries of challenge and change.