Noah Name Meaning
Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Noah.
Fact checked by Karen Cilli
Noah is believed to come from the Hebrew name Noach, meaning "rest." It is also the name of a prominent biblical figure.
In the Old Testament's book of Genesis, Noah was chosen by God as the only righteous man of his time. He was told to gather animals "two by two" from every species and build the Ark, which allowed him, his family, and the animals to survive the Great Flood meant to punish the world. After the flood, he received the sign of the rainbow as a covenant from God that the entire Earth would never again be destroyed by a flood.
Origin: Noah comes from the Hebrew Noach, which means "rest" or "repose." It also comes from the Babylonian word nukhu, which means repose or rest. It is a biblical name from the Old Testament as well.
Gender: In the US, Noah has traditionally been used as a boy's name. However, there is a feminine version of the name, Noa, which is also a biblical name (one of the Five Daughters of Zelophehad). It is a very popular name in Israel, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
Pronunciation: No-ah
Editor's Note
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Noah?
Noah is an old name that has become extremely popular again. It began gaining popularity in the 1980s, reaching the top 100 baby names in 1995 and the top 15 in 2006.
It was the No. 1 boy's baby name in the United States from 2013 to 2016, peaking in 2016 when 19,171 babies were named Noah—more than at any other time over the last 100 years. It dropped to second most popular in 2017 and has remained the second most popular name since.
Related: How to Choose a Name for Your Baby
Name Variations
As it is a biblical name, Noah has an equivalent in multiple languages, including:
Noa (Croatian, French)
Noé (French, Portuguese, Spanish)
Nuh (Arabic/Turkish)
Noach (Hebrew, Dutch)
Nooa (Finnish)
Noak (Swedish)
Nojus (Lithuanian)
Other variations include:
Knoa (Hebrew)
Nowa (Arabic)
Nowah (Chinese)
Nohwa (Australian)
Noha (Arabic)
Nawai (Hawaiian)
Nowey (German)
Noeh (Hebrew)
Related: The Top Baby Names Around the World
Similar Names
Other boy names from the Old Testament and Bible include:
Aaron
Abraham
Adam
Caleb
Daniel
David
Elijah
Ezra
Issac
Isaiah
Joshua
Samuel
Other boy names starting with "N" include:
Nash
Nathan
Neil
Niam
Nicholas
Niles
Nolan
Norman
Suggested Sibling Names
Aiden
Charlie
Emma
Emily
Ethan
Evelyn
Gabriel
Hannah
Hope
Jacob
John
Leo
Max
Mary
Micah
Olivia
Rachel
Ruth
Sarah
Zachary
Famous People Named Noah
One of the most famous American Noahs was Noah Webster, an American lexicographer born in 1758 who created the American Spelling Book in 1783 and America's first dictionary, the American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828.
The name Noah is also associated with a number of actors, including Noah Wylie, Noah Centineo, Noah Taylor, and Noah Emmerich.
Famous Noahs
Noah Webster, American lexicographer
Noah Wylie, American actor, best known for his role as Dr. John Carter on E.R.
Noah Centineo, American actor, best known for his role in the Netflix movie To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Noah Emmerich, American actor, best known for his role in the FX series The Americans
Noah Taylor, British-Australian actor best known for his role as Locke in the HBO series Game of Thrones
Noah Schnapp, American actor best known for his role as Will Byers in the Netflix series Stranger Things
Noah Jackson, retired American football player who played for 10 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Noah Syndergaard, American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets
Noah Ringer, American actor and martial arts practitioner known for his role in The Last Airbender
Noah Hoffman, American Olympic cross country skier who competed in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics
Noah Cyrus, American singer, actress, and daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus
Famous fictional Noahs
Noah Solloway, Fictional character in the Showtime series The Affair
Noah Bennet, Fictional character in the NBC series Heroes
Noah Joad, Fictional character in John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath
Noah Calhoun, Fictional main character in the novel, The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks
Related: 130 Baby Names Inspired by Fictional Characters
Famous Noas
Noa James, American rapper based in California
Noa Lindberg, American actress, producer, and author
Noa Netanyahu, daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Noa Tishby, Israeli actress, writer and model
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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Read the original article on Parents.
