Hello! Here’s our list of biblical names that begin with the letter ‘R’, including people and places. Visit our A-Z directory hub for more.
Disclaimer: The list contains the most commonly accepted meanings of names. However, scholars are still debating over some of them. New findings could change our understanding.
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1.) Raamah
Original (Hebrew): רַעְמָה (Raʿmā)
Meaning: Possibly “thunder” or “trembling”
First Appearance: Genesis 10:7
Description: A son of Cush, and the ancestor of a people likely located in Arabia.
2.) Raamiah
Original (Hebrew): רַעַמְיָה (Raʿamyā)
Meaning: “Yahweh has thundered” or “thunder of Yahweh”
First Appearance: Nehemiah 7:7
Description: One of the leaders who returned from exile with Zerubbabel.
3.) Rabbah
Original (Hebrew): רַבָּה (Rabbā)
Meaning: “Great” or “populous”
First Appearance: Deuteronomy 3:11
Description: The capital city of the Ammonites, east of the Jordan River. Also the name of a town in the hill country of Judah.
4.) Rabbath
Original (Hebrew): רַבָּה
Meaning: “Great City”
First Appearance: Deuteronomy 3:11
Description: Usually used with “of the Ammonites” to refer to their capital city; KJV form of Rabbah.
5.) Rabbi
Original (Hebrew): רַבִּי (Rabbî)
Meaning: “My master” or “my teacher”
First Appearance: Matthew 23:7
Description: A title of respect used for Jewish teachers and religious leaders.
6.) Rabboni
Original (Hebrew): רַבּוֹנִי
Meaning: “My great master”
First Appearance: Mark 10:51
Description: An intensified form of ‘Rabbi’.
7.) Rabbith
Original (Hebrew): הָרַבִּית (hā-Rabbiṯ)
Meaning: Possibly “multitude” or “great”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:20
Description: A town in the territory of Issachar.
8.) Rabmag
Original (Hebrew): רַב־מָג (Raḇ-Māḡ)
Meaning: Possibly “chief magician” or a Babylonian title of uncertain meaning
First Appearance: Jeremiah 39:3
Description: A title of Nergal-sharezer, a Babylonian official during the fall of Jerusalem.
9.) Rabsaris
Original (Hebrew): רַב־סָרִיס (Raḇ-Sārîs)
Meaning: “Chief eunuch” or “chief officer” (an Assyrian title)
First Appearance: 2 Kings 18:17
Description: An Assyrian official sent by Sennacherib to Jerusalem.
10.) Rabshakeh
Original (Hebrew): רַבְשָׁקֵה (Raḇšāqē)
Meaning: “Chief cupbearer” or “chief officer” (an Assyrian title)
First Appearance: 2 Kings 18:17
Description: An Assyrian official sent by Sennacherib to deliver a message to King Hezekiah, demanding Jerusalem’s surrender.
11.) Raca
Original (Greek): Ῥακά
Meaning: “Empty headed”, “worthless”
First Appearance: Matthew 5:22
Description: Term of abuse referred to by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
12.) Rachel
Original (Hebrew): רָחֵל (Rāḥēl)
Meaning: “Ewe” or “female sheep”
First Appearance: Genesis 29:6
Description: One of the two wives of Jacob, and the younger sister of Leah. Jacob loved Rachel deeply, but was tricked into marrying Leah first. Rachel was initially barren, but eventually gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin. She died giving birth to Benjamin and is buried near Bethlehem. She is considered one of the matriarchs of Israel.
13.) Raddai
Original (Hebrew): רַדַּי (Radday)
Meaning: Possibly “Yahweh subdues” or “subduing”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 2:14
Description: One of David’s brothers.
14.) Ragau
Original (Greek): Ῥαγαῦ
Meaning: “Friend”
First Appearance: Luke 3:35
Description: An ancestor of Jesus in the genealogy of Luke, also called Reu.
15.) Raguel
Original (Greek): Ῥαγουήλ
Meaning: “Friend of God”
First Appearance: Numbers 10:29 KJV
Description: Another name for Reuel or Jethro, alternate KJV translation.
16.) Rahab
Original (Hebrew): רָחָב (Rāḥāḇ)
Meaning: “Wide” or “spacious”
First Appearance: Joshua 2:1
Description: A prostitute in Jericho who hid the Israelite spies and helped them escape. She and her family were spared when Jericho was destroyed. She is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Also, a symbolic name for Egypt.
17.) Raham
Original (Hebrew): רַ֫חַם (Raḥam)
Meaning: “Compassion” or “mercy”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 2:44
Description: A descendant of Judah, through the family of Caleb.
18.) Rakem
Original (Hebrew): רָ֫קֶם
Meaning: “Variegation”, “embroidery”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 7:16
Description: KJV form of Rekem, a descendant of Manasseh.
19.) Rakkath
Original (Hebrew): רַקַּת (Raqqaṯ)
Meaning: Possibly “shore” or “temple (of the head)”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:35
Description: A fortified city in the territory of Naphtali.
20.) Rakkon
Original (Hebrew): הָרַקּוֹן (hā-Raqqôn)
Meaning: Possibly “thinness” or “shore”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:46
Description: A town in the territory of Dan.
21.) Ram
Original (Hebrew): רָם (Rām)
Meaning: “High” or “exalted”
First Appearance: Ruth 4:19
Description: An ancestor of David and Jesus. Also, the eldest son of Jerahmeel, and the head of a family in the clan of Elihu.
22.) Ramah
Original (Hebrew): רָמָה (Rāmā)
Meaning: “Height” or “high place”
First Appearance: Joshua 18:25
Description: The name of several towns in Israel, including a town in Benjamin, the hometown of Samuel the prophet, a town on the border of Asher, a fortified city in Naphtali, and a town in the territory of Simeon (also called Ramoth-negev).
23.) Ramath
Original (Hebrew): רָמָה
Meaning: “Height”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:8
Description: A town in the territory of Simeon, also known as Ramah.
24.) Ramathaim-zophim
Original (Hebrew): רָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים
Meaning: “The two heights of the Zophites”
First Appearance: 1 Samuel 1:1
Description: The hometown of Elkanah, Samuel’s father.
25.) Ramath-lehi
Original (Hebrew): רָמַת לֶחִי
Meaning: “Height of the jawbone”
First Appearance: Judges 15:17
Description: The name given by Samson to the place where he killed a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone.
26.) Ramath-mizpeh
Original (Hebrew): רָמַת הַמִּצְפֶּה
Meaning: “Height of the watchtower”
First Appearance: Joshua 13:26
Description: A location in the territory of Gad.
27.) Ramath-negev
Original (Hebrew): —
Meaning: “Height of the Negev”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:8
Description: Alternate name for Ramah.
28.) Ramesses
Original (Hebrew): רַעְמְסֵס (Raʿməses)
Meaning: “Ra (the sun god) bore him” (Egyptian name)
First Appearance: Genesis 47:11
Description: A region or city in Egypt, where the Israelites settled during the time of Joseph. Also spelled Rameses.
29.) Rameses
Original (Hebrew): רַעְמְסֵס
Meaning: “Ra (the sun god) bore him” (Egyptian name)
First Appearance: Exodus 1:11
Description: One of the two store cities built by the Israelites for Pharaoh in Egypt. Also spelled Ramesses.
30.) Ramiah
Original (Hebrew): רַמְיָה (Ramyā)
Meaning: Possibly “Yahweh is exalted” or “Yahweh has loosened”
First Appearance: Ezra 10:25
Description: An Israelite who had taken a foreign wife during Ezra’s time.
31.) Ramoth
Original (Hebrew): רָאמוֹת (Rāʾmôṯ)
Meaning: “Heights”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:21
Description: A town in the territory of Issachar, also a Levitical city. Also, shortened form of Ramoth-gilead, and another name for Ramah in Simeon.
32.) Ramoth-gilead
Original (Hebrew): רָמֹת גִּלְעָד (Rāmōṯ Gilʿāḏ)
Meaning: “Heights of Gilead”
First Appearance: Deuteronomy 4:43
Description: A major city east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead. It was a city of refuge and a Levitical city. It was often fought over by Israel and Syria.
33.) Rapha
Original (Hebrew): רָפָא (Rāp̄āʾ)
Meaning: “Healer” or possibly “giant”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 8:2
Description: A descendant of Benjamin. Also, another name for a giant and ancestor of the Rephaites. Also spelled Raphah.
34.) Raphael
Original (Hebrew): רְפָאֵל
Meaning: “God Heals”
First Appearance: Tobit 3:17 (Apocrypha)
Description: An archangel.
35.) Raphah
Original (Hebrew): רָפָה (Rāp̄ā)
Meaning: “Healer” or possibly “giant”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 8:37
Description: A descendant of Benjamin, also spelled Rapha.
36.) Raphu
Original (Hebrew): רָפוּא (Rāp̄ûʾ)
Meaning: “Healed”
First Appearance: Numbers 13:9
Description: The father of Palti, the spy from the tribe of Benjamin.
37.) Reaiah
Original (Hebrew): רְאָיָה
Meaning: “Yahweh has seen”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 4:2
Description: A descendant of Judah. Also, the head of a family of temple servants who returned from exile in Babylon.
38.) Reba
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫בַע (Réḇaʿ)
Meaning: Possibly “fourth” or “a fourth part”
First Appearance: Numbers 31:8
Description: One of the five kings of Midian defeated by the Israelites.
39.) Rebekah
Original (Hebrew): רִבְקָה (Riḇqā)
Meaning: Possibly “to tie” or “to bind,” or “captivating”
First Appearance: Genesis 22:23
Description: The wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She played a key role in helping Jacob obtain the blessing that was intended for Esau. She is often considered one of the matriarchs of Israel.
40.) Rechab
Original (Hebrew): רֵכָב
Meaning: “Rider” or “charioteer”
First Appearance: 2 Samuel 4:2
Description: The father of Baanah and Rechab, who assassinated Ish-Bosheth. Also, the name of an ancestor of a Rechabite.
41.) Rechabites
Original (Hebrew): רֵכָבִים
Meaning: “Descendants of Rechab” or “riders”
First Appearance: 2 Kings 10:15
Description: A nomadic group descended from Rechab, known for their strict adherence to a simple lifestyle, including abstaining from wine and living in tents.
42.) Reelaiah
Original (Hebrew): רֵ֣עְלָיָ֔ה
Meaning: “Trembling of Yah”
First Appearance: Ezra 2:2
Description: One of the men that returned with Zerubbabel after exile.
43.) Regem
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫גֶם (Réḡem)
Meaning: “Stone heap” or possibly “friend”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 2:47
Description: A descendant of Judah through Caleb.
44.) Regem-melech
Original (Hebrew): רֶגֶם־מֶ֫לֶךְ (Reḡem-Méleḵ)
Meaning: Possibly “stone heap of the king” or “friend of the king”
First Appearance: Zechariah 7:2
Description: A man who, along with his companions, was sent to inquire of the priests and prophets about fasting.
45.) Rehabiah
Original (Hebrew): רְחַבְיָה (Rəḥaḇyā)
Meaning: “Yahweh has enlarged” or “Yahweh is broad”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 23:17
Description: A Levite, a descendant of Moses.
46.) Rehob
Original (Hebrew): רְחוֹב (Rəḥōḇ)
Meaning: “Broad place” or “street”
First Appearance: Numbers 13:21
Description: A place in northern Canaan, near the entrance to Hamath. Also, the name of two Levitical cities, and a Levite who sealed the covenant in Nehemiah’s time.
47.) Rehoboam
Original (Hebrew): רְחַבְעָם
Meaning: “The people are enlarged” or “he enlarges the people”
First Appearance: 1 Kings 11:43
Description: The son of Solomon and the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah after the kingdom split. His harsh policies led to the division of the kingdom.
48.) Rehoboth
Original (Hebrew): רְחֹבוֹת (Rəḥōḇōṯ)
Meaning: “Broad places” or “streets”
First Appearance: Genesis 10:11
Description: The name of a city in Assyria. Also, the name of a well dug by Isaac, and a place on the border of Edom.
49.) Rehum
Original (Hebrew): רְחוּם (Rəḥûm)
Meaning: “Compassionate” or “merciful”
First Appearance: Ezra 2:2
Description: One of the leaders who returned from exile with Zerubbabel. Also, a Levite who helped repair the wall of Jerusalem, a priest who sealed the covenant in Nehemiah’s time, and another name for Nehum.
50.) Rei
Original (Hebrew): רֵעִי (Rēʿî)
Meaning: “Friendly” or “my friend”
First Appearance: 1 Kings 1:8
Description: One of David’s supporters who did not join Adonijah’s rebellion.
51.) Rekem
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫קֶם (Réqem)
Meaning: “Variegated” or “friendship”
First Appearance: Numbers 31:8
Description: One of the five kings of Midian defeated by the Israelites. Also, a town in the territory of Benjamin, and a descendant of Judah.
52.) Remaliah
Original (Hebrew): רְמַלְיָ֫הוּ
Meaning: “Yahweh has adorned”
First Appearance: 2 Kings 15:25
Description: The father of Pekah, king of Israel.
53.) Remeth
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫מֶת (Rémeṯ)
Meaning: “Height”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:21
Description: A town in the territory of Issachar, also called Ramoth and Jarmuth.
54.) Remmon
Original (Hebrew): רִמּוֹן
Meaning: “Pomegranate”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:13
Description: A town in the territory of Zebulun, also called Rimmon-methoar.
55.) Remmon-methoar
Original (Hebrew): הָרִמּוֹן הַמְּתֹאָר
Meaning: “Rimmon that is marked out”
First Appearance: Joshua 19:13
Description: A more complete name for Remmon/Rimmon, a town in Zebulun.
56.) Rephael
Original (Hebrew): רְפָאֵל (Rəp̄āʾēl)
Meaning: “God has healed”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 26:7
Description: A Levite, a gatekeeper in the time of David.
57.) Rephah
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫פַח (Rép̄aḥ)
Meaning: “Healing” or “riches”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 7:25
Description: A descendant of Ephraim.
58.) Rephaiah
Original (Hebrew): רְפָיָה (Rəp̄āyā)
Meaning: “Yahweh has healed”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 3:21
Description: A descendant of David. Also, a Simeonite, a leader of the tribe of Issachar, a Benjamite, and a man who helped repair the wall of Jerusalem.
59.) Rephaim
Original (Hebrew): רְפָאִים (Rəp̄āʾîm)
Meaning: “Giants” or possibly “shades” (spirits of the dead)
First Appearance: Genesis 14:5
Description: A group of people of large stature who lived in Canaan in ancient times. The term is sometimes used more generally for giants. Also, the name of a valley near Jerusalem.
60.) Rephaites
Original (Hebrew): רְפָאִים
Meaning: “Giants”
First Appearance: Genesis 15:20
Description: Descendants of Rephaim, used to generally describe giant people.1
61.) Rephidim
Original (Hebrew): רְפִידִם (Rəp̄îḏîm)
Meaning: Possibly “rests” or “supports”
First Appearance: Exodus 17:1
Description: A place in the wilderness where the Israelites encamped and where Moses struck a rock to provide water. They also fought and defeated the Amalekites there.
62.) Resen
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫סֶן (Résen)
Meaning: Possibly “bridle”
First Appearance: Genesis 10:12
Description: A city in Assyria, built by Nimrod, located between Nineveh and Calah.
63.) Reu
Original (Hebrew): רְעוּ (Rəʿû)
Meaning: “Friend” or “companion”
First Appearance: Genesis 11:18
Description: A descendant of Shem, through Eber.
64.) Reuben
Original (Hebrew): רְאוּבֵן (Rəʾûḇēn)
Meaning: “See, a son!”
First Appearance: Genesis 29:32
Description: The firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. He was the ancestor of the tribe of Reuben, which settled east of the Jordan River. He lost his birthright privileges because he slept with his father’s concubine.
65.) Reubenites
Original (Hebrew): רְאוּבֵנִי (Rəʾûḇēnî)
Meaning: “Descendants of Reuben”
First Appearance: Numbers 26:7
Description: The members of the tribe of Reuben, descended from Reuben, the son of Jacob.
66.) Reuel
Original (Hebrew): רְעוּאֵל (Rəʿûʾēl)
Meaning: “Friend of God”
First Appearance: Genesis 36:4
Description: A son of Esau. Also, another name for Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, and the father of a Gadite.
67.) Reumah
Original (Hebrew): רְאוּמָה (Rəʾûmā)
Meaning: Possibly “elevated” or “high”
First Appearance: Genesis 22:24
Description: The concubine of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
68.) Rezeph
Original (Hebrew): רֶ֫צֶף
Meaning: “Pavement” or “hot stone”
First Appearance: 2 Kings 19:12
Description: A place conquered by the Assyrians.
69.) Rezin
Original (Hebrew): רְצִין (Rəṣîn)
Meaning: Possibly “firm” or “stable”
First Appearance: 2 Kings 15:37
Description: The last king of Aram (Syria), who formed an alliance with Pekah, king of Israel, against Judah. He was defeated and killed by Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria.
70.) Rezon
Original (Hebrew): רְזוֹן (Rəzôn)
Meaning: “Prince” or “noble”
First Appearance: 1 Kings 11:23
Description: A Syrian ruler who established a kingdom in Damascus and became an adversary of Solomon.
71.) Rhesa
Original (Greek): Ῥησά
Meaning: Possibly a shortened form of a Hebrew name.
First Appearance: Luke 3:27
Description: An ancestor of Jesus in Luke’s genealogy.
72.) Rhegium
Original (Greek): Ῥήγιον
Meaning: “Breach” or “rupture”
First Appearance: Acts 28:13
Description: A city in southern Italy where Paul’s ship stopped on the way to Rome.
73.) Rhoda
Original (Greek): Ῥόδη (Rhodē)
Meaning: “Rose”
First Appearance: Acts 12:13
Description: A servant girl in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. She was so overjoyed when Peter knocked at the door after being miraculously released from prison that she forgot to open the door.
74.) Rhodes
Original (Greek): Ῥόδος (Rhodos)
Meaning: Possibly “rose” or derived from a pre-Greek word.
First Appearance: Acts 21:1
Description: An island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul stopped there on his journey to Jerusalem.
75.) Ribai
Original (Hebrew): רִיבַי
Meaning: Possibly, “Yahweh contends”
First Appearance: 2 Samuel 23:29
Description: Father of Ittai, one of David’s warriors.
76.) Riblah
Original (Hebrew): רִבְלָה (Riḇlā)
Meaning: Possibly “fertility” or “fruitfulness”
First Appearance: Numbers 34:11
Description: A town on the eastern boundary of the Promised Land. Also, a town in Syria where Nebuchadnezzar set up his headquarters during his campaign against Judah.
77.) Rimmon
Original (Hebrew): רִמּוֹן (Rimmôn)
Meaning: “Pomegranate”
First Appearance: Joshua 15:32
Description: A town in the southern part of Judah, later allotted to Simeon. Also, the name of a rock where the surviving Benjamites took refuge, a place mentioned in Zechariah, and the name of a Benjamite, the father of Baanah and Rechab.
78.) Rimmon-perez
Original (Hebrew): רִמֹּן פָּרֶץ
Meaning: “Pomegranate of the breach”
First Appearance: Numbers 33:19
Description: One of the locations at which the Israelites camped.
79.) Rinnah
Original (Hebrew): רִנָּה
Meaning: “Shout of joy” or “ringing cry”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 4:20
Description: A descendant of Judah.
80.) Riphath
Original (Hebrew): רִיפַת (Rîp̄aṯ)
Meaning: Possibly “healing” or “spoken”
First Appearance: Genesis 10:3
Description: A son of Gomer, and a grandson of Japheth. Also spelled Diphath.
81.) Rissah
Original (Hebrew): רִסָּה (Rissā)
Meaning: Possibly “dew” or “ruin”
First Appearance: Numbers 33:21
Description: An encampment of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.
82.) Rithmah
Original (Hebrew): רִתְמָה (Riṯmā)
Meaning: “Broom plant” or “juniper”
First Appearance: Numbers 33:18
Description: An encampment of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.
83.) Rizpah
Original (Hebrew): רִצְפָּה (Riṣpā)
Meaning: “Hot stone” or “pavement”
First Appearance: 2 Samuel 3:7
Description: A concubine of Saul, whose sons were killed by the Gibeonites.
84.) Rogel
Original (Hebrew): רֹגֵל (Rōḡēl)
Meaning: “Fuller”
First Appearance: Joshua 15:7
Description: The fuller’s spring near Jerusalem, also called En-rogel.
85.) Rogelim
Original (Hebrew): רֹגְלִים
Meaning: “Fullers”
First Appearance: 2 Samuel 17:27
Description: A place in Gilead.
86.) Rohgah
Original (Hebrew): רוֹהֲגָה
Meaning: Possibly “outcry”
First Appearance: 1 Chronicles 7:34
Description: An Asherite, son of Shomer.
87.) Rome
Original (Greek): Ῥώμη (Rhōmē)
Meaning: “Strength” (Greek name for the city)
First Appearance: Acts 18:2
Description: The capital city of the Roman Empire. Paul was imprisoned there and eventually executed. It became a major center of early Christianity.
88.) Romans
Original (Greek): Ῥωμαῖοι
Meaning: “Citizens of Rome”
First Appearance: John 11:48
Description: The people and ruling class of Rome.
89.) Rosh
Original (Hebrew): רֹאשׁ (Rōʾš)
Meaning: “Head” or “chief”
First Appearance: Genesis 46:21
Description: A son or descendant of Benjamin. Also, a name mentioned in Ezekiel 38:2-3, possibly referring to a people or region north of Mesopotamia.
90.) Ruhamah
Original (Hebrew): רֻחָמָה
Meaning: “Having obtained mercy”
First Appearance: Hosea 2:1
Description: Symbolic name given to the daughter of Hosea after God showed mercy to the Israelites.
91.) Rufus
Original (Greek): Ῥοῦφος (Rhouphos)
Meaning: “Red” (a Roman name)
First Appearance: Mark 15:21
Description: The son of Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross. Also, a Christian in Rome greeted by Paul in Romans 16.
92.) Rumah
Original (Hebrew): רוּמָה (Rûmā)
Meaning: “Height” or “exalted”
First Appearance: 2 Kings 23:36
Description: The home of Pedaiah, the father of Zebudah, who was the mother of King Jehoiakim.
93.) Ruth
Original (Hebrew): רוּת (Rûṯ)
Meaning: Possibly “friendship” or “companion”
First Appearance: Ruth 1:4 (Book Title)
Description: A Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. After the death of her husband, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and return to Bethlehem. She married Boaz and became an ancestor of David and of Jesus. The book of Ruth tells her story.