"motion, wandering"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
Noah
Pronunciation: [ n-OH-uh ]
Does Noah flow with your last name?
Ancient name of rest, honored across every faith
Hebrew
English
Christian
Biblical
Gentle
Classic
Spiritual
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"rest, comfort"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"wandering"
Origin: Alternative Hebrew interpretation
Language: Hebrew
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The Story of Noah
Noah comes from the Hebrew Noach, derived from the root 'nuach' meaning to rest or comfort. In the Hebrew Bible, Noah is the righteous patriarch chosen by God to build an ark and preserve life through the great flood — one of the most universally recognized stories across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The name carries millennia of narrative weight in just two quiet syllables.
Noah rose to #1 in the US in 2013 and held the position for four consecutive years. Its simplicity, strong biblical heritage, and gentle sound aligned perfectly with the trend toward short, meaningful classic names for boys.
Noah is revered across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (as Nuh). In Islamic tradition he is one of the five major prophets. The name's universal recognition across Abrahamic faiths gives it rare cross-cultural and cross-religious prestige.
Historical Record
Noah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 499,675 babies have been named Noah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Noah is a steady classic , currently ranked #2 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Noah was the #1 boy's name in the US from 2013 to 2016
- The name appears in the Torah, Bible, and Quran across all three Abrahamic faiths
- Noah (2014), starring Russell Crowe, brought the biblical story to a new generation
Noah in Other Languages
Arabic
Nuh
French
Noe
Hebrew
Noach
Italian
Noe
Spanish
Noe
Popularity Over Time
#2
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Steady Classic
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Noah
N
Noah Kahan
Musician
1997
American folk-pop singer-songwriter known for Stick Season
N
Noah Centineo
Actor
1996
American actor known for To All the Boys I've Loved Before
N
Noah Wyle
Actor
1971
American actor known for ER and The Librarians
N
Noah Baumbach
Other
1969
American filmmaker known for Marriage Story and The Squid and the Whale
N
Noah Webster
Writer
1758
American lexicographer who created the first major American dictionary
N
Noah (Biblical)
Religious
Hebrew patriarch chosen by God to build the ark in the Book of Genesis
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2
- Total SSA Count
- 20,337
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English Christian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Hebrew heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Noah
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Noah is also used as a girl name, ranked #560.
View Noah as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Noah →Compare Noah with...
Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
See all Hebrew names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Noah
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Frequently Asked Questions About Noah
What does the name Noah mean?
"motion, wandering" (from Hebrew). "rest, comfort" (from Hebrew). "wandering" (from Alternative Hebrew interpretation). Noah comes from the Hebrew Noach, derived from the root 'nuach' meaning to rest or comfort. In the Hebrew Bible, Noah is the righteous patriarch chosen by God to build an ark and preserve life through the great flood — one of the most universally recognized stories across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The name carries millennia of narrative weight in just two quiet syllables.
What is the origin of the name Noah?
Noah has Hebrew, Alternative Hebrew interpretation, English, and Christian origins. In Hebrew, it means "motion, wandering". In Hebrew, it means "rest, comfort". In Alternative Hebrew interpretation, it means "wandering".
Is Noah a boy or girl name?
Noah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #2. As a girl name, it is ranked #560. Noah is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Noah?
Noah is pronounced n-OH-uh.
How popular is the name Noah?
Noah is currently ranked #2 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Noah?
Popular middle name pairings include Noah James, Noah Alexander, Noah William, Noah Thomas, Noah Oliver, Noah Henry, and Noah Benjamin.
What are good sibling names for Noah?
Names that pair well with Noah as siblings include Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Liam, Elijah, Ava, and Charlotte.
How many syllables does Noah have?
Noah has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Noah a common or rare name?
Noah is a very popular name, ranked #2 among boy names in the United States.
What boy names are similar to Noah?
About the Name Noah
Noah is a boy name with Hebrew, English, and Christian origins . The name means "motion, wandering" in Hebrew .
Is Noah a boy or girl name? Noah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #2 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #560. Noah is more commonly used as a boy name.
Noah is currently ranked #2 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Noah has 2 syllables and is pronounced n-OH-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Noah include Noa, Noam . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis