"Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Noah Meaning in the Bible
Noah
boy
Noah means “rest” in Hebrew, while Genesis connects his name with a father’s hope for comfort from cursed ground. He found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Is Noah in the Bible?
Yes — Noah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 6:9.
Pronunciation:/NO-uh/
What does Noah mean?
Noah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Rest; Comfort". Noah means "rest" or "comfort" in Hebrew. His father Lamech named him with the hope that Noah would bring comfort from the toil and cursed ground that followed the Fall.
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Editor’s reflection
'Rest' or 'comfort' — named by a father who was tired of cursed ground.
Noah (נֹחַ, Noach) relates to nuach, 'to rest, to settle.' Genesis 5:29 supplies its own folk etymology through Lamech: 'This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.' The wordplay is on nacham, 'comfort,' rather than a strict derivation — the text is telling us what the name meant to the family, not parsing it linguistically.
The girls' name Noa (Hebrew נֹעָה) is a different word entirely, belonging to one of the five daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27 who successfully petitioned Moses for inheritance rights. The two names look near-identical in English and share nothing but transliteration.
Genesis 6:8 is the hinge of the whole account: 'But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.' It is the first appearance of the word grace in the Bible, and it precedes any mention of his righteousness — the order matters to how the flood narrative is read. The covenant afterwards is the widest in Scripture, made not only with Noah but with 'every living creature of all flesh' (Genesis 9:15).
Noah topped the US boys' chart from 2013 to 2016 and has stayed in the top five since — a run few biblical names achieve. The rest-meaning, the single-syllable weight and the rainbow imagery all contribute, but the practical driver is that it fits every accent and needs no nickname.
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
Why parents choose Noah today
- •First man in Scripture said to find grace in God's eyes
- •Meaning 'rest' — one of the calmest of the patriarch names
- •Universally recognised story, suitable from nursery to pulpit
- •US number one from 2013–2016 and still top five
What does Noah mean in the Bible?
Noah means "Rest; Comfort" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Noah means "rest" or "comfort" in Hebrew. His father Lamech named him with the hope that Noah would bring comfort from the toil and cursed ground that followed the Fall. Noah became the vessel through whom God preserved humanity and the animal kingdom during the great Flood.
Noah is described as "a just man and perfect in his generations" who "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). In an age of widespread wickedness, Noah's righteousness set him apart. God chose him to build the ark — a massive vessel that seemed absurd to the world but proved to be the means of salvation.
The rainbow covenant that God made with Noah after the Flood remains a universal symbol of divine promise and mercy. Noah's story teaches that obedience to God, even when it seems foolish to the world, leads to preservation and blessing.
Where does Noah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Noah is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 6:9. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Noah?
Noah has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Noach
Who was Noah in the Bible?
Noah is most closely associated with the Bible character of the same name. Their story is the reason the name carries the weight it does.
Read About Noah in the BibleWhich books of the Bible mention Noah?
Noah is mentioned across 7 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Noah?
Noah's name speaks of the rest and comfort found in obedience to God. In a restless world, his life reminds us that walking faithfully with God is the path to true peace.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Noah:
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What names are related to Noah?
Names like Noah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Rest; Comfort" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Noah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Noah
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Noah name meaning: frequently asked questions
No. Noah (נֹחַ) is the masculine name of the ark-builder, connected to 'rest.' Noa (נֹעָה) is a distinct feminine Hebrew name borne by one of Zelophehad's daughters in Numbers 26:33 and 27:1, generally taken to mean 'motion' or 'movement.' They are spelled differently in Hebrew and are unrelated in root.
Yes — Noah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 6:9.
Noah means "Rest; Comfort." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 6:9, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Noah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Noah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Noah?
You can read every verse where Noah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.