Anna: Anglicized version of Hannah. Anna was the prophetess who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Berenice: It’s from Greek and means “bringer of victory.” Berenice was the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. The name Bernice is derived from this name. Bethany: “House of dates” or “house of figs.” Bethany was the village near the Mount of Olives and is associated with Jesus’ last days. Candace: The meaning of this name is unclear, but it could be from the Latin for “shining” or “bright.” Candace owned a eunuch who was an early convert to Christianity. Carmel: “Garden.” Mount Carmel is in Israel and is often referred to as a paradise. Claudia: From the Latin claudus, meaning “lame” or “limping.” Claudia was a Christian citizen of Rome. Eunice: From the Greek word for “good victory.” Eunice was the mother of Timothy. Julia: The feminine form of Julius. Julia was a Christian lady who was greeted by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Mary: Variously defined as meaning “bitter” in Hebrew or as the Greek version of Miriam (“rebellious”). Mary was the mother of Jesus. Rhoda: Greek for “rose.” Rhoda was a woman in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, who welcomed the apostle Peter to her home. Sapphira: This name from the Aramaic means “beautiful.” Sapphira was the wife of Ananias and lost her life due to her lies. Susannah: “Lily “or “rose.” In the New Testament, Susannah was a woman who ministered to Jesus. Tabitha: Another Aramaic name, meaning “gazelle” or “small deer.” Tabitha was miraculously brought back to life by Peter.
