"God is my light"
Uriyah
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A Hebrew name meaning God is my light, borne by an honored warrior
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
"flame of God"
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Browse nicknames →Things to Know About This Name
- Uriah Heep in David Copperfield is an infamous literary villain — sycophantic and manipulative
The Story of Uriyah
Uriyah is a variant spelling of Uriah, from the Hebrew Uriyyahu composed of uri (my flame, my light) and yahu (a form of the divine name YHWH), meaning God is my light or flame of God. In the Hebrew Bible, Uriah the Hittite was one of King David's thirty mighty warriors — a man of such profound honor that he refused to return home to his wife Bathsheba while his comrades remained at war. Despite being a Hittite (a non-Israelite), he exemplified Israelite values more faithfully than the king himself.
Uriah and its variants have been rising in the US as part of the biblical name revival, alongside Ezekiel, Nehemiah, and Malachi. The spelling Uriyah appeals to parents who want the biblical authenticity of the full Hebrew form. The nickname Uri is simple, international, and equally at home in Hebrew or English contexts.
Uriah the Hittite is considered a model of integrity and honor in Jewish and Christian traditions. His story in 2 Samuel represents one of the Bible's most morally complex narratives. In contrast, the villain Uriah Heep in Charles Dickens's David Copperfield (1850) turned the name into a byword for false humility and scheming.
Historical Record
Uriyah first appeared in US Social Security records in 2007.
Over 467 babies have been named Uriyah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Uriyah is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #3,763 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Uriah the Hittite is one of the Bible's most poignant figures — a foreigner whose loyalty to Israel's god exceeded that of Israel's own king
- The British rock band Uriah Heep, formed in 1969 and still touring, took their name from the Dickens villain as a self-deprecating joke about critics who called them the worst band in the world
Uriyah in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Uriyah
Uriah Hall
Athlete
1984
Jamaican-American mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC middleweight division, known for his explosive striking
Uriah the Hittite (biblical)
Military
One of King David's thirty mighty warriors in the Hebrew Bible; a Hittite soldier of exceptional honor whose faithfulnes...
One of King David's thirty mighty warriors in the Hebrew Bible; a Hittite soldier of exceptional honor whose faithfulness shamed his king
Uriah Heep Fictional
Other
The famously obsequious villain in Charles Dickens's novel David Copperfield (1850), whose name became synonymous with f...
The famously obsequious villain in Charles Dickens's novel David Copperfield (1850), whose name became synonymous with false humility
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity Rank
- #3,763
- Total SSA Count
- 30
- Cultural Origins
- Jewish Christian Hebrew American
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, Hebrew heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 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, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Christian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Uriyah
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Uriyah is also used as a girl name, ranked #12339.
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Same Origin Names (Jewish)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Uriyah
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About the Name Uriyah
Uriyah is a boy name with Jewish, Christian, Hebrew, and American origins . The name means "God is my light" in Hebrew .
Is Uriyah a boy or girl name? Uriyah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #3,763 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #12,339. Uriyah is more commonly used as a boy name.
Uriyah is currently ranked #3,763 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Uriyah has 4 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Uriyah include Uri and Riyah. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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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