"my Lord is Yahweh, Yahweh is my Lord"
Adonijah
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Ancient Hebrew royalty — My Lord is Yahweh
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
"the Lord my God"
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Browse nicknames →Things to Know About This Name
- Biblical character who unsuccessfully attempted to usurp the throne from Solomon; associated with ambition and political failure in some religious traditions
The Story of Adonijah
Adonijah is an ancient Hebrew theophoric name composed of Adon (lord, master, ruler) and Yah (a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew personal name of God), meaning my Lord is Yahweh or Yahweh is my master. It belongs to a distinguished family of biblical names that affirm divine sovereignty, alongside Elijah (my God is Yahweh), Obadiah (servant of Yahweh), and Josiah (Yahweh heals). The name carries the weight of ancient monotheistic confession.
Adonijah remains rare globally, used predominantly in strongly biblical-naming traditions — among Messianic Jewish families, conservative Christian communities, and Rastafarian culture in the Caribbean, where Old Testament names hold particular significance. Its rarity and gravitas appeal to parents seeking a truly distinctive name with deep scriptural roots.
In the Hebrew Bible, Adonijah was the fourth son of King David by his wife Haggith (2 Samuel 3:4). As an older brother of Solomon, he attempted to declare himself king before David died, but was outmaneuvered by Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba. Despite this setback, he represents a fascinating biblical figure — ambitious, handsome (praised in the text), yet ultimately overreached.
Historical Record
Adonijah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1982.
Over 470 babies have been named Adonijah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Adonijah is past its peak , currently ranked #5,934 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Adonijah appears in 1 Kings 1-2, one of the most politically dramatic succession narratives in the entire Hebrew Bible
- The name component Adon also appears in Adonai, the Hebrew word used in prayer as a substitute for the unspeakable divine name YHWH
- Adonias is still used as a given name in Brazil and Ethiopia, where biblical names have deep cultural roots
Adonijah in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Adonijah
Adonijah Welch
Politician
1821
American educator and politician who served as US Senator from Iowa (1879-1882) and was the first president of Iowa Stat...
American educator and politician who served as US Senator from Iowa (1879-1882) and was the first president of Iowa State University
Adonijah ben David
Royalty
Fourth son of King David in the Hebrew Bible; attempted to claim the throne before Solomon was crowned; a central figure...
Fourth son of King David in the Hebrew Bible; attempted to claim the throne before Solomon was crowned; a central figure in 1 Kings 1-2
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity Rank
- #5,934
- Total SSA Count
- 15
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew Christian (biblical) Rastafarian East African
- Pronunciation
- Hard
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Low
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, Hebrew heritage match, balanced 4-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Adonijah
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Adonijah
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Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Adonijah is also used as a girl name, ranked #52293.
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Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Adonijah
What does the name Adonijah mean?
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Is Adonijah a boy or girl name?
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About the Name Adonijah
Adonijah is a boy name with Hebrew, Christian (biblical), Rastafarian, and East African origins . The name means "my Lord is Yahweh, Yahweh is my Lord" in Hebrew .
Is Adonijah a boy or girl name? Adonijah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #5,934 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #52,293. Adonijah is more commonly used as a boy name.
Adonijah is currently ranked #5,934 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Adonijah has 4 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Adonijah include Donnie, Adon, Ijah, and Ado. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Adonijah include Adonis, Adonai, Adonnis, Adonay . 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