Uriah

The first name Uriah is a male name that has its origin in the Hebrew 'ûrı̂yâh (אוּרִיָה) or 'ûrı̂yâhû (אוּרִיָהוּ).

What does the name Uriah mean?

The name Uriah derives from the Hebrew 'ûrı̂yâh (אוּרִיָה) and 'ûrı̂yâhû (אוּרִיָהוּ). It can be translated to mean 'the Lord (JHWH) is my light' or 'my fire is God.' Its origins are found in ancient Hebrew, where the name is composed of the elements 'ur (אוּר), meaning 'light' or 'flame,' and yah (יָה), meaning 'God' or 'Yahweh.' Uriah is mentioned in the Old Testament as one of David's 30 heroes. He was the husband of Bathsheba and was killed on David's orders by having David withdraw his soldiers in battle. Other variants of the name include Uria, Urija, Urie, Urias, Uriasz, and Urijas. Notable figures with this name include a priest who built a pagan altar for King Ahaz, as well as a prophet who was killed by Jehoiakim. The name gained popularity in the 19th century through the novel 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens, in which the character Uriah Heep plays a central role.

Where does the name Uriah come from?

The name Uriah has its roots in ancient Hebrew and is of biblical origin. With the meaning 'the Lord (JHWH) is my light,' it is composed of the words 'ur (אוּר) for 'light' or 'flame' and yah (יָה) for 'God' or 'Yahweh.' Thus, 'ûrı̂yâh (אוּרִיָה) or 'ûrı̂yâhû (אוּרִיָהוּ) means 'my light is Yahweh' or 'the flame of God.'

How do you pronounce Uriah?

U-ri-a, with the emphasis on the second syllable.

Popularity

In Germany, Uriah is a rather rare first name. In 2019, it ranked 3,920th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2012, when it reached 3,479th place. Over the last ten years, Uriah has been given as a first name less than 10 times, placing it at 8,008th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 7,742nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Uri

Famous people

• Uriah Pedrad (character in 'Divergent')