Biblical City Name Generator
Bible towns plus coined names in their pattern
Generate biblical city names from a list of 850: towns named in the Bible, such as Bethel, Hebron, Shiloh, Capernaum and Thyatira, plus a smaller share of coined names built on the same pattern, such as Beth-Noam, Kiriath-Eshel and En-Zayit.
About biblical city names
Many town names in the Hebrew Bible are short descriptions of a place. Beth means house, so Bethel is the house of God and Bethlehem the house of bread. En is a spring (En-gedi, the spring of the young goat), Beer is a well (Beersheba), Kiriath is a town (Kiriath-jearim, the town of forests) and Abel is a meadow (Abel-meholah). Migdal is a tower, Tel a mound and Ir a city.
Just over three quarters of the list are cities and towns named in the biblical text: the towns of the patriarchs, the town lists of Joshua, the cities of refuge and the Levitical cities, Philistine and Canaanite cities, capitals such as Nineveh, Babylon and Susa, the towns of the Gospels, the cities of Acts and the seven churches of Revelation, and a small group from Tobit, Judith and Maccabees, books in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, such as Modein and Bethulia. Where the text gives a town two names or forms, as with Luz for Bethel or Lydda for Lod, both are listed.
The rest, just under a quarter, are coined for stories, games and church projects. They join the same elements to ordinary Hebrew words and are written with a capital after the hyphen, as in Beth-Noam, Kiriath-Eshel and En-Zayit. Those names are not found in the Bible.
How to choose biblical city names
- Match the first element to the landscape: En- for a town at a spring, Beer- for a desert well, Migdal- for a watchtower, Abel- for meadow country.
- For a lesson, sermon series or Bible study, choose a name from the biblical text (lowercase after the hyphen, like Beth-shemesh) and read the passage where the town appears.
- Keep the coined names, the ones with a capital after the hyphen such as Migdal-Kokab, for fiction, games and room or group names, and do not present them as scriptural.
- Keep one era on one map: Hebrew names such as Shiloh and Kiriath-jearim sit together, while Philippi, Iconium and Thyatira belong to the Greek and Roman world of Acts.
- A town with an older name carries its history with it: Luz became Bethel, Laish became Dan and Kiriath-arba became Hebron.
Frequently asked questions
Are all of these names really in the Bible?
No. Just over three quarters are cities and towns named in the biblical text, such as Hebron, Shiloh, Capernaum and Thyatira. The rest are coined in the same pattern and are easy to spot: a coined name has a capital letter after the hyphen (Beth-Noam, En-Zayit), while a name from the text does not (Beth-shemesh, En-gedi).
What do Beth, En, Beer and Kiriath mean in biblical city names?
They are common Hebrew words for features of a settlement. Beth is house, En is spring, Beer is well and Kiriath is town, so Kiriath-jearim is the town of forests and Beersheba is named for a well. The coined names in the list use the same elements and others like them, such as Abel (meadow), Migdal (tower), Hazar (village), Ir (city) and Emek (valley).
Which spelling of the biblical names does the list use?
It uses the hyphenated style found in many mainstream English translations, as in Kiriath-jearim and En-gedi. A town that the text names in two forms, such as Lod and Lydda, appears under both. Other translations write the same names as two words or with older spellings, so check the translation you use before you print a name on a handout or a map.
Can I use these names for a novel, a game or a church project?
Yes. Ancient place names are free to use, and the coined ones were made for exactly that. The location of many biblical towns is uncertain or debated, so if you need to place one on a real map, look it up in a Bible atlas or dictionary.
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All 850 biblical city names
A: 95 names
- Abel-Agam
- Abel-Ayyal
- Abel-beth-maacah
- Abel-Dagan
- Abel-Debash
- Abel-Deborah
- Abel-Geshem
- Abel-Kaneh
- Abel-Kebes
- Abel-keramim
- Abel-maim
- Abel-Matar
- Abel-meholah
- Abel-Omer
- Abel-Rinnah
- Abel-shittim
- Abel-Shoshan
- Abel-Tal
- Abel-Teenah
- Abel-Yarok
- Abel-Zera
- Abel-Zippor
- Abel-Zon
- Accad
- Acco
- Achshaph
- Achzib
- Adadah
- Adamah
- Adami-nekeb
- Adasa
- Adida
- Adithaim
- Admah
- Adoraim
- Adramyttium
- Adullam
- Aenon
- Ahlab
- Ai
- Aiath
- Aijalon
- Ain
- Alema
- Alexandria
- Allammelech
- Almon
A, continued
- Amad
- Amam
- Amphipolis
- Anab
- Anaharath
- Ananiah
- Anathoth
- Anem
- Aner
- Anim
- Antioch
- Antioch in Pisidia
- Antipatris
- Aphek
- Aphekah
- Aphik
- Apollonia
- Ar
- Arad
- Ariel
- Arimathea
- Aroer
- Arpad
- Arubboth
- Arumah
- Arvad
- Ashan
- Ashdod
- Ashkelon
- Ashnah
- Ashtaroth
- Ashteroth-karnaim
- Assos
- Ataroth
- Ataroth-addar
- Athach
- Athens
- Atroth-beth-joab
- Atroth-shophan
- Attalia
- Avith
- Avva
- Avvim
- Azekah
- Azmaveth
- Azmon
- Aznoth-tabor
- Azotus
B: 100 names
- Baal-gad
- Baal-hazor
- Baal-meon
- Baal-shalishah
- Baal-tamar
- Baalah
- Baalath
- Baalath-beer
- Baale-judah
- Babel
- Babylon
- Bahurim
- Bamoth-baal
- Bealoth
- Beer
- Beer-Ahim
- Beer-Berakah
- Beer-Eben
- Beer-elim
- Beer-Emeth
- Beer-Gamal
- Beer-Hen
- Beer-Hesed
- Beer-Laban
- Beer-Mikneh
- Beer-Negeb
- Beer-Nehamah
- Beer-Rahamim
- Beer-Roeh
- Beer-Shor
- Beer-Yeshuah
- Beer-Zahab
- Beer-Zaken
- Beer-Zon
- Beeroth
- Beersheba
- Bela
- Bene-berak
- Berea
- Berothah
- Berothai
- Betah
- Beten
- Beth-anath
- Beth-anoth
- Beth-arabah
- Beth-arbel
- Beth-ashbea
- Beth-aven
- Beth-baal-meon
B, continued
- Beth-barah
- Beth-biri
- Beth-car
- Beth-dagon
- Beth-diblathaim
- Beth-eked
- Beth-emek
- Beth-ezel
- Beth-gader
- Beth-gamul
- Beth-gilgal
- Beth-haccherem
- Beth-haggan
- Beth-haran
- Beth-hoglah
- Beth-horon
- Beth-jeshimoth
- Beth-le-aphrah
- Beth-marcaboth
- Beth-millo
- Beth-nimrah
- Beth-Noam
- Beth-pazzez
- Beth-pelet
- Beth-peor
- Beth-rehob
- Beth-Shaked
- Beth-shean
- Beth-shemesh
- Beth-shittah
- Beth-tappuah
- Beth-zechariah
- Beth-zur
- Bethany
- Bethany across the Jordan
- Bethbasi
- Bethel
- Bethlehem
- Bethphage
- Bethsaida
- Bethul
- Bethulia
- Betonim
- Bezek
- Bezer
- Biziothiah
- Bor-ashan
- Bosor
- Bozkath
- Bozrah
C: 35 names
- Cabbon
- Cabul
- Caesarea
- Caesarea Philippi
- Calah
- Calneh
- Cana
- Canneh
- Capernaum
- Carchemish
- Carmel
- Casiphia
- Cenchreae
- Chaspho
- Chephar-ammoni
- Chephirah
- Chesalon
- Chesil
- Chesulloth
- Chezib
- Chilmad
- Chinnereth
- Chisloth-tabor
- Chitlish
- Chorazin
- City of David
- City of Palms
- City of Salt
- Cnidus
- Colossae
- Corinth
- Cozeba
- Cun
- Cuthah
- Cyrene
D: 17 names
- Dabbesheth
- Daberath
- Damascus
- Dan
- Dannah
- Dathema
- Debir
- Derbe
- Dibon
- Dilean
- Dimnah
- Dimonah
- Dinhabah
- Dok
- Dor
- Dothan
- Dumah
E: 72 names
- Ebez
- Ebron
- Ecbatana
- Eder
- Edrei
- Eglaim
- Eglath-shelishiyah
- Eglon
- Ekron
- Elasa
- Elath
- Elealeh
- Elkosh
- Elon-beth-hanan
- Eltekeh
- Eltekon
- Eltolad
- Emek-Bosem
- Emek-Dagan
- Emek-Deborah
- Emek-Egoz
- Emek-Geshem
- Emek-Hittah
- Emek-keziz
- Emek-Nahar
- Emek-Peleg
- Emek-Seorah
- Emek-Shoshan
- Emek-Tal
- Emek-Zera
- Emmaus
- En-Berosh
- En-Boker
- En-Deror
- En-dor
- En-gannim
E, continued
- En-gedi
- En-Gephen
- En-Hadas
- En-haddah
- En-Hayyim
- En-hazor
- En-Keseph
- En-Marpe
- En-Midbar
- En-mishpat
- En-Namer
- En-Nesher
- En-rimmon
- En-Sason
- En-Sela
- En-Shalom
- En-Shikmah
- En-tappuah
- En-Tikvah
- En-Yonah
- En-Zayit
- En-Zebi
- Enaim
- Enam
- Ephesus
- Ephrath
- Ephron
- Erech
- Eshan
- Eshtaol
- Eshtemoa
- Etam
- Eth-kazin
- Ether
- Ezem
- Ezion-geber
F: 1 name
- Forum of Appius
G: 56 names
- Gallim
- Gath
- Gath-Bazir
- Gath-Gephen
- Gath-hepher
- Gath-Kazir
- Gath-Kerem
- Gath-rimmon
- Gath-Simhah
- Gath-Tirosh
- Gath-Yayin
- Gaza
- Gazara
- Geba
- Gebal
- Gebim
- Geder
- Gederah
- Gederoth
- Gederothaim
- Gedor
- Gerar
- Gezer
- Gibbethon
- Gibeah
- Gibeah of Saul
- Gibeath-Allon
- Gibeath-Ayyal
- Gibeath-Berith
- Gibeath-Berosh
- Gibeath-Boker
- Gibeath-Ereb
- Gibeath-Erez
- Gibeath-Namer
- Gibeath-Nes
- Gibeath-Rinnah
- Gibeath-Ruah
- Gibeath-Sheleg
- Gibeath-Shemen
- Gibeath-Shophar
- Gibeath-Tikvah
- Gibeath-Tirosh
- Gibeath-Zebi
- Gibeath-Zohar
- Gibeon
- Gilgal
- Giloh
- Gimzo
- Gittaim
- Gob
- Goiim in Galilee
- Golan
- Gomorrah
- Goshen
- Gozan
- Gur-baal
H: 67 names
- Hadashah
- Hadid
- Haeleph
- Halhul
- Hali
- Hamath
- Hamath-zobah
- Hammath
- Hammon
- Hammoth-dor
- Hamonah
- Hanes
- Hannathon
- Hapharaim
- Haran
- Harosheth-hagoyim
- Hazar-addar
- Hazar-Ahim
- Hazar-Deror
- Hazar-enan
- Hazar-gaddah
- Hazar-Gan
- Hazar-Ger
- Hazar-Goren
- Hazar-Hadash
- Hazar-Katan
- Hazar-Kayiz
- Hazar-Kazir
- Hazar-Kebes
- Hazar-Kohen
- Hazar-Laban
- Hazar-Maayan
- Hazar-Roeh
H, continued
- Hazar-Shaked
- Hazar-shual
- Hazar-susah
- Hazar-Teenah
- Hazar-Tob
- Hazar-Yekeb
- Hazar-Yonah
- Hazar-Zayit
- Hazar-Zippor
- Hazazon-tamar
- Hazer-hatticon
- Hazor
- Hazor-hadattah
- Hebron
- Helam
- Helbah
- Helbon
- Heleph
- Heliopolis
- Helkath
- Hena
- Hepher
- Heshbon
- Heshmon
- Hethlon
- Hierapolis
- Hobah
- Holon
- Horem
- Hormah
- Horonaim
- Hosah
- Hukkok
- Humtah
I: 22 names
- Ibleam
- Iconium
- Idalah
- Iim
- Ijon
- Iphtah
- Ir-Daath
- Ir-Hayyim
- Ir-Hokmah
- Ir-Kabod
- Ir-Melek
- Ir-nahash
- Ir-Nezer
- Ir-Olam
- Ir-shemesh
- Ir-Simhah
- Ir-Tehillah
- Ir-Yosher
- Irpeel
- Ithlah
- Ithnan
- Ivvah
J: 28 names
- Jabesh-gilead
- Jabez
- Jabneel
- Jabneh
- Jagur
- Jahaz
- Jamnia
- Janim
- Janoah
- Japhia
- Jarmuth
- Jattir
- Jazer
- Jebus
- Jehud
- Jekabzeel
- Jericho
- Jerusalem
- Jeshanah
- Jezreel
- Jogbehah
- Jokdeam
- Jokmeam
- Jokneam
- Joktheel
- Joppa
- Jotbah
- Juttah
K: 69 names
- Kabzeel
- Kadesh
- Kadesh-barnea
- Kain
- Kamon
- Kanah
- Karnaim
- Kartah
- Kartan
- Kattath
- Kedemoth
- Kedesh
- Kedesh in Galilee
- Kedron
- Keilah
- Kenath
- Kephar-Berakah
- Kephar-Dayyag
- Kephar-Eshel
- Kephar-Hadas
- Kephar-Hakam
- Kephar-Hen
- Kephar-Hesed
- Kephar-Ikkar
- Kephar-Katan
- Kephar-Korem
- Kephar-Menuhah
- Kephar-Noam
- Kephar-Oreg
- Kephar-Rea
- Kephar-Shir
- Kephar-Sopher
- Kephar-Tob
- Kephar-Yozer
K, continued
- Kerioth
- Kerioth-hezron
- Kibzaim
- Kinah
- Kir of Moab
- Kir-hareseth
- Kiriath-arba
- Kiriath-baal
- Kiriath-Banim
- Kiriath-Barzel
- Kiriath-Berith
- Kiriath-Besorah
- Kiriath-Binah
- Kiriath-Emunah
- Kiriath-Erez
- Kiriath-Eshel
- Kiriath-Gibbor
- Kiriath-Hokmah
- Kiriath-huzoth
- Kiriath-jearim
- Kiriath-Kinnor
- Kiriath-Melek
- Kiriath-Mizmor
- Kiriath-Nehosheth
- Kiriath-Or
- Kiriath-Rea
- Kiriath-sannah
- Kiriath-sepher
- Kiriath-Shir
- Kiriath-Tehillah
- Kiriath-Zedek
- Kiriath-Zoreph
- Kiriathaim
- Kishion
- Kitron
L: 21 names
- Lachish
- Lahmam
- Laish
- Laishah
- Lakkum
- Laodicea
- Lasea
- Lasha
- Lasharon
- Lebaoth
- Lebo-hamath
- Lebonah
- Leshem
- Libnah
- Lo-debar
- Lod
- Lower Beth-horon
- Luhith
- Luz
- Lydda
- Lystra
M: 63 names
- Maarath
- Madmannah
- Madmenah
- Madon
- Magadan
- Magbish
- Mahalab
- Mahanaim
- Makaz
- Maked
- Makkedah
- Mamre
- Manahath
- Maon
- Maralah
- Mareshah
- Marisa
- Maroth
- Masrekah
- Me-jarkon
- Meconah
- Medeba
- Megiddo
- Memphis
- Mephaath
- Michmash
- Middin
- Migdal-Barzel
- Migdal-Eben
- Migdal-el
- Migdal-Emeth
M, continued
- Migdal-Esh
- Migdal-gad
- Migdal-Gibbor
- Migdal-Hasidah
- Migdal-Kabod
- Migdal-Kedem
- Migdal-Kokab
- Migdal-Mizrah
- Migdal-Negeb
- Migdal-Ner
- Migdal-Paamon
- Migdal-Shahar
- Migdal-Shophet
- Migdal-Yam
- Migdal-Yareah
- Migdal-Zaphon
- Migdal-Zopheh
- Migdol
- Migron
- Miletus
- Minnith
- Mishal
- Mitylene
- Mizpah
- Mizpah of Gilead
- Mizpeh
- Mizpeh of Moab
- Modein
- Moladah
- Moresheth-gath
- Mozah
- Myra
N: 19 names
- Naamah
- Naarah
- Nahalal
- Nain
- Nazareth
- Neah
- Neapolis
- Neballat
- Nebo
- Neiel
- Netaim
- Netophah
- Nezib
- Nibshan
- Nicopolis
- Nimrim
- Nineveh
- Nob
- Nobah
O: 5 names
- On
- Ono
- Ophni
- Ophrah
- Ophrah of the Abiezrites
P: 17 names
- Paphos
- Parah
- Patara
- Pau
- Pelusium
- Penuel
- Perga
- Pergamum
- Persepolis
- Pethor
- Philadelphia
- Philippi
- Pi-beseth
- Pirathon
- Pithom
- Ptolemais
- Puteoli
R: 47 names
- Rabbah
- Rabbah of the Ammonites
- Rabbith
- Racal
- Rages
- Rakkath
- Rakkon
- Ramah
- Ramah of the Negeb
- Ramath-Allon
- Ramath-Anan
- Ramath-Barad
- Ramath-Barak
- Ramath-Hazon
- Ramath-Hod
- Ramath-Kedem
- Ramath-Kokab
- Ramath-Maarab
- Ramath-mizpeh
- Ramath-Nesher
- Ramath-Or
- Ramath-Raam
- Ramath-Ruah
- Ramath-Shahar
- Ramath-Shalom
- Ramath-Sheleg
- Ramath-Zaphon
- Ramath-Zur
- Ramathaim-zophim
- Rameses
- Ramoth
- Ramoth-gilead
- Raphon
- Recah
- Rehob
- Rehoboth on the Euphrates
- Rehoboth-ir
- Rekem
- Remeth
- Resen
- Rezeph
- Rhegium
- Riblah
- Rimmon
- Rogelim
- Rome
- Rumah
S: 44 names
- Salamis
- Salecah
- Salem
- Salim
- Samaria
- Sansannah
- Sardis
- Sarid
- Scythopolis
- Secacah
- Sela
- Seleucia
- Senaah
- Sepharvaim
- Shaalbim
- Shaaraim
- Shahazumah
- Shamir
- Shaphir
- Sharuhen
- Sheba
- Shechem
- Shema
- Shepham
- Shikkeron
- Shilhim
- Shiloh
- Shimron
- Shimron-meron
- Shion
- Shittim
- Shunem
- Sibmah
- Sibraim
- Sidon
- Siphmoth
- Smyrna
- Socoh
- Sodom
- Succoth
- Susa
- Sychar
- Syene
- Syracuse
T: 42 names
- Taanach
- Taanath-shiloh
- Tabbath
- Tabor
- Tadmor
- Tahpanhes
- Tappuah
- Taralah
- Tarsus
- Tekoa
- Tel-abib
- Tel-Adom
- Tel-Aryeh
- Tel-harsha
- Tel-Hol
- Tel-Keseph
- Tel-melah
- Tel-Nahal
- Tel-Nogah
- Tel-Paz
- Tel-Yashan
- Tel-Zahab
- Tel-Zaken
- Telaim
- Telassar
- Telem
- Thebes
- Thebez
- Thessalonica
- Thisbe
- Three Taverns
- Thyatira
- Tiberias
- Tibhath
- Timnah
- Timnath-serah
- Tiphsah
- Tirzah
- Tishbe
- Tochen
- Troas
- Tyre
U: 4 names
- Ummah
- Upper Beth-horon
- Ur of the Chaldeans
- Uzzen-sheerah
Y: 1 name
- Yiron