William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Uriah
BoyHebrew· “God is my light”
- Meaning
- God is my light
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- yoo-RY-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #650
- US babies 2025
- 427
- Best rank
- #505 (2014)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Uriah
Uriah is a Hebrew name that means “God is my light”.
Uriah comes from the Hebrew Uriyah, meaning "God is my light" or "flame of God". In the Second Book of Samuel, Uriah the Hittite is a loyal soldier in King David's army whose wife, Bathsheba, David takes; David then arranges Uriah's death, and the prophet Nathan condemns him. Readers of Charles Dickens also know Uriah Heep, the scheming clerk in David Copperfield. Despite that literary association, the name has returned among parents who like strong biblical names. Uriah has a flowing, three-syllable sound. Uri is a friendly short form.
Popularity over time
Uriah has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 33 different years. Its best national rank was #505 in 2014, the same year it reached its highest count of 559 babies. In 2025, 427 babies were named Uriah, and it ranked #650 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,123 in 1920, #922 in 1980, #1,034 in 2000, #547 in 2010, and #650 in 2025. Of the 12,077 US boys named Uriah since records began, 40% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 2,421 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Jaxen, Mohammed, Korbin, Aarav, and Ahmed.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Uriah ranked highest in Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | #170 | 8 |
| New Mexico | #233 | 9 |
| West Virginia | #372 | 5 |
| Oklahoma | #375 | 13 |
| Nevada | #440 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 94% of US babies named Uriah over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Uriah is usually pronounced yoo-RY-uh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with U and ends in “-ah”.
Middle names for Uriah
A few middle names that flow with Uriah: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Uriah
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Lists that include Uriah
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Uriah mean?
Uriah is a Hebrew name that means “God is my light”.
What is the origin of the name Uriah?
Uriah has Hebrew roots. Uriah comes from the Hebrew Uriyah, meaning "God is my light" or "flame of God".
Is Uriah a popular name?
Yes. Uriah ranked #650 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Uriah a boy or girl name?
Uriah is mainly a boy's name. About 94% of US babies named Uriah over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Uriah?
Uriah is usually pronounced yoo-RY-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings