Could Biblical name Boaz be the new Ezra?
Thanks to Rocking Fetal for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
THE MEANING OF BOAZ
In Hebrew, Boaz means swiftness.
Back in the Old Testament, Boaz was Ruth’s husband.
In some tellings, theirs is a December-June romance. Others versions of the Biblical narrative paint Boaz as young, handsome, and a wealthy landowner to boot. Regardless of Boaz’ attributes, he and Ruth had a son, and their son had a son, who had a son of his own – the future King David.
His distinctive name also appears in the New Testament, mentioned as an ancestor of King David, and thus, Jesus.
A pair of pillars, described as copper, brass, or bronze, stood outside the first temple in Jerusalem. They’re called Boaz and Jachin. In this case, Boaz is said to mean strength, while Jachin means “he shall establish.”
They’re both positive meanings, and straightforward ones, too.
EDGY, DISTINCTIVE SOUND
Names borrowed from Judeo-Christian traditions are riding high in the 21st century. Even as Noah, Asher, and Ezra rank as Top 100 favorites, Boaz stands out.
It’s pronounced with two-syllables: BO az.
Some Biblical translations spell it Booz, but that’s a non-starter.
While there aren’t many nicknames of Boaz, it shares the same first syllable as Bodhi, Boden, Bowen, and Beau. Shortening Boaz to Bo makes it a little more versatile.
We love Z, too. Just ask Top 100 Ezra, Ezekiel, and Enzo, as well as names with an S that sounds like Z, like Isaiah.
NOTABLE USES OF BOAZ
Beyond the Book of Ruth, it’s possible to find Boaz in use as a surname and place.
At least four cities in the United States are called Boaz.
One of them, in Wisconsin, boasts a prehistoric claim to fame. It’s the site of an early mastodon fossil find. Way back in 1897, four brothers were walking near a creek following a storm, and stumbled on the bones. It wasn’t the only mastodon find in the area, and the story is fascinating. The Boaz mastodon remains on display at the University of Wisconsin, and locally famous.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is sometimes mixed with Boyce and Bowes or Boas, the variants shaped by shifting pronunciation over time.
Actor Donny Boaz, who played Chance Chancellor on soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2019 to 2021, is one notable bearer of the surname.
HOW POPULAR IS BOAZ?
While the baby name Boaz has always been known, it’s rarely enjoyed much popularity, at least among English speakers.
Boaz has also had a good run in the Netherlands, where it has ranked in their Top 100 since 2010. It fits right in with names like Siem (Simon), Moos (Moses), and Mats (Matthias).
Other European languages, though, tend to overlook Boaz with remarkable consistency.
That said, the name has seen steady use in Israel, and a number of athletes and other notables have answered to Boaz.
Recently, the name has increased in use, from just 30 boys in the year 2000 to a new high of 234 births in 2023, tipping Boaz into the rankings for the first time ever.
The baby name Boaz left the charts in 2024, only to return in 2025, now standing at #891.
RISING POSSIBILITY
With a mix of historical depth and relatively uncommon status, the baby name Boaz could appeal to parents looking for a stands-out/fits-in kind of choice.
The name’s Hebrew origins offer a solid meaning and strong story for the name choice. It’s an obvious substitute for Ezra, a timeless, masculine name that shortens to oh-so current Bo, and the kind of name everyone knows but (almost) no one is choosing.
There are lots of reasons to put Boaz on your list of possibilities.
What do you think of the baby name Boaz?
First published on June 18, 2009, this post was revised on May 17, 2024 and again on May 14, 2026.
My oldest is a Boaz 🙂 it’s well known and a little more popular than the national popularity in our seminary circles. We love it and he wears his “strength is within him,” well.
Oh thank you for commenting! I’m so glad to hear Boaz wears well.
I’m really loving this name, and would love to see your whole write-up on it, but it’s not here. Please update!! 🙂
I have a Boaz! He’s 6, almost 7, currently. It was my top choice for a boy from the start, but since we named our first daughter Rosemary, the next, our first boy, was Judah, because Boaz was a bit much immediately next to “Rose.” I have always loved it, so I was surprised to meet with violent opposition from my own mother when my husband and I picked this name for our son. Her objection was that it was just waaaay too unusual with our equally-odd last name, but as my husband and I both grew up with top-10 names, call it an over-reaction to each of us having three people with our own names in each class growing up! (Mom did give in after hubby put his foot down, but it was an unpleasant week after his birth, debating and second-guessing ourselves . . . )
I have sons named Joseph and Benjamin. Does the name Boaz/Bo fit with the set?
I really dig Boaz, with the 2 syllable pronunciation. He feels very artsy to me, probably emphasised by Boaz Davidson (at least I’m fairly sure that’s his whole name) He’s a Hollywood producer. I see his name often in the credits of the moviesI watch. I think it’s a fabulous name if you’ve got a simple surname!