New Testament: Women

Candace

Name meaning: Title for queens of Ethiopia (Meroë)
Approximately 1 reference

A title rather than a personal name, Candace designates the queen of the Ethiopians whose court official — a eunuch — was reading Isaiah on the road home from Jerusalem. Philip the Evangelist explained the passage and baptized him on the spot. The encounter marks one of the earliest expansions of the gospel beyond Israel, reaching into Africa.

Key references: Acts 8:27

Elizabeth

Name meaning: "God is my oath"
Approximately 9 references

Wife of the priest Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist, and a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus. When Mary came to visit, Elizabeth's child leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit, declaring Mary "blessed among women." Luke describes both Elizabeth and Zechariah as righteous and blameless before God.

Key references: Luke 1:5, Luke 1:7, Luke 1:13, Luke 1:24, Luke 1:36, Luke 1:40, Luke 1:41, Luke 1:57

Herodias

Name meaning: Feminine of Herod
Approximately 6 references

Granddaughter of Herod the Great, she left her husband Philip to marry his brother Herod Antipas — a union John the Baptist publicly condemned as unlawful. Herodias never forgave him. When her daughter (traditionally named Salome) danced at Herod's birthday banquet, Herodias seized the moment, urging her to demand John's head on a platter.

Key references: Luke 3:19, Mark 6:17, Mark 6:19, Mark 6:22, Matthew 14:3, Matthew 14:6

Jezebel (Revelation)

Name meaning: Allusion to OT Jezebel
Approximately 1 reference

Name used in Revelation 2:20 for a woman in the church at Thyatira who called herself a prophetess and led believers into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. Whether "Jezebel" was her real name or an allusion to Ahab's wife is debated; most scholars see it as a symbolic designation.

Key references: Revelation 2:20

Lydia

Name meaning: From Lydia (a region in Asia Minor)
Approximately 2 references

A dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira, she was living in Philippi when Paul arrived — making her his first recorded European convert. "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." She and her household were baptized, and she opened her home as the gathering place for the early Philippian church.

Key references: Acts 16:14, Acts 16:40

Martha

Name meaning: "Lady" or "mistress" (Aramaic)
Approximately 13 references

Sister of Mary and Lazarus in Bethany, remembered for her active hospitality when Jesus visited — contrasted with Mary's quiet attentiveness at his feet. It was Martha, however, who spoke one of the gospel's clearest confessions before the raising of Lazarus: "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God."

Key references: John 11:1, John 11:5, John 11:19, John 11:20, John 11:21, John 11:24, John 11:30, John 11:39, John 12:2, Luke 10:38 (and 2 more)

Mary

Name meaning: Greek form of Miriam
Approximately 54 references

Several women named Mary appear in the NT: (1) Mary, mother of Jesus — favored by God, visited by Gabriel, gave birth as a virgin in Bethlehem, present at the cross and in the upper room after the ascension. (2) Mary Magdalene — delivered from seven demons, first witness of the resurrection. (3) Mary of Bethany — sister of Martha and Lazarus, who anointed Jesus' feet. (4) Mary mother of James and Joses. (5) Mary wife of Clopas. (6) Mary mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12). The reference count includes all.

Key references: Acts 1:14, Acts 12:12, John 11:1, John 11:2, John 11:19, John 11:20, John 11:28, John 11:31, John 11:32, John 11:45 (and 36 more)

Phoebe

Name meaning: "Bright" or "radiant" (Greek)
Approximately 1 reference

Paul commends her as "a servant [or deaconess] of the church at Cenchreae" and "a patron of many and of myself as well," and she was most likely the bearer of his letter to the Romans. The Greek word he uses for her role — diakonos — is the same he applies to his own apostolic ministry.

Key references: Romans 16:1

Priscilla

Also known as: Prisca
Name meaning: "Ancient" (Latin)
Approximately 6 references

Wife of Aquila and fellow worker with Paul. She is frequently named before her husband in the sources, suggesting she held particular prominence. Together they instructed Apollos in the faith, hosted house churches, and risked their lives on Paul's behalf.

Key references: 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19, Romans 16:3, Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26

Sapphira

Name meaning: "Beautiful" or "sapphire" (Aramaic)
Approximately 1 reference

Wife of Ananias in the Jerusalem church. Together they sold property but secretly kept back part of the proceeds while presenting the rest as the full amount. When Peter confronted her — as he had her husband moments before — she fell dead. The episode stands as a warning about deception within the covenant community.

Key references: Acts 5:1

Tabitha

Also known as: Dorcas
Name meaning: "Gazelle" (Aramaic; Dorcas is the Greek equivalent)
Approximately 2 references

A disciple in Joppa described as "full of good works and acts of charity," she was especially known for making clothing for widows. When she died, Peter was summoned and raised her from the dead — an event that brought many in Joppa to faith.

Key references: Acts 9:36, Acts 9:40

11 entries. Reference counts are approximate, based on morphological analysis of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (Hebrew) and Open Greek New Testament.