by Rivs Aikman

Created on: February 10, 2008

GENDER: Male, rarely Female

PRONUNCIATION: NOH-ah

ETYMOLOGY: From the ancient Hebrew word meaning "rest," "comfort," or "wandering"

ORIGIN & HISTORY: The name Noah is most famous from the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark. According to the Biblical account, Noah was the only righteous man left in a world of tremendous evil. Because the world was so evil, and Noah was a righteous man, God decided to destroy it in a flood, but He decided to spare Noah, his wife, their three sons, their wives, and some of the animals so that life wouldn't be completely wiped from the face of the earth. Noah then gathered two of every unclean animal and seven pairs of every clean animal to save them from a flood that God sent to cleanse the world of evil. Noah took care of the animals in the Ark while it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. After the rains stopped, Noah sent out a raven, then a dove twice, in order to know if the floodwaters had receded enough for him to let the animals out of the Ark to repopulate the earth.

Noah was also the name of a daughter of Zelophehad who revolutionized ancient Israeli inheritance laws when Moses ruled that she and her sisters would inherit their father's share of the land, since he had no male heirs when he died. In order to keep that land within the tribe of Manasseh, of which they were a part, Moses also decreed that they would have to marry men from their own tribe so that the land wouldn't become part of one of the other tribes of Israel.

POPULARITY: The name has maintained a steady use for male children since the 1600s. Noah was less common until 1996, when it surged from number 100 to number 50 on the United States Social Security Department's list of popular baby names. As of 2006, Noah was sitting at number 15 on the Social Security Department's list, showing that it is still gaining popularity. This surge in popularity may be due to the popularity of actor Noah Wyle, or parents may be gravitating towards more traditional/classical baby names.

FACTS: Other than his aforementioned association with the Bible, Noah has been associated with dictionary creator Noah Webster. Several actors and popular television characters have also shared the name Noah. In addition, the Biblical Patriarch Noah became a vintner after the Great Flood. A modern grape used in winemaking is named "Noah grape," and it is used to make Uhudler wine. N.O.A.H. is also an acronym for both the National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation (USA) and the National Office of Animal Health (UK).

NAMESAKES: Noah Bennet (aka Horn-Rimmed Glasses, HRG, Mr. Bennet) of Heroes, Vice-President Noah Daniels of 24, Noah Taylor of Desperate Housewives

FAMOUS PERSONS: Noah the Patriarch of The Holy Bible (birthdate unknown), Noah the daughter of Zelophehad of The Holy Bible (birthdate unknown), Noah Adams of NPR (birthdate unknown), actor Noah Emmerich (born February 27, 1965), actor Noah Gray-Cabey (born November 16, 1995), author Noah Gordon (born November 11, 1926), athlete Noah Ngeny (born November 2, 1978), lexicographer Noah Webster (born October 16, 1758, died April 28, 1953), actor Noah Wyle (born June 4,1971)

NAME VARIANTS: Noach, Noak, Noe, Noa

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