Azariah

Azariah is a male given name of Hebrew origin, commonly rendered as Azariah in English. It derives from elements meaning “help” or “aid” and “Yah,” the name of the God of Israel, often interpreted as “Yahweh has helped.” The form has several transliterations and variants, including Azarias, Azaryahu, and Azaria.

In the Hebrew Bible, Azariah is the name of several individuals. The best known in English is the Hebrew name of Abednego, one of Daniel’s three companions in the book of Daniel. Another prominent bearer is Azariah, the king of Judah who is usually called Uzziah in most English translations; he ruled in the 8th century BCE and is noted for a large building program and for contracting leprosy later in his reign. The name also appears among various priests and Levites mentioned in Ezra–Nehemiah, as well as other lesser biblical figures named Azariah.

Beyond biblical texts, Azariah has been used in Jewish and Christian communities as a personal name through the centuries and continues to occur in modern Hebrew and other languages. Variants such as Azarias and Azaryahu are encountered in historical and religious literature. The name’s enduring usage reflects its ancient roots and its association with divine assistance.