Psalms comes from the biblical book title rooted in Hebrew sacred song traditions, giving it a devotional literary feel.
Psalms carries perhaps the deepest literary pedigree of any name on this list, reaching back to ancient Hebrew poetry and the very foundations of Western religious tradition. The word derives from the Greek 'psalmos,' itself a translation of the Hebrew 'mizmor,' meaning a song accompanied by a plucked string instrument. The Book of Psalms — 150 poems attributed largely to King David — is the longest book in the Hebrew Bible and the most quoted text in the New Testament, making it foundational to Judaism, Christianity, and the cultural inheritance of much of the world.
') later echoed by Jesus on the cross; Psalm 23 ('The Lord is my shepherd') remains among the most recognized passages in any language; Psalm 137 ('By the rivers of Babylon') inspired a reggae hit that introduced the text to millions unfamiliar with Scripture. As a personal name, Psalms is rare and bold — a name that doesn't whisper faith but announces it. The name surged into popular awareness in May 2019 when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their fourth child Psalm West, a choice that reflected Kanye's then-immersion in gospel music and Christian devotion.
The choice was polarizing but undeniably memorable, and it opened the door for faith communities — particularly in Black American evangelical and Pentecostal traditions, which have long embraced virtue and scripture names — to consider Psalms a living possibility. It joins a lineage of theologically rich names like Genesis, Zion, and Gospel that treat scripture itself as a naming source.