Bible Dictionary
NAMES, PROPER
Biblical proper names may be single words, phrases, or sentences, often expressing personal traits, events, prayers, or truths about God. Hebrew names could also be shortened, rearranged, or adapted in form, and included both personal and geographical names.
Biblical Usage
Biblical names sometimes preserve or suggest their meanings, but the biblical narrator’s concern is not always to describe the character of the person named. Names may also be transposed, abbreviated, or shortened while retaining their meaning, including forms involving the divine name.