Fun Facts About the Name Zeruiah
- 88 babies named Zeruiah: U.S. records list 88 babies given the name Zeruiah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zeruiah Mean?
Zeruiah is a Hebrew feminine name commonly explained as "Balm of Yahweh" or "Balm of Yah." It comes from the Hebrew צְרוּיָה (Tseruyah). The ending -yah (יָה) is a shortened form of the divine name YHWH, so the name belongs to a large group of Hebrew personal names that include a form of God's name. The first part is usually connected with צֳרִי (tsori), meaning "balsam" or "balm," a fragrant resin used in medicine and anointing. A literal rendering could be "Yah is balm" or "balm of Yah." Because the exact formation of the first element is not certain, many Bible dictionaries give the meaning simply as "balsam" or "balm." Some older popular lists gloss the name as "pain" or "tribulation of the Lord," connecting it with a Hebrew root for trouble, but that explanation is not the one generally favored in standard etymological dictionaries.
Zeruiah Name History & Origins
Zeruiah appears in the Hebrew Bible as the sister of King David and the mother of three of David's warriors: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. In 1 Chronicles 2:16 she and her sister Abigail are named as daughters of Jesse, which makes them David's sisters in that genealogy. The book of 2 Samuel 17:25 calls Abigail the daughter of Nahash, however, and this difference has been explained either by treating Nahash as another name for Jesse or by seeing two separate genealogical traditions. Zeruiah's husband is never named. She is known through her sons: Joab became commander of David's army, Abishai was a leading fighter, and Asahel was killed by Abner during the struggle between the houses of Saul and David (2 Samuel 2:18 - 23). The phrase "sons of Zeruiah" is used repeatedly in 2 Samuel to identify these brothers.
The name is formed with the theophoric element Yah, a shortened form of the divine name YHWH, which is typical of many Hebrew names. In the Greek Septuagint the name is rendered Σαρουία (Sarouia), and in the Latin Vulgate it appears as Sarvia. English Bibles have traditionally used the spelling Zeruiah. The name is not found in the New Testament, and it has remained chiefly a biblical name rather than a common given name in English. It is distinct from Zeruah (צְרוּעָה), a different woman named in 1 Kings 11:26 as the mother of Jeroboam.
How Popular is the Name Zeruiah?
Zeruiah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #7,484 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,484 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #17,626 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #10,285 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #15,219 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #15,048 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #13,772 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #13,767 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #15,871 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,131 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #16,833 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #17,479 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #17,143 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Zeruiah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Zeruiah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zeruiah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.