Amos
/ˈeɪ.məs/
Amos is a Hebrew name meaning “carried by God” or “borne by God,” from the root amas (“to carry, to load”). In the Old Testament, Amos was a shepherd-prophet of the 8th century BC who spoke against social injustice.
The Book of Amos is one of the earliest prophetic writings in the Hebrew Bible. Amos’ speeches against exploitation of the poor and corruption of the powerful make him one of the most ethically charged of the minor prophets.
Amos peaked at No. 105 in 1880 with 128 births—early SSA data. In 2024 it ranks No. 697 with 386 births—a raw count many times its Victorian figure.
What the name Amos means
Amos ‘n’ Andy, the long-running American radio and TV show, made the name known across 20th-century popular culture. Tori Amos and Amos Lee bring it into contemporary music.
Two syllables—AY-mus—feel antique and dignified. The long opening vowel and the soft -mus close give it a biblical gravity that is rare among two-syllable names.
As a vintage biblical name, Amos is having a modest revival among parents drawn to Old Testament names that feel both authentic and genuinely uncommon.
Related forms include the Greek Amos (unchanged) and the Latin Amos. The name has no major variants across languages, keeping it uniquely itself.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Amos
Amos - similar names
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