Keziah
/kə.ˈzaɪ.ə/
Keziah comes from the Hebrew Qetsiʿa (קְצִיעָה), referring to cassia - a fragrant spice derived from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia, a tree related to cinnamon. Cassia appears throughout the Hebrew Bible as a valuable aromatic used in sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:24) and in descriptions of paradise (Psalm 45:8). The name therefore carries notes of fragrance, warmth, and sacred beauty.
In the Hebrew Bible, Keziah (also spelled Kezia or Cassia) is one of the three daughters of Job, named after his restoration to prosperity: Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-happuch. Job 42:15 notes specifically that these daughters were the most beautiful women in the land and that their father gave them inheritance alongside their brothers - an unusual provision that made Keziah a symbol of restored blessing and female dignity.
Puritan settlers brought the name to New England in the 17th century, where it appeared in colonial records alongside other Job-family names like Jemimah. It remained a distinctly rare Biblical name through most of American history, surfacing periodically in deeply religious communities.
What the name Keziah means
Keziah has three syllables: keh-ZY-uh. The name has a warm, spice-market exoticism that distinguishes it from most other Biblical names - it sounds unusual without being unpronounceable, and its meaning - a precious aromatic - is genuinely evocative.
Keziah ranked No. 863 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 374 births. It has been climbing since around 2015, driven by the trend toward rare, meaningful Old Testament names.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Keziah - similar names
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