| Boaz | Uri | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | in him is strength (disputed) | My light, my flame |
| Origin | hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOH-az | OO-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1928 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 2025 (268) | 2023 (60) |
| In 2025 | 268 | 42 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Boaz | Uri |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,342 | 255 |
| 2010s | 1,315 | 294 |
| 2000s | 477 | 223 |
| 1990s | 180 | 144 |
| 1980s | 89 | 133 |
| 1970s | 57 | 167 |
| 1960s | 11 | 29 |
| 1950s | 0 | 5 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 5 |
Scholarly readings favor 'in him is strength' or 'in strength,' from be 'in' + oz (root '-z-z, 'to be strong'). An alternative traces it to a root meaning 'swiftness, quickness,' and Martin Noth preferred 'sharp mind.' The name of Ruth's husband and of a pillar of Solomon's Temple. The widespread name-site gloss 'swiftness' is weaker than the 'strength' reading; meaning is debated.
Uri means “my light” or “my flame” in Hebrew.
Boaz is more popular than Uri today: about 268 US babies were given the name Boaz in 2025, compared with 42 named Uri.
Boaz means in him is strength (disputed) (hebrew origin), while Uri means My light, my flame (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Boaz first appears in 1928 and Uri in 1913, so Uri has the longer recorded history.