The name Nehemiah has its origins in ancient Hebrew and means "comforted by God" or "Yahweh comforts". It is a biblical name that first appeared in the Old Testament of the Bible, being the name of one of the most important figures in the Hebrew Bible.

Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who lived in the 5th century BCE and played a crucial role in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. His story is recounted in the Book of Nehemiah, one of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible. Nehemiah's unwavering faith and leadership inspired many and his name has been a popular choice among Jews and Christians for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nehemiah is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient Jewish religious manuscripts dating back to the 3rd century BCE. This suggests that the name was in use among Jewish communities during that time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nehemiah. One of the earliest was Nehemiah ben Hushiel (c. 1030-1100 CE), a Jewish scholar and grammarian who lived in Catalonia, Spain, and made significant contributions to the study of Hebrew grammar.

Another prominent figure was Nehemiah Hiyya ben Moses (c. 1650-1730 CE), a Jewish kabbalist and author from Hebron, Palestine, who wrote extensively on Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah.

In more recent times, Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) was an English plant anatomist and philosopher who made important contributions to the study of plant anatomy and physiology.

Nehemiah Adams (1806-1878) was an American clergyman and writer who served as a pastor in various churches in Boston and published numerous books on religious topics.

Nehemiah Persoff (1919-2022) was an American character actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows, including some of the most iconic movies of the 20th century, such as "Some Like It Hot", "Anatomy of a Murder", and "Yentl".