Athalia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-THAL-yah //əˈθeɪliə//
Origin: Hebrew; Greek
Meaning: Hebrew: God is exalted; Greek: of the house of God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Athalia has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name Atalyah, which means "afflicted by God" or "God has constrained." The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, where Athaliah is a notable figure. She was the daughter of King Ahab of Israel and Queen Jezebel, and she ruled as queen in Judah during the 9th century BCE.
The name transitioned into Greek as Athalia, and subsequently into Latin, which helped facilitate its entry into various European languages, including English. Athaliah's story is significant in biblical history, as she is often remembered for her ruthless ambition and the violent means by which she sought to maintain power.
Her reign is marked by the usurpation of the throne and the attempted extermination of the royal line of David, which ultimately led to her downfall. The narrative surrounding her life and rule is captured in the Second Book of Kings, which has been influential in both religious and literary contexts throughout the centuries.
Culturally, the name Athalia has been associated with themes of power, ambition, and divine judgment, reflecting the complex nature of its biblical namesake. The name has also been used in various literary works and artistic representations, contributing to its resonance in Western culture.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, Athalia itself carries a weight of historical significance that underscores its enduring legacy.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Athalia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Athalia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Athalia was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Athalia has ranked as high as #3832 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Athalia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Athalia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Athalia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Athalia.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 89 | 89 |
| 2024 | 87 | 87 |
| 2023 | 84 | 84 |
| 2022 | 64 | 64 |
| 2021 | 60 | 60 |
| 2020 | 43 | 43 |
| 2019 | 31 | 31 |
| 2018 | 37 | 37 |
| 2017 | 25 | 25 |
| 2016 | 35 | 35 |
| 2015 | 35 | 35 |
| 2014 | 20 | 20 |
| 2013 | 27 | 27 |
| 2012 | 15 | 15 |
| 2011 | 19 | 19 |
| 2010 | 25 | 25 |
| 2009 | 19 | 19 |
| 2008 | 21 | 21 |
| 2007 | 18 | 18 |
| 2006 | 27 | 27 |
| 2005 | 21 | 21 |
| 2004 | 23 | 23 |
| 2003 | 15 | 15 |
| 2002 | 16 | 16 |
| 2001 | 11 | 11 |
| 2000 | 12 | 12 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 5 | 5 |
| 1996 | 10 | 10 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 |
| 1977 | 6 | 6 |
| 1976 | 5 | 5 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 |
| 1927 | 5 | 5 |
| 1925 | 10 | 10 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 |
| 1919 | 8 | 8 |
| 1918 | 7 | 7 |
| 1916 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 8 | 8 |
Top States for Athalia (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 23 | |
| CA | 22 | |
| IL | 5 |