Athalie Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-tha-lee /ˈæθəˌli/
Origin: Hebrew; French
Meaning: Hebrew: 'God is my refuge'; French: 'noble'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Athalie has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the name Atalyah, which means "God is exalted." This name transitioned into Greek as Athalia, and subsequently into Latin, where it appeared as Athaliah. The name entered the English language through the influence of biblical texts, particularly the Old Testament, where Athaliah is a notable figure.
She is described in the Second Book of Kings as the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and she ruled as queen in her own right, marking a significant moment in the history of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the 9th century BCE. Athalie’s historical significance is underscored by her dramatic narrative in the biblical account, where she is portrayed as a powerful and controversial ruler.
Her reign is characterized by political intrigue and conflict, particularly her attempts to eliminate the royal line of David, which ultimately led to her downfall. This story has been a subject of interest in various literary and artistic works throughout the centuries, including the tragic play "Athalie" by Jean Racine in the 17th century, which further cemented the name's cultural resonance in European literature.
Culturally, Athalie embodies themes of power, ambition, and the complexities of female leadership in a patriarchal society. The name has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting the multifaceted nature of its biblical namesake.
The diminutive form "Atha" may also be noted, though it is less commonly used. Overall, Athalie's enduring legacy is tied to its rich historical roots and the dramatic narratives that surround its biblical origins.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Athalie, 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 Athalie. 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 Athalie was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Athalie has ranked as high as #808 nationally, which occurred in 1915, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Athalie has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Athalie 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 Athalie was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Athalie
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
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 Athalie.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1926 | 9 |
| 1924 | 10 |
| 1923 | 8 |
| 1922 | 16 |
| 1921 | 12 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 13 |
| 1917 | 5 |
| 1916 | 23 |
| 1915 | 26 |
| 1914 | 7 |