Bilma Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BIL-ma /ˈbɪl.mə/
Origin: Hebrew; Arabic
Meaning: Hebrew: 'God is my oath'; Arabic: 'the one who is strong'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Bilma has its roots in the Hebrew language, deriving from the name Bilhah, which means "to be timid" or "to be fearful." Bilhah appears in the Hebrew Bible as the handmaid of Rachel, one of the wives of Jacob, and is the mother of two of Jacob's sons, Dan and Naphtali. The name Bilhah itself has been transliterated into various forms across different languages, including Greek and Latin, before making its way into English usage.
The transition from Hebrew to English primarily occurred through the translation of biblical texts, particularly the Septuagint in the 3rd century BCE and later the Vulgate in the late 4th century CE, which helped disseminate Hebrew names into the Christian tradition and subsequently into English-speaking contexts. Throughout history, the name Bilma and its variants have been associated with themes of servitude and maternal lineage, reflecting the biblical narrative surrounding Bilhah.
The name's historical significance is underscored by its connection to the patriarchal lineage of the Israelites, as well as its appearances in various religious texts and commentaries over the centuries. The name has been less prominent in historical records compared to other biblical names, but it remains a part of the broader tapestry of names derived from the Hebrew Bible.
Culturally, names like Bilma carry symbolic weight, often representing humility and the complexities of familial relationships within the biblical context. The name's association with Bilhah, a figure who played a crucial role in the lineage of the tribes of Israel, lends it a sense of historical depth.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist in different cultures, the core name Bilma retains its connection to its origins, embodying the themes of heritage and identity that are prevalent in many biblical names.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bilma, 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 Bilma. 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 Bilma was first seen in the United States in 1981.
Bilma has ranked as high as #1142 nationally, which occurred in 1987, and has been most popular in California.
In the past 5 years the name Bilma has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Bilma 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 Bilma was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Bilma (1987)
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.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
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 Bilma.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1990 | 9 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1987 | 9 |
| 1981 | 7 |