Delilah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: deh-LIE-lah //dɪˈlaɪlə//
Origin: Hebrew; Arabic
Meaning: Hebrew: delicate; Arabic: night
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Delilah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "delilah," which means "delicate" or "weak." It appears in the biblical narrative of the Book of Judges, where Delilah is a Philistine woman who betrays the Israelite judge Samson by revealing the secret of his strength, which is tied to his uncut hair. This story, dating back to the 11th century BCE, has been a significant cultural touchstone, illustrating themes of betrayal and the complexities of love and power.
The name entered the English language through the Latin translation of the Bible, known as the Vulgate, which rendered her name as "Delila," and subsequently through the King James Version in the early 17th century, where it was spelled as "Delilah." Throughout history, Delilah has been associated with both seduction and treachery, often symbolizing the archetype of the femme fatale. The narrative of Samson and Delilah has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music, reinforcing the name's cultural resonance.
In the Renaissance, the story was revisited by various playwrights and poets, further embedding Delilah in the Western literary canon. The name has also been used in various adaptations and retellings, including operas and films, which have contributed to its enduring presence in cultural discourse.
Additionally, the name Delilah has been linked to themes of beauty and vulnerability, as suggested by its etymological meaning. This duality has allowed the name to maintain a complex identity, embodying both strength and fragility.
Diminutive forms such as Lila have emerged, reflecting a softer interpretation of the name while still retaining its historical roots. Overall, Delilah's journey from ancient texts to modern interpretations highlights its significant cultural and historical importance.
Famous people named Delilah
In this section, you will find notable people named Delilah. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Delilah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Delilah who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Delilah is a radio personality best known for her nationally syndicated radio show Delilah and her philanthropic work with children and families.
Fictional characters named Delilah
The following list of fictional characters named Delilah is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Delilah is a fictional character from the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. She is known for her role in betraying Samson by revealing the secret of his strength.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Delilah, 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 Delilah. 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 Delilah was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Delilah has ranked as high as #126 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Delilah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Delilah 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 Delilah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Delilah (2024)
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 | 637 | |
| TX | 506 | |
| FL | 212 | |
| OH | 171 | |
| NY | 158 | |
| IL | 152 | |
| NC | 143 | |
| GA | 132 | |
| IN | 124 | |
| AZ | 120 | |
| PA | 110 | |
| MO | 103 | |
| TN | 88 | |
| VA | 81 | |
| CO | 81 |
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 Delilah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,240 |
| 2023 | 4,045 |
| 2022 | 3,871 |
| 2021 | 3,759 |
| 2020 | 3,420 |
| 2019 | 3,156 |
| 2018 | 3,011 |
| 2017 | 2,897 |
| 2016 | 2,742 |
| 2015 | 2,739 |
| 2014 | 2,513 |
| 2013 | 2,345 |
| 2012 | 2,096 |
| 2011 | 1,837 |
| 2010 | 1,671 |
| 2009 | 1,705 |
| 2008 | 1,741 |
| 2007 | 1,136 |
| 2006 | 539 |
| 2005 | 487 |
| 2004 | 473 |
| 2003 | 438 |
| 2002 | 354 |
| 2001 | 379 |
| 2000 | 358 |
| 1999 | 355 |
| 1998 | 242 |
| 1997 | 225 |
| 1996 | 159 |
| 1995 | 155 |
| 1994 | 133 |
| 1993 | 138 |
| 1992 | 128 |
| 1991 | 151 |
| 1990 | 136 |
| 1989 | 153 |
| 1988 | 192 |
| 1987 | 219 |
| 1986 | 185 |
| 1985 | 236 |
| 1984 | 225 |
| 1983 | 252 |
| 1982 | 159 |
| 1981 | 115 |
| 1980 | 159 |
| 1979 | 196 |
| 1978 | 154 |
| 1977 | 151 |
| 1976 | 136 |
| 1975 | 132 |
| 1974 | 147 |
| 1973 | 156 |
| 1972 | 104 |
| 1971 | 131 |
| 1970 | 170 |
| 1969 | 90 |
| 1968 | 59 |
| 1967 | 53 |
| 1966 | 41 |
| 1965 | 54 |
| 1964 | 66 |
| 1963 | 80 |
| 1962 | 110 |
| 1961 | 108 |
| 1960 | 140 |
| 1959 | 111 |
| 1958 | 131 |
| 1957 | 158 |
| 1956 | 172 |
| 1955 | 148 |
| 1954 | 156 |
| 1953 | 214 |
| 1952 | 228 |
| 1951 | 184 |
| 1950 | 131 |
| 1949 | 96 |
| 1948 | 90 |
| 1947 | 55 |
| 1946 | 52 |
| 1945 | 45 |
| 1944 | 62 |
| 1943 | 78 |
| 1942 | 142 |
| 1941 | 80 |
| 1940 | 40 |
| 1939 | 41 |
| 1938 | 48 |
| 1937 | 55 |
| 1936 | 57 |
| 1935 | 63 |
| 1934 | 53 |
| 1933 | 54 |
| 1932 | 52 |
| 1931 | 53 |
| 1930 | 63 |
| 1929 | 53 |
| 1928 | 59 |
| 1927 | 46 |
| 1926 | 77 |
| 1925 | 50 |
| 1924 | 71 |
| 1923 | 64 |
| 1922 | 61 |
| 1921 | 61 |
| 1920 | 63 |
| 1919 | 64 |
| 1918 | 72 |
| 1917 | 62 |
| 1916 | 65 |
| 1915 | 52 |
| 1914 | 50 |
| 1913 | 49 |
| 1912 | 33 |
| 1911 | 24 |
| 1910 | 30 |
| 1909 | 29 |
| 1908 | 21 |
| 1907 | 12 |
| 1906 | 14 |
| 1905 | 22 |
| 1904 | 20 |
| 1903 | 18 |
| 1902 | 22 |
| 1901 | 16 |
| 1900 | 21 |
| 1899 | 24 |
| 1898 | 28 |
| 1897 | 16 |
| 1896 | 18 |
| 1895 | 15 |
| 1894 | 21 |
| 1893 | 19 |
| 1892 | 20 |
| 1891 | 28 |
| 1890 | 20 |
| 1889 | 20 |
| 1888 | 19 |
| 1887 | 14 |
| 1886 | 15 |
| 1885 | 12 |
| 1884 | 17 |
| 1883 | 11 |
| 1882 | 10 |
| 1881 | 10 |
| 1880 | 10 |