Gedaliah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: geh-DAH-lee-ah /ɡɛˈdɑːliə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is great
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gedaliah has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the elements "gadal," meaning "to be great" or "to make great," and "Yah," a shortened form of the Tetragrammaton, the biblical name for God. This etymology reflects a meaning akin to "Yahweh has made great" or "God is great." The name appears in various forms in ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible, where it is transliterated as Gedalyahu.
The transition into English occurred through the translation of the Hebrew scriptures, particularly during the medieval period, when the name was adopted into Latin as Gedaliah, eventually making its way into English usage through the King James Version of the Bible in the early 17th century. Historically, Gedaliah is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the books of Jeremiah and II Kings, where he is depicted as a governor appointed by the Babylonians after the destruction of Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE.
His role as a leader during a tumultuous period in Jewish history has contributed to the name's enduring presence in Jewish tradition. Gedaliah's assassination, as recounted in the biblical narrative, marked a pivotal moment in the aftermath of the Babylonian exile, leading to further dispersion of the Jewish people.
Culturally, the name Gedaliah carries connotations of strength and divine favor, resonating within Jewish communities as a symbol of resilience and leadership. The observance of the fast of Gedaliah, commemorating his death, reflects the name's historical significance and its association with themes of loss and remembrance in Jewish history.
Variants of the name, such as Gedalia, have also been used, maintaining the connection to its original meaning and cultural heritage.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gedaliah, 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 Gedaliah. 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 Gedaliah was first seen in the United States in 2010.
Gedaliah has ranked as high as #27218 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Gedaliah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gedaliah 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 Gedaliah 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 Gedaliah.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Gedaliah
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.
No state data available for this year.