Gilead Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GIL-ee-ad //ˈɡɪliəd//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'great hill'; English: 'a place of refuge'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gilead has its roots in ancient Hebrew, derived from the Hebrew word 'Gilead' (גִּלְעָד), which is believed to mean 'hill of testimony' or 'mound of witness.' The name appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Gilead is mentioned as a region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm, which was highly valued for its medicinal properties. The etymological journey of the name into English likely passed through the Greek 'Gilead' (Γαλαάδ) and Latin 'Galaad' before being adopted into Middle English as Gilead, retaining its original biblical significance.
Historically, Gilead is significant in biblical narratives, particularly as a territory associated with the tribes of Israel. It is mentioned in various contexts, including the story of Jacob and Laban, where Jacob refers to a heap of stones as a witness between him and Laban, calling it Gilead.
The region is also noted for its association with the Judge Jephthah, who was from Gilead, and his story is recounted in the Book of Judges. The name's biblical connotations have led to its use in religious contexts, particularly in Christian traditions, where it symbolizes healing and refuge, as seen in the phrase "Is there no balm in Gilead?" from the Book of Jeremiah.
Culturally, Gilead has resonated through literature and religious texts, symbolizing hope and healing. The name has been invoked in various artistic works, including hymns and poems, reflecting its enduring significance in spiritual and literary traditions.
Additionally, the name has a diminutive form, Gilly, which has been used in various contexts, although its historical prominence is less pronounced than the full name. Overall, Gilead's historical and cultural associations contribute to its lasting presence in the lexicon of biblical names.
Fictional characters named Gilead
The following list of fictional characters named Gilead 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.
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Gilead is a fictional character from the novel The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. He is a significant figure in the dystopian society of Gilead, representing the oppressive regime that controls women's lives.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gilead, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Gilead was first seen in the United States in 1992.
Gilead has ranked as high as #1383 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Gilead has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gilead 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 Gilead was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Gilead
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 Gilead.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 1992 | 5 |