What Does the Name Delilah Mean? (2024)

  • Pregnancy
  • Baby Names

Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Delilah.

ByToketemu Ohwovoriole

Updated on August 4, 2024

Fact checked byKaren Cilli

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Delilah is an ancient name of Hebrew and Arabic origins. In Hebrew, the name means "delicate" and "languishing."

If you are familiar with biblical stories, then you’ll immediately recognize the name Delilah. Delilah was the love interest of Samson, who was famed for his great strength. Delilah found out that Samson's strength came from his long hair. As he slept, she had Samson’s hair cut causing him to lose his strength and be handed over to the Philistines. Because of this action, the name Delilah became associated with someone who is treacherous.

The name Delilah has since shed any negative connotations and has become popular in works of fiction and music. The Plain White T’s hit song "Hey There Delilah" is the most popular song to date with the name Delilah. Florence and the Machine, Tom Jones, and Queen also have songs named "Delilah."

  • Origin: Delilah is a name of Hebrew and Arabic origins.
  • Gender: Delilah is typically a feminine name, but it can be given to a baby of any gender.
  • Pronunciation: deh-lie-lah

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in yourname selection process. It's important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

What Does the Name Delilah Mean? (1)

How Popular Is the Name Delilah?

In the biblical story Samson and Delilah, Delilah is painted in an unflattering light. But the name has since shed that stigma and is currently one of the most popular girl names.

As of 2023, Delilah was the 52nd most popular name for girls in the United States. For most of the 1980s and 1990s, Delilah did not enjoy as much popularity. The name witnessed a sharp spike in popularity in 2007 (the year after the song "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's was released) when Delilah rose to the 297th most popular name and has been rising ever since.

Constellation Baby Names for Your Little Superstar

Name Variations

Some spelling variations of Delilah in other cultures include:

  • Dalida (Greek)
  • Dalila (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Latin)
  • Delila

Similar Names

If you are considering other biblical names for your baby, here’s a list of options:

  • Abigail
  • Deborah
  • Diana
  • Elizabeth
  • Esther
  • Eve
  • Hannah
  • Leah
  • Martha
  • Mary
  • Miriam
  • Moriah
  • Naomi
  • Rebecca
  • Ruth
  • Sarah

Common Nicknames for Delilah

Delilah is a meaningful and distinct name, and most bearers of the name like to make use of the full name. However Deli, Lala, Lily, and Lila are great nicknames for a baby named Delilah.

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Delilah? Here are some popular options:

  • Abraham
  • Amos
  • Caleb
  • Daniel
  • Danielle
  • Elijah
  • Ezekiel
  • Gabriella
  • Isaac
  • Jeremiah
  • Jordan
  • Levi
  • Michaela
  • Naomi
  • Sharon
  • Zachary

Famous People Named Delilah

If you are considering naming your baby Delilah, here’s a list of some famous and inspiring people who would also be sharing a name with your baby.

Famous Delilahs

  • Delilah Cotto, American actress, dancer, and model
  • Delilah DiCrescenzo, American distance runner
  • Delilah Pueka Gore, former member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
  • Delila Hatuel, Israeli foil fencer
  • Delilah Montoya, American contemporary artist and educator
  • Delilah Rene Luke, American radio personalitysimply known as Delilah
  • Delilah S. Dawson, American fantasy and science fiction author
  • Delilah Loud, featured in the television documentary An American Family

Fictional Deliliahs

Delilah is also commonly used in works of fiction. Some of the most popular include:

  • Delilah Belle Babco*ck, a character in the book series Deliciously British
  • Delilah Buchanan, a character in the American sitcom The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
  • Delilah Copperspoon, a character in the video game Dishonored
  • Delilah Hannaford, the main character in the book Fixing Delilah
  • Delilah Ralston, a character in the American television series One Life to Live

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

  • 50 Hebrew Baby Names
  • 20 Angel Names With Spiritual Meanings
  • The 300 Most Popular Middle Names for Girls

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Sources

Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Delilah. Britannica. 2024.

  2. Popularity of a Name.Social Security Administration.2024.

What Does the Name Delilah Mean? (2024)

FAQs

What does the name Delilah mean? ›

Delilah is an ancient name of Hebrew and Arabic origins. In Hebrew, the name means "delicate" and "languishing." If you are familiar with biblical stories, then you'll immediately recognize the name Delilah. Delilah was the love interest of Samson, who was famed for his great strength.

What does the name Dalilah mean? ›

Meaning:Delicate, weak, languishing; Guide, leader. Dalila is a girl's name of Hebrew origin with a complex character. Emerging from two possible roots, Dalila embodies both a reliable leader and a sensitive soul.

What is a Delilah in the Bible? ›

Delilah, in the Old Testament, the central figure of Samson's last love story (Judges 16). She was a Philistine who, bribed to entrap Samson, coaxed him into revealing that the secret of his strength was his long hair, whereupon she took advantage of his confidence to betray him to his enemies.

Who does the word Delilah refer to? ›

a seductive, treacherous woman; temptress. Word origin. Heb delīlāh, lit., delicate.

Is Delilah bad in the Bible? ›

James D. G. Dunn and John William Rogerson feel that the Bible portrays Delilah as "a doubly dangerous woman given her apparent independence", noting that she is not "identified by a male relationship - the wife, daughter or sister of anyone" but simply "appears in her own right".

What is the symbol of Delilah? ›

Delilah has long symbolized feminity and beauty while also harboring notions of vulnerability and treachery. In the biblical account, Delilah, an enchanting woman, used her seductive power to uncover the secret of Samson's immense strength, ultimately leading to his downfall.

What is short for Delilah? ›

Delilah is a meaningful and distinct name, and most bearers of the name like to make use of the full name. However Deli, Lala, Lily, and Lila are great nicknames for a baby named Delilah.

Is Delilah a rare name? ›

Given to nearly 4000 babies every year, Delilah is still on the rise, while its international form, Dalila, remains popular in Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What is the best girl's baby name? ›

Best Girl Baby Names: 51–100
  • Cora.
  • Madeline.
  • Natalia.
  • Ariana.
  • Lydia.
  • Lyla.
  • Clara.
  • Allison.

What does Delilah translate to? ›

Delilah is a feminine name of Hebrew origin that translates to “delicate” or "(she who) weakened." You may have heard this name from the story of Samson, a well-known figure found in the Bible and Tanakh. Delilah was Samson's mistress who cut his hair, thus removing his strength, in an act of betrayal.

What killed Delilah in the Bible? ›

Yes, the Biblical text (Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges) is silent about Delilah's life after she has successfully betrayed Samson; but films of the story often have her present among the crowd, meeting her death when Samson pulls down the pillars of the Temple of Dagon.

What lessons can we learn from Delilah? ›

The most important lesson we can learn from Samson and Delilah is that God prefers to forgive than to judge. Furthermore, Samson is named in the hall of faith, indicating that God viewed him as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:32).

What does Delilah mean in Greek? ›

Delilah was the name of the Philistine paramour of Samson. Since the Philistines were likely of ancient Greek origin, the name may be derived from an ancient Greek form of δᾱλός “fire-brand, thunderbolt, meteor,” a fitting name for the red hot Delilah.

Did Samson and Delilah have a child? ›

Samson and Delilah's Children

aggadah relates that Samson and Delilah did, in fact, have children. Eldad ha-Dani claims that their offspring dwelt in the land of Havilah, “where the gold is” (see Gen. 2:11). Mighty men like their father, they were the first to enter the fray in the war with the kings of Cush.

What is your Delilah? ›

Delilah can be a woman, a man, your job, money, or anything that you are tempted or enticed to desire more than you desire God. Are you hearing me today? We must always be aware that Delilah is not concerned about our weaknesses, but Delilah focuses on stripping us of our strength.

What does the name Dahlia mean? ›

Dahlia is a feminine given name derived from the name for the flower, which was named in honor of the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. His surname is of Germanic origin and refers to a person who lived in a valley. It is also a spelling variant of the name Dalia, which is also a Hebrew name meaning “hanging branch”.

Is Lilah short for Delilah? ›

Lilah is a feminine name of Arabic and Hebrew origin, meaning "delicate," and "night." In Hebrew, Lilah comes from the root name Delilah which means "delicate," whereas, in Arabic, it is derived from the name Leila or Layla, meaning "night." Lilah is a soft, melodic name that would be well suited to a baby born during ...

Is it Delilah or Dalilah? ›

While 'Delilah' may roll off the tongue with ease, its spelling can be a stumbling block for many. Variants like 'Delila,' 'Dalilah,' or even 'Deliah' are common missteps that people make.

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