Entry № 1401 · Hebrew origin

Delilah Delilah — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ deh-LIE-lah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Hebrew
Meaning
"Delicate; she who weakens"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 87
First recorded
Ancient (Hebrew Bible)

A name that means "delicate; she who weakens".

Delilah comes from the Hebrew Delīlāh (דְּלִילָה), meaning "delicate," "languishing," or — by folk etymology — "she who weakens." In the Book of Judges, Delilah is the Philistine woman who betrayed Samson by cutting his hair.

Despite the biblical association, Delilah has been used as a girl's name for centuries, particularly in the African American community. Today it sits in the U.S. top 100 — having surged in the 2020s as part of the broader return of biblical names.

Delicate. The Hebrew word, reclaimed.

The name in its native script.

דְּלִילָה
Transliteration
Delīlāh
Pronunciation
/ dɪˈlaɪ.lə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Delilah stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 87 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 87 in 2025
Babies named Delilah · last year
3214 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №87 NOW · №87

Delilahs before her.

Real people
Delilah
American radio personality.
born 1960
In fiction
Delilah
Philistine woman in the Book of Judges.
Hebrew Bible
Delilah
Subject of Tom Jones's 1968 song.
1968 song

Names connected to Delilah.

The number behind Delilah.

3

The Communicator

Delilah reduces to three — the number of soft expression.

Why families chose this name.

"We took back the name from its Bible story. She is no betrayer — she is our daughter."
Naomi · Mother of one · Atlanta