Fun Facts About the Name Athaliah
- 415 babies named Athaliah: U.S. records list 415 babies given the name Athaliah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Athaliah Mean?
Athaliah is a Hebrew name, 'Atalyah (עֲתַלְיָה). It is a theophoric name, meaning one that contains a form of the divine name. The ending -yah (which also appears in the longer form -yahu) is a shortened form of YHWH, the God of Israel. The first element, 'atal, is not securely understood. The common explanation connects it with a root meaning "to be exalted" or "to grow great," giving the sense "Yahweh is exalted." Another proposal links it to Akkadian etellu, "lord, prince, noble," which would yield something like "Yahweh is lord." Because the first element is uncertain, "Yahweh is exalted" is a customary interpretation rather than a settled literal translation.
Athaliah Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible the name belongs chiefly to a queen of Judah. 2 Kings 8:26 calls her the daughter of Omri, king of Israel, while 2 Kings 8:18 describes her as belonging to the house of Ahab; since Omri was Ahab's father, "daughter of Omri" is generally read as "descendant of Omri." She married Jehoram of Judah, and their son Ahaziah became king. According to 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22 - 23, after Ahaziah's death she had the royal line put to death and ruled Judah for six years, until the priest Jehoiada crowned the boy Joash and she was killed.
The same books record a second, unrelated Athaliah: a Benjamite, son of Jeroham, in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8:26. The name was carried into Greek as Athalia (Ἀθαλία) in the Septuagint, and the historian Josephus also uses that Greek form. In English Bibles the usual spelling is Athaliah, while the shorter form Athalia appears in later works, most notably as the title of Jean Racine's tragedy Athalie (1691) and George Frideric Handel's oratorio Athalia (1733), both based on the biblical queen.
How Popular is the Name Athaliah?
Athaliah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #2,217 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,217 | 83 | 0.0052% |
| 2024 | #2,657 | 65 | 0.0040% |
| 2023 | #4,755 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #6,482 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #4,732 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2020 | #5,338 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2019 | #4,663 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2018 | #7,141 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #7,132 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #6,939 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #14,728 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #8,533 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #8,637 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #13,675 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #13,536 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #15,203 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #12,573 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #11,719 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #14,067 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #13,806 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #13,711 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #14,648 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Athaliah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Athaliah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Athaliah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.