Fun Facts About the Name Dahlila
- 300 babies named Dahlila: U.S. records list 300 babies given the name Dahlila from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Dahlila Mean?
Dahlila is a spelling variant of Delilah, the name of the woman in the biblical book of Judges who betrays Samson. The name comes from Hebrew, and its meaning is derived from the root דלל (dalal), which carries the sense of hanging down, being thin, or being weak. From this root, the customary meaning given is "delicate," with the related sense of "weakness" or "languishing." The Hebrew text of Judges does not explain the name, so the meaning comes from its root letters rather than from a stated translation.
Not every explanation agrees. Some connect the name to a different root meaning "poor" or "small," and others have proposed a link to an Arabic word for flirtation or coquetry. These are competing suggestions rather than settled facts, and the exact force of the original name remains uncertain. The form Dahlila does not change the meaning; it is the same name written with a different first vowel, matching the "ah" sound heard in the Hebrew form D'lilah.
Dahlila Name History & Origins
The name enters written tradition through the Samson cycle in Judges 16, where Delilah is the woman of the valley of Sorek who learns the secret of Samson's strength and has his hair cut. That narrative is the earliest well-known appearance of the name, and its Hebrew form is דְּלִילָה (D'lilah).
The name then passed into Greek as Dalida in the Septuagint and into Latin as Dalila in the Vulgate. From the Latin form come the spellings used in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, where Dalila is standard. English Bibles settled on the spelling Delilah, which is the form most familiar in English.
Dahlila is a later English respelling. It keeps the biblical name but alters the first vowel to "ah" and leaves the medial syllable pronounced "ly," so it reads as a phonetic variant rather than a separate name. The initial Dahl- resembles the unrelated German and Scandinavian surname Dahl and the flower name Dahlia, but those share no origin with Delilah; the resemblance is only in spelling. The name's association with betrayal in the biblical story has been reinforced over the centuries by literary and musical retellings, including the oratorio Samson by Handel, which uses the Latin-derived form.
How Popular is the Name Dahlila?
Dahlila 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 2008. Its best rank was #4,383 in 2008.
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 | #12,198 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #10,433 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #9,762 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #8,139 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2021 | #15,784 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,435 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #10,671 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #8,727 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #8,921 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #7,339 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #7,359 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #10,316 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #7,850 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #6,165 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2011 | #6,196 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #6,713 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #7,128 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #4,383 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 2007 | #7,470 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #9,427 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #12,087 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #10,330 | 8 | 0.0005% |
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 Dahlila Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Dahlila's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dahlila's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.