Fun Facts About the Name Peleg
- 10 babies named Peleg: U.S. records list 10 babies given the name Peleg from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Peleg Mean?
Peleg is a masculine name of biblical Hebrew origin, traditionally understood to mean "division." It is connected with the Hebrew root p-l-g (פלג), which has the sense "to divide" or "to split." A related Hebrew noun, peleg (פֶּלֶג), means "channel" or "canal," especially an irrigation channel, so the name can also be associated with that concrete sense. The customary English meaning, "division," comes from the explanation given in the book of Genesis rather than from Greek or Latin.
In Genesis 10:25, the name is explained by a wordplay: "the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided." That verse ties the name to the root meaning "divide," and it is the source of the traditional gloss "division." The related noun sense "channel" is ancient, but it is not the meaning the biblical text emphasizes. Later symbolic readings sometimes link Peleg's days to the Tower of Babel and the division of languages, but that connection is an interpretation, not the literal etymology of the name.
Peleg Name History & Origins
Peleg appears in the Hebrew Bible as a son of Eber and a descendant of Shem. Genesis 10:25 names him and his brother Joktan and adds the explanation that the earth was divided in his days. Genesis 11:16 - 19 places him in the line from Shem to Terah, the father of Abram, and 1 Chronicles 1:19 repeats the genealogy. In these passages Peleg is an ancestor of Abraham and thus part of the biblical ancestry of Israel, which gave the name a lasting place in Jewish and Christian tradition.
In Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible, the name was written Φαλέγ (Phaleg); the Gospel of Luke has the slightly different Greek form Φαλέκ (Phalek). The Latin Vulgate used Phaleg in Genesis and Phalec in Luke. English Bibles usually returned to the Hebrew form Peleg for the Genesis patriarch, while older translations influenced by Greek or Latin sometimes used Phaleg or Phalec. Luke 3:35 includes him (as Phalec in the King James Version) in the genealogy of Jesus, so the name also entered Christian usage through the New Testament. The biblical form Peleg is the one generally used in modern English for the patriarch, while Phaleg and Phalec survive mainly in older translations and in references to the Greek and Latin texts.
How Popular is the Name Peleg?
Peleg 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 2016. Its best rank was #13,578 in 2021.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #13,578 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #13,681 | 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 Peleg Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Peleg's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Peleg's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.