Delilah

דְּלִילָה

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Biblical English
• Meaning: delicate

• In the Book of Judges, Delilah is one of the most fascinating and complex women in the entire Bible. Her name likely comes from a Hebrew root meaning "delicate," but there was nothing delicate about her role in the Samson story, where she wielded real power and agency in a world that rarely granted women either. She has always been a figure who sparks conversation, and that boldness is exactly what makes her name so compelling for a new generation.

  Swiss Jewish actress Deleila Piasko—whose Hebrew first name is a form of Delilah meaning "delicate"—earned international acclaim starring in Netflix's World War II series "Transatlantic" and the German thriller "Der Schatten." Delilah has fully shed its cautionary-tale reputation and emerged as a darling of modern baby name lists. Its lilting, musical sound pairs beautifully with short surnames, and it ages gorgeously from toddlerhood to adulthood. There is real biblical heft here alongside a touch of rebellion — a name with drama baked in and no apologies necessary.

• Alternate Spellings: Delila
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Bilhah
  ,
  Lilith
  ,
  Samson
  ,
  Boaz
• Theme: positive qualities