Delilah
Say it: de-LY-la/dɪˈlaɪlə/
Girl7 letters3 syllables
#160
in Ireland (2025)
#162 with spellings combined
29
babies in 2025
#162
best rank (2025)
150
babies since 2012
Up 593
10-year rank change
Delilah through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #162 |
| 2024 | 25 | #181 |
| 2023 | 24 | #190 |
| 2022 | 23 | #204 |
| 2021 | 12 | #339 |
| 2020 | 9 | #407 |
| 2019 | 5 | #613 |
| 2018 | 6 | #556 |
| 2017 | 6 | #580 |
| 2016 | 4 | #749 |
| 2015 | 4 | #755 |
| 2012 | 3 | #908 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Delilah mean?
Uncertain
Hebrew, the name of a woman in the Bible story of Samson.
Say it right
deLYla
The story of Delilah
Delilah is a Hebrew name from the Bible, and its meaning is uncertain. It has sometimes been linked to a Hebrew root meaning “to weaken”, but that explanation is not settled. In the Book of Judges, Delilah is the woman who learns the secret of Samson’s strength, his uncut hair, and betrays him to the Philistines.
For a long time that story kept the name rare. Its recent rise is often linked to the 2006 song “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s, and to its closeness to popular names like Lila and Lily.
Delilah first reached the CSO list in 2012. It was still at number 755 in 2015, but 2025 was its best year so far, with 29 girls and a place at number 162. It has followed a similar path in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 134 in 2024.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Delilah (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Delilah (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Delilah | 29 | 150 |
In Northern Ireland
#177 in 2025 with 10 babies. Best rank #134 (2024); 78 babies since 2014.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.