Dalylah

Meaning & origin

Dalylah is a modern respelling of the ancient name Delilah, first appearing in U.S. birth records in 2001. Its popularity peaked in 2019, when it reached its highest rank, but has since declined, with a trajectory showing decreasing use after 2019. The name has remained extremely rare: in 2025, it was given to approximately 1 in 59,528 girls, placing it at rank 4,878. The variant is most common in Texas, reflecting regional preference for creative spellings. Dalylah's appeal lies in its phonetic similarity to popular names like Layla and Aaliyah, while offering a distinctive orthography. As a 21st-century coinage, it has no documented use before the modern era.

Dalylah is a modern variant spelling of Delilah, a name with debated origins. In the Hebrew Bible, Delilah is the figure who betrays Samson, and the name is often linked to the Hebrew word 'dal' meaning "weak" or "poor," or perhaps to 'laylah' meaning "night." Alternatively, it may derive from the Arabic root 'd-l-l' meaning "to guide" or "to lead," giving the meaning "guide" or "leader." The spelling with 'y' and 'h' is a 21st-century American innovation, popularized alongside similar variants like Dalila and Dalylah.