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Delila

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Delila Pronunciation

Delila is pronounced də-LY-lə /dəˈlaɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Delicate, tender, languishing; variant of Delilah, the woman who beguiled Samson in the Book of JudgesMedium

In 30 seconds: Delilah traveling lighter by one h: the same silken Hebrew name — 'delicate' — that undid history's strongest man. The Plain White T's serenaded its sound back into fashion.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningDelicate, tender, languishing; variant of Delilah, the woman who beguiled Samson in the Book of Judges

U.S. rank (2024)#3452 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births45 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,523

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Delila is a spelling of Delilah, the Hebrew name usually derived from a root meaning 'delicate, tender' or 'to languish' — borne by the Philistine-allied woman who coaxed out the secret of Samson's strength. Long avoided for its associations, the name's sheer beauty won out in the twenty-first century.

The h-less form matches German and Scandinavian renderings and appears as a rarer sister in U.S. records. The 2006 hit 'Hey There Delilah' did for this sound what whole decades of revival couldn't.

Did you know? For all her infamy, the Bible never says Delilah cut Samson's hair herself — she called a man to do the barbering while the hero slept.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Delilah — etymology

Variations

DelilahDalilaDelyla

Nicknames

LilaDellaLily

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Delila…

Delilah— the standard spelling of the same biblical name

Dalila— the Spanish and Swahili-adjacent sister form

Lila— the gentle short form gone independent

Talitha— a fellow lyrical Aramaic-Hebrew revival

→ See all names like Delila

Browse the whole category: All Hebrew names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Delila?

Delila is pronounced də-LY-lə (/dəˈlaɪ.lə/). Press play above to hear Delila said aloud.

How do you say Delila?

Delila is said də-LY-lə (/dəˈlaɪ.lə/). Press play above to hear Delila said aloud.

What does the name Delila mean?

Delila is a variant of Delilah, from a Hebrew root usually read as 'delicate, tender'.

Is Delila a boy or girl name?

Delila is a girl's name.

How popular is Delila?

Delila is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Delilah is the fast-risen standard.