It seems this name is a lot more controversial than I would have thought, judging by some of these comments. Personally, it's eh for me. Yeah the biblical Delilah did some bad stuff, but it's better (in my opinion) than naming your kid Jezebel or Lilith; plus it seems like the songs associated with this name drown out some of the negative association. Old Testament girl names aren't really my style, so I probably wouldn't use it, but it's a fine name.
I grew up as a Christian (specifically, Southern Baptist), so I've mainly heard this name in a negative light. I also have very bad association with a girl named Lilah (just Lilah). So, you may think that I also view this name in a negative way. Well, you'd be wrong; I think that Delilah is a gorgeous name! It reminds me of the word "delightful," so that's how I interpret it. If you are considering this name, I say to go for it!
My name is Delilah, and I pronounced it duh-lie-luh :)
― Anonymous User 9/7/2022
3
Delilah is one of my favourite names. It's so beautiful & unique. The Biblical association doesn't bother me at all. And it's actually breaking away from that association. I have a niece named Delilah & we call her Lilah a lot.
I love it. Del and Lilah are cute nicknames, sure the meaning is harsh but that’s not gonna stop me from loving it! Oh and I don’t care for the biblical association too. (And what a recent commenter also said, it also reminds me of the word “Delight” too!)
Delilah is an absolutely gorgeous name - it sounds beautiful and uplifting, and reminds me of the word ‘delight’. It’s a shame about the meaning and Biblical association though. (Poor Samson!) If only she had had a different name...
Delilah is an okay name but I personally do not like it. I could really care less about the Biblical figure but since it’s there I don’t find that desirable for a daughter. I prefer names that are more empowering for girls. Not to mention the name feels very flimsy and too delicate. I like the song though.
― Anonymous User 4/12/2022
-2
I really like the song 'Hey There Delilah' it’s beautiful, just like this name. Delilah is one of the most beautiful names I have ever heard.
It kinda bothers me that this name has become as popular as it is. The negative religious connotation might not bother people who're secular, but what if your daughter decides to become more religious in the future, there's a chance that she'll want to change her name?I just feel like if you pick a name from religious scripture you should pick one that's perceived unanimously positive. More girls were given the name Delilah last year than Sarah, Maria, Mary, and Esther. And I think that's a shame.
― Anonymous User 2/10/2022
1
I love this name, despite the association. I once knew somebody with the name Delilah. They wanted me to call them Lyla as a nickname.
It's pretty! You can also use nicknames like Elilah and Hey-there-Delilah and Ella. I also like the nicknames.
― Anonymous User 12/21/2021
4
Delilah is pretty and I love the song by The Plain White T's. I'm not sure that I would give my daughter this name because of the biblical namesake. Christians need to consider the history of Delilah, because she's not really a good role model. There are worse names out there though.
There's no doubt about it, the name Delilah definitely has an undeniably, alluringly beautiful charm to it, along with its adorably feminine nickname potential, Lyla. Although The Plain White T's hit song, “Hey There, Delilah” is a really cute association, I can easily understand how it would get annoying overtime for someone bearing this name. On the other hand, my (real) name is Breathe (pronounced exactly like the English verb), and although I've definitely received comments on associations with songs titled “Breathe” (such as Faith Hill's and Pink Floyd's song), it's not irritating enough for me to dislike my name. In-fact, I've always loved it. That being said, I don't think the association with songs titled “Delilah” would be as much of an issue as a lot of commenters here have made it out to be. Plus, it would be really sweet for her lover to sing it to her.Regarding the biblical association: Yes, Delilah betrayed Samson. Yes, Delilah made mistakes. However, (other than of Jesus, God and The Holy Spirit), every biblical figure, even the most beloved ones, made mistakes. King David, for example, had an affair with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, then murdered him, yet, because of his unwavering faith, David is still regarded as adored by many Christians and Jews alike (hence the popularity of the name David); Jonah fled to Tarshish in a (failed) attempt to hide from God and got swallowed by a giant sea creature, yet when he finally preached to Nineveh, the Lord used him greatly to draw them closer to God; out of anger and frustration, Moses broke the Ten Commandments tablets and wasn't allowed to enter the Promised Land, yet (with the help of God, of course) he is greatly credited for leading the Israelites out of slavery. Even Mary, the mother of the Son of God, was flawed, as she was a sinner as well. Nevertheless, today the Virgin Mary is one of the most respected people to have walked the Earth, and her name is one of the most common female names. Besides, people are still naming their children the classic name, Joseph (even though Stalin also shared the name), the timeless Theodore (even though Ted Bundy shared the name), the edgy Karla (even though Karla Homolka shared the name) and the charming Amelia (even though Amelia Dyer shared the name). My point in mentioning this is that, although I do believe names are quite powerful, they obviously don't define you. For example, not every Ted is a psychopath, nor every Amelia an infant-murderer. Those people still would've done those things had their names been anything else. Similarly, not every Delilah is a traitor. In-fact, (as some of the other commenters have stated) I think it would be pretty sweet to give the name Delilah a new twist and the positive image of a strong, beautiful woman with a big heart and passion for life. Even though the meanings (“delicate” and “weak”) are rather unfortunate and discouraging, I don't think it automatically makes the name bad. As I mentioned above, despite a name's potential power, it doesn't define you as a person. What defines you is your characteristics, soul, personality, and most importantly, your heart. Your name is like the title of your characteristics, soul, personality and heart, and that's important, but it's not what makes those things. God makes those things.Lastly, concerning the prostitute association: Technically, the Bible never says Delilah was a prostitute. In-fact, Judges 16:1 says, “One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.” Then, Judges 16:4 says, “Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” It's still possible that Delilah was a prostitute since it never says she wasn't one, but, judging by the Scriptures, they sound like two different women to me. So I don't even think Delilah was a prostitute.Overall, I personally probably wouldn't choose this name for my daughter, just because I'm more into very uncommon names, and even if I were to choose a biblical name, Delilah probably wouldn't be my first choice. However, I do think it's a pretty name, and I think it's sad to see how judgmental these commenters are of others who have chosen/want to choose this name for their daughter. It's especially sad for the individuals with the name Delilah, because they probably feel heartbroken reading these harsh, un-empathetic comments regarding their name. They may even feel as though they've “sinned” or “done something wrong” to receive it, which they definitely do not deserve to feel, especially since they (generally speaking) did not have a choice in choosing their name. And they shouldn't have to change it just because of some anonymous strangers' comments on the internet If you desire to name your child Delilah, then go for it. Don't let anyone else tell you what to do. The child is YOUR child, so you should have the right to bless them with the name you feel is perfect for them, and, as their parent, you're the only one who truly knows that. I once heard a quote that went something like this: “A (beautiful) name is the first gift you give to your child.” I think that is so gorgeous and so true! Also, if your name is Delilah, don't let these random people, who can think of nothing else to do but search a name on the internet and ignorantly rant about why they hate it, bring you down. They're not worth your time. Besides, they're probably just jealous and hate their own name, anyway. But that's not your fault, of course. You're beautiful, you're special, and you're loved by many, especially God. Thank y'all for taking the time out of your day to read this (very) lengthy comment, haha. I appreciate it, as I'm obviously very passionate about names ;)
Some say that the name could possibly originate from the Hebrew or Arabic word for night ("laylah"), since the story of Samson is a likely analogy for the 'weaker' moon eclipsing the sun.
Delilah is a really pretty name, that unlike its meaning isn't weak-sounding. It's a bit surprising that a Biblical name from a figure of such questionable character would thrive among the Puritans, but knowing them there was probably a bit of misogyny behind the use.I'd love the name more if it weren't for the song "Hey There, Delilah" by the Plain White Tees. It's not a bad acoustic / coffee house song, but on pop radio when I was in high school that song was OVERPLAYED, oh my gosh I got so sick of that song! (That, "The Reason" by Hoobastank, and "Photograph" by Nickelback were the unholy trinity of overplayed songs back in high school. Now I've just told everybody how old I am, lol!) Consequently, I got really sick of the *name*, for ages.I don't know how much the song is in public awareness anymore. But if it came on the radio, I'd likely race to change the station just as I did as a teenager. But the name itself isn't so tired to me anymore.
― Anonymous User 4/5/2021
-8
I love the name Delilah with the nickname Lilah. I guess I’m not as religious as I thought because I didn’t realize this was such a bad name from the Bible, oops. So I think I would be fine to use it because I don’t think a lot of people would connect the two. I like the song Hey There Delilah too, it would be cute to sing to her as a baby. I would use the name Delilah Rose for a little girl.
Very very pretty! I used to want to name a daughter it and May, I'm still young so who knows. It reminds me of "Hey there Delilah" by the Plain White Teas which is a beautiful song. Also I am not religious so the biblical meaning doesn't bother me.
― Anonymous User 2/18/2021
8
Gorgeous, however, I don't like the meaning: "delicate, weak." A bit pitiful in that way.
My 6 year old daughter's name! Delilah is a name I've always loved, and it fits my daughter very well. People have sang to her "Hey there Delilah" several times, and she loves that song. We call her Lily as a nickname, and she really likes it.
Gorgeous, ancient name. One of the best classics.ETA: this is my 1,000th name comment y'all! I ain't even been here that long. ¡Yay!¡.
― Anonymous User 11/29/2020
8
Okay, first this is my name and I sometimes hate it. But listen, y'all don't want a child's name to be this but I am religious and I agree my name is a horrible name for religious people. But please, my mom and dad are not religious. I became religious by myself. I don't like this name sometimes but some people say "why, that's a nice name." And some religious people have said that to me so please don't hate any child with that name.
― Anonymous User 11/13/2020
6
Please don’t do this to a poor child. I would absolutely hate being stuck with this name!
― Anonymous User 9/26/2020
-10
Delilah was an awful woman in the Bible.I really love this name, but it feels wrong to use it.
I really, REALLY love this name! I'm a Christian, though, so it would feel wrong to use it. I heard of the name Delaiah referenced in the bible one time and I think it makes a beautiful replacement for those who are in the same boat as me, regardless of religion. It was used by a man, but I'm pretty sure it'll suit a girl more perfectly. Hope this helped!
A weak female who betrays a great man. It sounds pretty, but the meaning is unacceptable.
― Anonymous User 8/9/2020
0
Since my name actually is DELILAH I am going to give my input. Growing up I hated my name and only preferred Lila. I would go out of my way to ensure no one knew my legal name was DELILAH. Mostly due to jokes kids and adults would tell about my name. I got all the songs sung to me or at me. Queen's "Delilah", Tom Jones', and of course the Plain White T's "Hey there Delilah." I grew up with people always asking if I was the talk show host off of the radio, telling me "love someone tonight". Last but certainly not least I got all the bible references. Asking me how Samson was or “Why did you have to cut his hair.” Now at the same time I've received compliments about the beauty and rarity of my name. I do have some trouble with people spelling and pronouncing it which is another reason I always go by Lila. People seem to understand that easier. Also it sucked growing up I could never find anything with my name on it. Lila, Lilah or Delilah. All that showed me was people are stupid. People are not original. People are going to pick on the name regardless of what it is. The name Delilah has many meanings, in Arabic the word Lilah means Night, so Delilah has been said to mean Queen of the Night, while many Hebrew sources say it means Delicate or Hair. The name comes from the Hebrew roots meaning "delicate night". It may also derive from Lilith, the much maligned yet powerful biblical first wife of Adam. That it would seem as treacherous and of the night reflects the rise of patriarchal interpretations of religion over that of an earthy, or night, goddess. Some of that power, though its moral nature is debated, remains an attribute of the name. Delilah was an extremely popular name with the Puritans because, although she deceived Samson, she was beautiful and clever, two prized assets. It also means from another site, seductive, treacherous woman; temptress My boyfriend sent this to me the other day and I find it the most wonderful thing. (No his name is not Samson.) Possibly the most gorgeous/beautiful girl on the planet, but not only on the outside. Delilah’s are probably some of the best people you’ll ever meet, they’ve got a unique sense of humor, a never ending supply of confidence and are anything but shallow. Funny, beautiful and nice. While their overall personality may seem aloof and lovable, they’re annoyingly independent, ambitious and have major goals and big dreams. And while Delilah can be a bit of a hot head, they’re fiercely loyal, to others, themselves and their goals. They don’t seem too worried about love, since they know they could definitely pull just about any guy they want without even batting an eye, which just makes them even cooler. Delilah is probably one of the coolest people/names you’ll ever meet, not to mention the funniest and most loving. Long story short, as I have gotten older I am falling more and more in love with my name and appreciate my mother did not name me something generic. My advice from a Delilah, don’t put too much faith in the meaning of the name. I fit the meaning of my name. I am as delicate as a time bomb, one wrong turn and I'll destroy you in such a way dental records will not help you. The only time I am weak is when my nails are drying, even then I can throw a knife, and the only time I am languishing is when I am tired and lounging on the couch after a long day’s work. You are who you are. Not what a book, person, or website says you are. Be unique when choosing a name.
This is my friend's baby girl’s name. She often goes by Lila and is precious! They get the “Hey There Delilah” fairly consistently. But I love sweet Delilah! Great name.
― Anonymous User 6/6/2020
6
The name Delilah is pretty, but unfortunately the meaning and the Biblical reference are awful.
Personally I think Delilah is a lovely name, however I didn't used to like it and it's definitely grown on me especially now I'm pregnant and trying to think of names I like. I don't think of the biblical association because I'm not religious and I don't think of the Hey There Delilah song I think of Queen's song, Delilah instead.
Delilah Marie would make a very cute first and middle name.
― Anonymous User 4/14/2020
6
I personally dislike this name, mostly because of the annoying song and the Biblical Delilah.
― Anonymous User 2/23/2020
-5
The Bible actually says very little about Delilah's background. It does not say she is a prostitute or that she was Philistine. In fact, the Bible never says they had sex or any kind of relationship. The Bible does say Samson had visited a prostitute (not Delilah) and was fairly destructive before he fell in love with Delilah. His moral character is hardly flawless. When he visited the prostitute, the Philistines tried to ambush Samson, but it didn't work. This seems to suggest Delilah was not in fact a prostitute, but love was the way to get to Samson. Philistine leaders demanded Delilah perform a task, probably knowing that Samson loved her. Had she refused, she probably would have lost her life, given what we know of a woman's status in those times. Delilah didn't love Samson and he wasn't exactly a beacon of purity, so it was probably a pretty easy decision when she was weighing her life and his. All we know is she was a woman who betrayed Samson and lived another day. She saved herself. Then her story ends. We don't know what becomes of her later. It's silly to show prejudice over a name that's widely misinterpreted.
― Anonymous User 11/10/2019
4
Objectively speaking, the name Delilah is unequivocally the worst name for any gender inclusive of all species. Whether you believe the Bible to be: literal, figurative, hybrid, or disbelieve altogether, the Bible is factually the most sold and read book in the World. The name Delilah can first be found in the Old Testament, in which Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (the most practiced religions in Western civilization) all accept and incorporate specified sections of the Old Testament. In the Book of Judges, Samson is the 15th Judge of Israel around 1154BC to 1124BC. Samson is synonymous with divinely inspired leader with renowned strength. He was a Nazirite, which literally translates to concentrated to the service of God. Scholars still debate ‘Philistine’ in regard to history, geography, genetics, etc. Thus, generally speaking, a Philistine is accepted as ‘from another nation’ meaning not people of God. Instead, they worship Dagon, the pagan mythological Fish deity. Whether metaphorical or not, Dagon is a false idol as believed by the Ancients of Israel or people of God. Delilah is a prostitute for the Philistines, in which she accepts 1,100 pieces of silver to figure out Samson’s strength. Contemporary biblical scholars note that Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of Silver. Samson falls in love with Delilah and they marry. She never loved him, and with premeditation she intentionally lies, cheats, manipulates, deceives, manipulates, imprisons, enslaves, gouges his eyes out, for the sake of materialism/idolatry. The nefarious wickedness is only paralleled to one other biblical name figure, Judas the Iscariot, the Betrayer of Jesus in the New Testament. Unfortunately, the entirety of my explanation is not based on personal subjectivity. I would find it vehemently repulsive to Google/Wikipedia/Ask Siri or Alexa my first name to discover my parents named me [first thing to come up if you were to type what does Delilah mean? Per she knows.com] Amorous (lustful, showing sexual desire), Delight (?), languishing (failing to make progress or be successful, weaken/waste away, seductress), and immediately going, then immediately mentioning the inescapable tricking Samson and betraying him in the Old Testament. Furthermore, there is excessive plethora of famous Renaissance Art, specifically Baroque paintings that depict Delilah and the Philistines. The context of Philistine has absolutely no respect to race, creed, religion, ancestry, etc. They are simply believed as in opposition of all things good or divine, and even have a connotation that makes it to the punchline of jokes for being unsophisticated/uncultured/ignorant. Ironically, cyber journalists mention that archaeology refuted such claims because archaeologists have discovered ‘perfumes and weapons’ in tombs believed to be of Philistine descent. Precisely, proving the point of worshiping false idols, ie materialism over morality in Roman Catholicism, a faction of the largest religion in the world, Delilah epitomizes a ‘mortal sin.’ You can read further into it, if interested, but simply her intent was premeditated, analogous to murder in the First Degree compared to Second Degree. Most importantly, the objective reality among my aggregate statement is from the perspective of all religions and including atheist. Certainty, you can find scholarly articles comparing the seven abominations of Delilah to the devil and evils in contemporary society. However, Eastern Religion, specifically Buddhism is a spiritual philosophy found in the pursuit to comprehend truth of suffering in the world. Meditation enables us to simplify the answers. The most prominent aspects of parenting is overwhelming our children with all things great and wanting the best, and instilling morals and values among the youth to make the world a better place. The previous statement is not exclusive to any belief system. Society is facing an abundance of evils in the world rooted in deceit, manipulation, lies, that further polarized and divides humanity, not unites one another in pursuit of solutions. I couldn’t help but notice the movie, The Joker, was an allegory of the world we live in. Problems are omnipotent, as we continually debate subjectivity of the problem, rather than discuss objectively the solution. Quite obviously, I believe naming a child Delilah is not cute, and incomprehensible. I would find it to be rooted in pure ignorance, or absent of care toward morality. Again, the first Delilah is the most wicked figure of the Old Testatment, in which naming a child the villain of good shows unfathomable ignorance. An illogical argument would be Charles isn’t a bad name just because Charles Manson was a serial killer. So why would Delilah be a bad name? This is the very first Delilah ever. She literally epitomizes that exact and direct literal meaning. Peers will certainly notice due to the popularity of the Bible and Western religions. Again, that is not an exaggeration, just ask Siri or Alexa who is Delilah. Fortunately, we can change our names, and mistakes happen. Reasoning to further rationalize such a name is beyond the realm of such a simple conversation of basic definitions and history.
― Anonymous User 11/3/2019
-19
I love it honestly. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use it though. A lot of Delilahs (in fiction at least) are actually pretty strong, I guess to counteract the whole delicate meaning. I'd just be thinking "oh my, oh my, oh my! You're irreSIIIIstibllle, woo woo woo" if I met one though.
― Anonymous User 8/17/2019
5
This name is not bad but, I can’t hear it without thinking of a greedy prostitute who lets her lover get his eyeballs scooped out.
― Anonymous User 7/15/2019
-7
The meanings "weak, languishing" are derogatory and are not empowering. The most famous bearer of this name was a hooker who sold her best friend out in an act of betrayal. The story makes it plain that she was not a spy and was only interested in money. In the past, Delilah has been used as a euphemism to refer to prostitutes. With all the names out there that belonged to inspiring women, the fact that some parents choose to name their daughter after a hooker makes you wonder about their motives.
― Anonymous User 3/25/2019
-12
I think this is a very pretty name. However I think the meaning behind it is terrible, and the fact that a nickname could be "DELI" like deli lunch meat is a huge turnoff. Also, "Hey There Delilah". Good song, but I'm sure you'd have that joke made at you constantly if you have this name lol.
In 2018, 2 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Delilah who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 554th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
― Anonymous User 10/16/2018
5
My niece's name is Delilah & I love it! It suits her! I think Delilah is a very pretty name & I love that it’s a flower power name! I love saying the name Delilah with a southern accent! We have come up with the cute nickname Deedee for my niece! We are not religious people so the biblical sense of the name does NOT matter to us. But I can understand why other people wouldn’t like it.
Jesus this name is one of the ugliest. It really does not flow with anything. Anything. It's just a brash and distracting name, and it just sticks out like a sore thumb. No thanks.
― Anonymous User 10/3/2017
-28
Love the song "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's, and love the name.
I love the name Delilah. I don't really care about the character in the Bible, as I don't believe in it. David is a pretty popular name, and he wasn't exactly the best character, either. The name is beautiful, and if people aren't going to use it because of one character, then it's their loss.
― Anonymous User 3/13/2016
9
I really don't care if this is the name of an traitor from the Bible; I love it.
― Anonymous User 3/10/2016
13
Super pretty name. I'd use it, if I had the opportunity to do so.
― Anonymous User 1/23/2016
8
My name is Delilah. I love my name. I don't think I'm all that bad and I definitely haven't cut anyone's hair off. I am called Lilac, Lilah, Lou, Lilo, etc. I resent Dede. Everywhere I go people ask "Hey there Delilah what's it like in New York City?" it gets pretty irritating if you ask me. Other than that I love my name.
Beautiful name. Delilah looks and sounds lovely. And it reminds me of the cute, sweet, catchy song as well. ;D.
― Anonymous User 10/12/2015
5
Delilah is a beautiful name. My personal favourite. I don't really care about the story, or believe it for that matter. Hopefully I'll get to give it to my daughter one day:-)
― Anonymous User 8/9/2015
8
My screen name has stated- so that I needn't- what my name is. I feel several things about the name I've been carrying for nearly 30 years, now. My name sounds delicate, and I can hear the tones of languish, indeed. I am well aware that it is blighted by an ancient stygma and seductive moral admonishments. I feel bemused and tickled at times at just how much force a name like it has. Although I'm not from any secret Persian royal lineage (I am African American, princess only to my future husband), but my name has maybe done what was intended and given me an edge of the exotic. Maybe my mother didn't want me to be entirely regular and black (I'm also above a 5 concerning the scale in brains and beauty), how was she to know who I'd be? Perhaps she wanted to give the world, and myself when I was old enough, a moments pause. I can guarantee it projects a different imagery than Jennifer, or Angel, or Denise could hope for. Delilah started her story as an object- and ended as author of her own fate. If Scarlett O'Hara can be loved for steel alone, why not she, as well? Some names are more than names. I could always see the change in the face of a man or woman after they were given my name. Their expectations of me changed- I suppose more was expected of a little black girl named Dehlilia. Names and words are what you make them, but this name made me stronger, more perceptive, and more contemplative. I'm proud to have not a name, but a tale, a philosophy, and a banner.
I have loads of favorite names, but this is my favorite female one. It's just gorgeous, and mellifluous. The meaning seems ironic to me because it sounds so strong and empowered. Not to mention the excellent songs in which it features! "Hey There Delilah," and Tom Jones' "Delilah," and "Modern Day Delilah"... And I couldn't care less what the biblical one did. Jezebel is a wonderful name, too.
This is one name I seriously don't get the appeal of. Why would you want to name your kid something meaning "weak"? Or name them after a Biblical villainess? I also hate that stupid Hey There Delilah song.
I know someone who gave her child a kreeyateef spelling of this name - Dylisla (looks like di-LIS-la doesn't it! It's actually da-LIE-la!), pretty much a mix of Dylan and Isla. She wanted to name her Delilah but she altered the spelling so she had her parents names in her name. I think she has spoilt a perfectly pretty name!
― Anonymous User 1/26/2013
5
My name is Delilah and I have a love/hate relationship with my name. It's great because it has a regal sound to it and I am the only Delilah for miles around. However, the biblical connotations arise frequently. When I was younger, I got teased for the whole Delilah/Samson thing but it did wear off. Now, people mainly mention the songs by Tom Jones and the Plain White T's which gets annoying after a while. I do like my name, though and I think it's a great name for a child. Don't let the small things put you off!
― Anonymous User 10/29/2012
13
American actor Patrick Fabian and his wife Mandy Steckelberg have a daughter named Delilah Grace (born 2012 in Los Angeles, California).
― Anonymous User 8/11/2012
3
I like this name. I've considered it for a child (with the nickname Della which I'm also fond of). I don't put a lot of stock into mythologies surrounding a name. I wish the meaning was different though.
Ashton Delilah Shepherd is an American country singer.
― Anonymous User 3/17/2012
3
Nothing about this name is good. The sound of it is ugly, the meaning is horrible (nice job, telling your daughter she is weak), and the Biblical connection is extremely negative. In fact I thought that the Samson and Delilah story would be enough to keep this name unpopular forever, but obviously I was wrong.
It's very pretty. I don't really care for the events of Samson and Delilah (I mean, you don't know it happened for sure.) I think more of the adorable Plain White T's song, Hey There Delilah. I would like to use it on a future daughter.
― Anonymous User 8/22/2011
2
I hate this name. I know one little girl with this name. She is about 8 years old. She gets teased and her name is constantly pronounced incorrectly. Do you kid a favor and leave this name in the books.
"Hey there Delilah", from PLAIN WHITE T'S is a song from that band. That's my first initial impression I get. The song is sweetly melodic so for that is also the name, sweet.
I think the name is strong in a way but also sweet and delicate, but in the end I love the name.
― Anonymous User 6/3/2011
4
Delilah Loud, the daughter in the groundbreaking early 70's PBS documentary, An American Family.
― Anonymous User 5/12/2011
3
Biblical scholars tend to believe that the story of Samson and Delilah is a retelling of an ancient Middle Eastern fable which is pagan in origin and far older than the Bible.The fable is one about the sun and the moon - note that Samson means "sun" and Delilah sounds similar to the Arabic names meaning "night". No doubt Delilah sapping Samson's strength is just a simple tale of the "weak" moon seemingly overpowering the "strong" sun each night.
For me, it's easy to ignore the negative associations with the name Delilah. This is possibly because, although the name isn't super common, it's still fairly well used. It's not a name like Jezebel, which is extremely unpopular as a given name and is pretty much exclusively associated with the woman from the Bible. Delilah has been used enough so that I don't automatically think of the biblical Delilah. Instead, I simply think of Delilah as a strong and beautiful name that is capable of moving beyond it's biblical associations.
I love this name and would definitely consider using it. The negative biblical connotations don't matter to me. One person who bore this name has nothing to do with every other person who has this name, and if I were to name a daughter Delilah it's not like I'd be naming her after the woman from the Bible. I'd be giving my daughter a name that I think is beautiful and I would be choosing not to let one person ruin a perfectly good name.
― Anonymous User 12/26/2010
11
"Lila" is a shortened form of the name "Delilah". Additionally, "Lila" can be a variation of the names "Layla", "Lilian" and "Lily".
― Anonymous User 12/13/2010
2
My favourite name! I'm not religious, so I have no problems with its Biblical connections, and despite the name meaning weak, I think the Biblical Delilah would've been a very strong, independent woman to be able to betray Samson.
― Anonymous User 6/20/2010
2
Delilah was the name of a horse in the tv and book series The Saddle Club. She had a foal named Samson at the end of the first series.
― Anonymous User 6/20/2010
2
I've always thought Delilah was a beautiful name. Same thing with Jezebel. But in my youth group (I'm a Christian, in case anyone was wondering), another girl mentioned that if she ever had a daughter, she'd want to name her Delilah Faye. I think that name is *beautiful*!
― Anonymous User 2/16/2010
2
I have always loved the name Delilah. I am Catholic and I consider this as a baby's name. It is a shame that this name belongs to this person who is shunned by my religion. What if it wasn't really her name? I am sure that Adam and Eve weren't the names of the first two people on Earth. The names aren't old enough and are used in English.
My daughter’s name is Delilah. A name is all a matter of point of view. The masculine implications of the name insight deception, however from a feminine point of view, the biblical illustrates a strong woman, with the means to take charge, be strong and resolve a need, whether her own or others, she gets the job done. She is beautiful to an end that any man, even the strongest would crumble to meet her needs. She is in command, a siren that knows what she wants and how to get it. She is what any mother would want, a strong, independent, beautiful, intelligent woman who could lead rather than follow. Songs are written about Delilah’s gifts, she is indeed unique, the name in essence vows that love has no bounds.
My name is Delilah Rose and I always have issues with the Tom Jones, Plain White T's and Biblical references, but I don't shun them. The notoriety is fun and people always tell me I have a gorgeous name. I am hardly ever called Lilah, and Lily is the farthest from nicknames for me. And I hate being called Dee or DeeDee. My closest family and friends always refer to me as "Ly", and my grandmother calls me "Lylee". As for its infamy, I am pretty offended that most Christian name books won't even acknowledge it as a possible name for a baby. It worked just fine for the Puritans.
I usually dislike -iah names; they sound so foreign and holier-than-thou, like something an Amish couple would pick for their (unfortunate) children, but I like Delilah. It's very beautiful and regal, without sounding overly pompous or tacky. It makes me think of a beautiful Eurasian girl, strangely enough.
― Anonymous User 1/14/2009
-4
My problem with this name is NOT the biblical character. It's very pretty, and the story could very well be fiction, but it makes me the think of that annoying song "Hey There Delilah".
I love the name Delilah. I think it's a bit too grown up on a little girl and I don't like the nickname Lila for it so I would use it as a middle name. I agree with the poster a few comments above; naming a daughter Delilah is a nice way of showing you couldn't care less about the "bad" biblical connection. If I ever name a daughter Delilah, it will be after the lovely song by the Plain White T's.
What a delectably beautiful name! Delilah was one of several Biblical "bad girls" but in my opinion has the loveliest name of all! Her treachery would stop me using the name, for she is inextricably linked to the name, as its prototype. Similarly, I'd never use Jezebel. Two other Biblical "bad girls" - Eve and Vashti - were guilty of disobedience to their husbands, and so not so heinous in their "crimes" as Delilah and Jezebel!
I love this name. It's beautiful. I'm not religious and even if I was I would not dislike this name just because of something that happened in the bible.
I love the name Delilah, and I don't think just because one person with the name was bad, doesn't mean everybody else is going to be a bad person. For example, there was a serial killer who went by the name Jack-the-Ripper, but that didn't stop people from naming their children Jack.
― Anonymous User 1/19/2008
8
Delilah is such a beautiful name and it is one of my favorites. I don't think it should be ruined because of the girl in the Bible called Delilah. It's simple and it has a nice meaning (though I don't want to name my daughter this). I once saw that it meant ´´Hair`` (I don't think that is true) or ´´One who Weakened``. I think I'll stick to ´´Delicate``!
I love the name Delilah, but I think it makes a better dog name than a girls name. My uncle used to have a doberman pincher named Delilah, so when I hear that name I think of this really sweet, loveable dog.
I love the name Delilah. It is absolutely beautiful. I also love that she was a "femme fatale" in a ridiculous biblical story because that makes the name better for people who don't believe such nonsense. Delilah is a melodic and beautiful name. If you don't like this name, then don't use it, simple as that.
Personally, I think Delilah is a wonderful name, despite the bad rap it might get. No one who hears that name is going to think that girl is the "original" Delilah, nor have anything to do with her. She'll just be a girl with a pretty name.
― Anonymous User 4/26/2007
7
I wouldn't hesitate using this name because of Biblical connotations, because in my opinion, the connotations are good. Delilah, beautiful, strong, and intelligent, was a sort of spy for the Philistines. And while she betrayed Samson, who was God's chosen, Samson had already betrayed God by repeatedly disobeying him.
― Anonymous User 3/13/2007
1
Technically his hair was not the source of his strength, his hair represented the oath he had taken and in that way was set apart for God. It wasn't the haircut, it was the broken oath.
Delilah does have a very pretty sound to it. The Tom Jones song isn't bad either. The smarmy call-in radio woman in the US IS bad, however. Lol, I always thought it would be fun to open a men's hair salon and call it Delilah's.
Delilah is a beautiful name for a girl. No past history on the name should stop you from using it. Maybe your child will turn the name around and make it have a good image. I like the nickname Lila/Lilah for this name.
― Anonymous User 8/26/2006
5
I don't see why this name should be turned on for the reasons given. Forgive the example, but I doubt if you saw a prostitute named Ashley on Jerry Springer who had told her boyfriend's most crippling secret to someone who brought his very purpose of life down with it, would you turn your back on the name. Just because Delilah played her mistake out in biblical times doesn't mean she was more damned than hypothetical Ashley. And that's what it was, a mistake. No one's to say Delilah didn't in the end love Sampson, or that he didn't forgive her for it, or that she didn't regret the act. She was just a girl who lived the story of her life, just as your daughters by the same name would live out their individual story. If the name feels right, use it.
― Anonymous User 8/4/2006
5
"Hey There Delilah" is a song by the Plain White T's that I love and I love the name as well. I don't see anything wrong with using it, even though it seems to be controversial - it's a beautiful name and deserves to be treated as such.
"Hey there, Delilah, what's it like in New York City, I'm a thousand miles away, but tonight you look so pretty, yes you do. Times square can't shine as bright as you."
Delilah is a fine name. People name their kids Diana, though by all acounts, she was a very vengeful and occasionally violent goddess. People name their children Lorelei, after a siren-like being who lured sailors to the rocks. The meaning or background of a name does not necessarily ruin the name.
As several others have said, I love the name Delilah, but the connection it has to a biblical 'bad guy' sort of ruins the name for me. I also like the nickname Lily for Delilah.
Tom Jones is not the only one to sing about "Delilah". Freddie Mercury (& Queen) did a song on their Innuendo album which in fact was all about one of Freddie's beloved cats. In tribute to the memory of Freddie, we named our new puppy "Delilah".
Don't you think the biblical Delilah wasn't exactly aptly named? Someone who's capable of torture and murder definitely isn't a delicate little flower.
I can only hear it sung by Tom Jones. There is also a woman on the radio in America, who I cannot stand, called Delilah, the show has her name.
― Anonymous User 12/16/2005
-3
Delilah seems to be a controversial name, but in fact it was favoured by the (deeply religious) Puritans in the 17th Century. The Biblical character was treacherous, but also a beauty and intelligent, which may be why they adopted her name.
― Anonymous User 10/29/2005
5
I do not think this is a good name. Despite how pretty it is, the original Delilah betrayed one of God's people, Samson. Because she betrayed Samson, I don't think this is a good name. I do acknowledge that it is pretty, though.