Bilhah as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Bilhah

What is the meaning of the name Bilhah ?

The baby name Bilhah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced BIL-hah (IPA: /ˈbɪl.hɑː/).

Bilhah is Hebrew in Origin.

Bilhah is a feminine name of Hebrew origin (בִּלְהָה), appearing in the Book of Genesis as Rachel’s handmaid who bears Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali. The etymology is uncertain; scholars connect it either with the Hebrew verb balah “to wear out, grow old,” yielding senses like “weariness” or “faintness,” or with bahal “to be alarmed,” giving readings such as “timid” or “bashful.” Because the root is unclear, the meaning remains interpretive rather than fixed.

Usage has been rare across Jewish and Christian traditions, though the name is known through liturgy, commentary, and translations. In the Latin Vulgate it appears as Bala; English Bibles typically use Bilhah. Modern Israeli usage sometimes transcribes it as Bilha. Variant spellings are limited, and the name has few diminutives or cognates. Today it is chosen mainly by parents seeking a distinctive Old Testament tie and a compact, antique sound.

⚙ Bilhah is a rare find. There are only 26 recorded uses of it in our data, from 8 countries.