The baby name Bilwa is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced BIL-wah (IPA: /ˈbɪl.wə/).
The baby name Bilwa is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced BIL-wah (IPA: /ˈbɪl.wə/).
Bilwa is Indian, Sanskrit in Origin.
From Sanskrit, Bilwa (often transliterated Bilva) denotes the sacred bael tree (Aegle marmelos), whose trifoliate leaves are ritually offered to Shiva. As a name it carries meanings of purity, devotion, and auspiciousness, and by extension evokes well‑being and healing, since the bael is prized in Ayurveda.
The word appears across Vedic and Puranic sources and in hymns such as the Bilvashtakam attributed to Adi Shankara; it also survives in compound names like Bilvamangala. As a given name Bilwa is used in India today, typically unisex but more common for girls. Variants and regional forms include Bilva (IAST), Vilva/Vilvam (Tamil–Malayalam), and Bel/Bael (Hindi–Bengali/English). In Devanagari it is written बिल्व/बिल्वा. Pronunciation varies by region: English BIL-wah or BIL-va. Related symbolism includes Shiva’s trident echoed in the three leaflets and the tree’s associations with prosperity and protection.
Bilwa is a genuine rarity. We count just 4 recorded uses of it worldwide, from 4 countries.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,039 | 1 | 16,750 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 |
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