Origin and Meaning of Athaliah

Meaning & Origin

God is exalted

Origin: Hebrew - Derived from the Hebrew name 'Atalyah', which combines elements meaning 'God' (El) and 'to exalt'.

Interesting Facts

  • Athaliah is a biblical name, notably borne by a queen of Judah who ruled for several years in the 9th century BCE.
  • In Jewish tradition, Athaliah is often viewed as a negative figure due to her violent usurpation of the throne and her attempts to eradicate the royal line of David.
  • Athaliah appears prominently in the Old Testament in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
  • The name Athaliah is not widely used today, which makes it quite unique and less common in contemporary naming trends.
  • Variations of the name can be found in different forms such as Athalia, which has gained some popularity in modern usage.