Boy nameCurrently #1,181 in the USSteady
Bilal
bih-LAHL//bɪˈlɑːl//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20185 lettersStarts with B
Meaning & origin
Moistness, freshness (traditional companion name)
Bilal's literal Arabic root is debated, sometimes connected to freshness or moisture, but the name's significance comes overwhelmingly from Bilal ibn Rabah, an early companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the first muezzin in Islamic history. It remains a widely used and honored name across the Muslim world.
Bilal's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Bilal |
|---|---|
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1966 | 6 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1973 | 8 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1975 | 25 |
| 1976 | 34 |
| 1977 | 46 |
| 1978 | 44 |
| 1979 | 51 |
| 1980 | 63 |
| 1981 | 47 |
| 1982 | 56 |
| 1983 | 41 |
| 1984 | 45 |
| 1985 | 40 |
| 1986 | 52 |
| 1987 | 57 |
| 1988 | 52 |
| 1989 | 100 |
| 1990 | 104 |
| 1991 | 119 |
| 1992 | 107 |
| 1993 | 97 |
| 1994 | 99 |
| 1995 | 103 |
| 1996 | 95 |
| 1997 | 127 |
| 1998 | 104 |
| 1999 | 116 |
| 2000 | 133 |
| 2001 | 136 |
| 2002 | 168 |
| 2003 | 146 |
| 2004 | 154 |
| 2005 | 142 |
| 2006 | 124 |
| 2007 | 135 |
| 2008 | 139 |
| 2009 | 147 |
| 2010 | 139 |
| 2011 | 166 |
| 2012 | 155 |
| 2013 | 138 |
| 2014 | 149 |
| 2015 | 151 |
| 2016 | 167 |
| 2017 | 168 |
| 2018 | 195 |
| 2019 | 152 |
| 2020 | 141 |
| 2021 | 152 |
| 2022 | 166 |
| 2023 | 179 |
| 2024 | 175 |
Bilal through the decades
- Bilal peaked in 2018, when 195 babies were named Bilal in the US.
- The 2020s were Bilal's strongest decade, averaging 163 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Bilal has risen 15% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Bilal currently ranks #1,181 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Bilal
Variants & spellings
Bilaal