Alalah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Alalah has been for the last 1 years (from 2014 to 2014) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Alalah

A feminine Arabic name meaning "highest glory" or "most exalted honor".

Popularity of Alalah by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Alalah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2014, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Alalah.

Year Male Count Female Count
2014 0 5

The history of the first name Alalah

The name Alalah is believed to have originated from the ancient city of Alalakh, located in modern-day Turkey. This city was a significant center of trade and culture during the Bronze Age, flourishing around 2000-1200 BCE.

Alalakh was situated in the region of ancient Syria, and its name is derived from the Semitic root "ʿlh," which means "to ascend" or "to go up." The city's name likely referred to its elevated location on a hill overlooking the surrounding plains.

In the ancient cuneiform texts discovered at Alalakh, the city's name was written in various forms, including "Alalahh," "Alalahhu," and "Alalahiya." These variations suggest that the name Alalah could have been pronounced differently in different eras or regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alalah comes from the Amarna letters, a collection of diplomatic correspondence from the 14th century BCE. In these letters, the ruler of Alalakh is referred to as "Idrimi," which may have been a personal name or a title.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alalah or variations of it:

  1. Idrimi (c. 1500 BCE), the ruler of Alalakh during the Late Bronze Age, known for his autobiography inscribed on a statue.
  2. Alalah-bani (c. 1200 BCE), a Kassite king of Babylon who reigned during a period of political instability.
  3. Alalah-iddina (c. 1100 BCE), a Kassite king of Babylon who ruled for a brief period.
  4. Alalah-nadin-ahi (c. 1050 BCE), a Kassite king of Babylon who is mentioned in several cuneiform texts.
  5. Alalah-shar-usur (c. 950 BCE), a Neo-Assyrian king who ruled over the city of Assur for a short time.

While the name Alalah is not commonly used today, its ancient roots and historical significance make it a unique and intriguing choice for those interested in preserving cultural heritage and exploring the rich tapestry of human civilization.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alalah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alalah, please contact us.

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"Alalah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/alalah-meaning-and-history/.

"Alalah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/alalah-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 18 July, 2025

Alalah first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/alalah-meaning-and-history/.

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