Find out how popular the first name Shilah has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shilah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Shilah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Shilah.

The history of the first name Shilah

The name Shilah originates from the Hebrew language and has its roots in the Bible. It is a masculine name derived from the Hebrew word "shiloh," which means "he whose it is" or "the one to whom it belongs."

In the Book of Genesis, Shiloh is mentioned as a name or title referring to a descendant of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The verse reads: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Genesis 49:10). This passage has been interpreted in various ways, but some scholars believe it refers to the Messiah or a future ruler.

The name Shilah (or Shiloh) also appears in the Book of Joshua as a place name, referring to a town in the territory of Ephraim, where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were kept for many years after the Israelites entered the Promised Land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shilah as a personal name is found in the Old Testament, where it is mentioned as the son of Judah and his Canaanite wife, Bath-shua (Genesis 38:5). However, there are no other significant details provided about this person.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shilah:

1. Shilah Soffer (1490-1550), a renowned Talmudic scholar and kabbalist from Poland.
2. Shilah Pepin (1705-1782), a Native American leader and grand chief of the Wampanoag tribe in what is now Massachusetts.
3. Shilah Woodbury (1825-1898), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 19th Governor of Vermont from 1892 to 1894.
4. Shilah Kachelman (1899-1981), an American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs in the 1920s.
5. Shilah Phillips (1940-2020), an American author and journalist known for her work on Native American issues and history.

While not a common name, Shilah has maintained a presence throughout various cultures and time periods, primarily due to its biblical origins and connection to the Hebrew language. Its meaning and significance have been interpreted in various ways, but it remains a unique and historically significant name.

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 Shilah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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