Bilal

بِلَال

Boy Arabic /bih-LAHL/ #1159 in 2023

Bilal is a boy name of Arabic origin.

Meaning of Bilal

"Water, freshness, that which quenches the throat." Name of Bilal ibn Rabah, an Ethiopian companion of the Prophet and the first muezzin of Islam. A symbol of racial equality and unwavering faith — particularly cherished by African-American Muslim families.

Arabic root: b-l-l — (ب-ل-ل, moisture, freshness)

Regional variants

Deep resonance in African-American Muslim communities because of Bilal ibn Rabah's story of enslavement and liberation through faith. A strong identity choice for Black Muslim parents.

Popularity of Bilal

Popularity, 1964–2023

179 births in 2023

1964 2023

5,515 U.S. births recorded from 1964–2023.

Peak year

2018

195 babies

First recorded

1964

59 years of history

Recent trend

Steady

Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Variants & nicknames

BilaalBelal

Famous people named Bilal

Bilal ibn Rabah (first muezzin of Islam)

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.