Is Bilal a boy or a girl name?

Bilal is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 5,516 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Bilal in 2023?

Bilal ranks #1156 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2018 with 195 babies.

How do you pronounce Bilal?

Bilal is pronounced bih-LAHL (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Bilal?

Bilal is also written as Bilaal, Belal.

A name from Arabic · Boy

Bilal

بِلَال

"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.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 59-year arc in numbers.

5,516 U.S. births recorded from 1964–2023.

Popularity · 1964–2023

180 births in 2023

1964 1993 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

B"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.

Etymology, in one line

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.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Bilal".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Bilaal Most common Belal

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Bilal.

B
Bilal ibn Rabah (first muezzin of Islam)

Quick answers

People often ask about Bilal.

What does the name Bilal mean?: Bilal means "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.
Where does the name Bilal come from?: Bilal is a boy name of Arabic origin. Deep resonance in African-American Muslim communities because of Bilal ibn Rabah's story of enslavement and liberation through faith.
Is Bilal a boy or a girl name?: Bilal is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 5,516 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Bilal in 2023?: Bilal ranks #1156 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2018 with 195 babies.
How do you pronounce Bilal?: Bilal is pronounced bih-LAHL (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Bilal?: Bilal is also written as Bilaal, Belal.

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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.