Bilal

Bilal - A very unique male name

Bilal appeared on the charts for the first time in 1974 on position #1867. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Bilal and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Bilal? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Bilal. The baby boy name Bilal was given to 131 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1151 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 11,193 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Bilal peaked in popularity 35 years ago in 1991 on position 923.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Bilal, 1-5?

Bilal is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Bilal is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #449 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,655.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Bilal is where you live.

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Bilal origin and meaning

Arabic

Uncertain — traditionally explained from Arabic balal, 'moisture,' but the derivation is not firmly established

Bilal is one of the earliest names in Islam: Bilal ibn Rabah, an Abyssinian freed slave, was a close companion of Muhammad and the first muezzin, chosen to call the faithful to prayer. The name has been used in the US since 1974, sustained by Muslim families, and is slowly rising. Name books often give its meaning as 'moisture' or 'water,' from an Arabic root for wetting, but that etymology is traditional rather than proven.

Origin uncertain

Bilal is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Bilal, pop culture references for the name Bilal and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Bilal

We've found the following names that sound similar to Bilal, sorted by popularity.

Billy / Bill / Billie / Bailey / Buel / Blue / Belal / Blu / Baylee / Buell /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Bilal

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Bilal a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Bilal?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

bih-LAHL · /bɪˈlɑːl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Bilal ibn Rabah — Companion of the Prophet Muhammad and Islam's first muezzin, who gave the call to prayer (c. 580–640) Historical

Style

InternationalBiblical

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Bilal for its place at the very beginning of Islamic history and for Bilal ibn Rabah's story of dignity and devotion.

Worth knowing

• The 'moisture/water' meaning repeated online is a traditional explanation, not a settled etymology