Delilah

Hey there, Delilah! You're a Biblical character, the subject of a hit song, and a "Friends" reference.

The name Delilah, of Biblical Hebrew origin, means "delicate" or "to weaken." In the Old Testament, Delilah was the lover of Samson, who ultimately betrayed him, giving it a bad-girl, temptress association (it was in "Friends" that Ross and Rachel considered naming their daughter Delilah, but Rachel was worried that it "sounds like a Biblical whore"). In more recent history, the Plain White T's hit song "Hey There Delilah" was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing it as an ear worm that virtually everybody knows.

It's thanks to these pop culture references that the name Delilah enjoys the status it holds today. In 1971, it was barely even in the U.S. Social Security Administration's top 1000, ranking at #968. Currently, it's in the top 60, and poised to rise even higher thanks to its lovely sound and cultural familiarity.

Throughout history we've seen a few notable Delilahs, including Delilah (the Biblical character), actresses Delilah Lee and Delilah Goodwyn, and model Delilah Hamlin.

Delilah in quotes:

"Delilah is a woman of many secrets. She is beautiful, but she is also dangerous." — 'The Book of Delilah' by Harold Bloom

"Delilah is a survivor. She has been through a lot in her life, but she has never given up. She is a strong and independent woman." — 'Delilah' by Sidney Sheldon

"Delilah is a complex character. She is both victim and villain. She is a woman who is caught between her own desires and the expectations of others." — 'Delilah: A Novel' by Paula Morris