Athaliah

Athaliah is a feminine name borne by a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible. Its meaning is thought to be "Yahweh is exalted," derived from the Hebrew elements ʿaṯal, possibly meaning "exalted," and yah, a short form of the divine name YHWH. The name appears in the Old Testament for both a male and a female person, but it is most famously associated with the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel.

Etymology

The name Athaliah is the English rendering of the Hebrew עֲתַלְיָה (‛Ăṯalyâ). Its components are variously interpreted. The first part, ʿaṯal, is linked to a Semitic root meaning "to be great" or "exalted." The second part, yah, is a theophoric element referring to the Hebrew God Yahweh. Thus the name conveys the idea of "Yahweh (God) is exalted." The Biblical Hebrew form is ʿAta·lyá, while the Greek transliteration in the Septuagint is Gotholía.

Notable Bearer

The most notable bearer of the name is Athaliah, the queen of Judah whose story is told in 2 Kings 8:16–11:16 and 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:15. She was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel. To seal a political alliance, she was married to Jehoram, king of Judah and a descendant of King David. After Jehoram's death, their son Ahaziah briefly ruled and was killed, leading Athaliah to seize the throne and reign as queen regnant from around 841 to 835 BC. According to the biblical account, she massacred all potential rivals to the throne, exterminating the Davidic line save for her grandson Joash, who was hidden by his aunt. After six years, the priest Jehoiada organized a coup that deposed and executed Athaliah. Her reign is remembered as a period of conflict between the worship of Yahweh and the worship of Baal, which she promoted.

Related Names

The name Athaliah has several variants and cognates in different languages. In modern Hebrew, it is Atalia (עֲטַלְיָת). The original Biblical Hebrew form is 'Atalya. The name is related to the element Yahweh, the name of the God of Israel.

Usage

Outside of the biblical context, Athaliah is rarely used as a given name today. It appears occasionally in English-speaking countries and among religious communities familiar with the Old Testament.

• Meaning: "Yahweh is exalted"
• Origin: Hebrew
• Type: Female (also occasionally male in the Bible)
• Usage Regions: English Bible translation; also used in Hebrew ('Atalya)
• Related Forms: 'Atalya (Biblical Hebrew), Atalia (Hebrew)