Hilal
Meaningcrescent moon · Arabic
Hilal is an Arabic boy name meaning “crescent moon”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Hilal and you get Lilah. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Hilal has the name Ila hiding inside it.
- GenerationHilal is having its moment right now. Most Hilals are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Hilal would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 285,714 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryHilal first shows up in US birth records in 1995, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 30 years since.
- Boy or girlHilal truly works for either: 55% of the 11 babies named Hilal in 2025 were boys, the rest girls.
US births per million boys, 1997–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Hilal
Hilal is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “crescent moon”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Hilal
What does the name Hilal mean?
Hilal means “crescent moon” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “moon” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Jericho (“city of the moon”), Moon (“moon”), Yue (“moon; joy”) and Lucine (“moon”).
What is the origin of the name Hilal?
Hilal is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Hilal a boy or girl name?
Hilal is a boy name, though a few girls are given it too each year. In 2025, 6 US boys were named Hilal.
How popular is the name Hilal?
Hilal ranked #10,695 for US boys in 2025, given to 6 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it reached #6,828. Over the last five years it has slipped 90 places.
What names are similar to Hilal?
If you like Hilal, you might also like Jericho, Moon, Yue and Lucine.
What should I know before naming my baby Hilal?
Hilal is an Arabic boy name meaning “crescent moon”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.