Ilham
Meaninginspiration · Arabic
Ilham is an Arabic girl name meaning “inspiration”. 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 Ilham and you get Milah. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationIlham is having its moment right now. Most Ilhams 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 Ilham would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 94,340 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryIlham 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 girlIlham truly works for either: 61% of the 28 babies named Ilham in 2025 were girls, the rest boys.
US births per million girls, 1995–2025
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Ilham
Ilham is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “inspiration”. 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 and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Ilham
What does the name Ilham mean?
Ilham means “inspiration” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Odin (“frenzy, inspiration”) and Prerna (“inspiration”).
What is the origin of the name Ilham?
Ilham is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Ilham a boy or girl name?
Ilham is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year. In 2025, 17 US girls were named Ilham.
How popular is the name Ilham?
Ilham ranked #6,546 for US girls in 2025, given to 17 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 3,000 places.
What names are similar to Ilham?
If you like Ilham, you might also like Odin and Prerna.
What should I know before naming my baby Ilham?
Ilham is an Arabic girl name meaning “inspiration”. 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.