Atalia

Atalia is a modern Hebrew form of the biblical Athaliah. Its traditional interpretation is that God is exalted, although the first element of the ancient name is not entirely certain. The ending contains a reference to the Hebrew God, placing it among the many biblical names formed with a divine element.

The best-known biblical bearer is Athaliah, a queen who ruled Judah and whose story involves a violent struggle for power. That is a significant association for parents exploring the name's history, rather than a description of any modern bearer. Atalia preserves the old name in a contemporary Hebrew transcription, while Athaliah is the form many English readers encounter in biblical texts.