Athaliah

Athaliah is a biblical Hebrew name usually interpreted as God is exalted, though the first element’s exact meaning is uncertain. The ending refers to the divine name, as it does in several other Hebrew personal names. Biblical records use Athaliah for both women and men.

The best-known bearer is the queen who ruled Judah and appears in the books of Kings and Chronicles. Her story involves dynastic violence and the survival of the young Joash, so the biblical association is more complicated than a general royal image. Jean Racine later adapted the story in his play Athalie. Atalia is a related Hebrew form, offering a different written and spoken shape within the same historical name family.