Eyal is a Hebrew masculine given name that means "God will answer." It's derived from the biblical Hebrew word "ayal," which means "to answer" or "to respond." The name Eyal appears in the Old Testament, specifically in Psalm 65:2, where it is stated, "You who answer prayer, to you all flesh shall come."
The name Eyal has a rich history and cultural significance. In Jewish tradition, it is often given to boys born during times of hardship or struggle, as it signifies hope and faith that God will answer the prayers of His people. It's also a popular choice among Israeli parents due to its strong connection to their cultural heritage.
Eyal was the name of several prominent figures in Jewish history. One notable example is Eyal ben Yishay, who was one of King David's mighty men and played a significant role in protecting him from his enemies. Another notable figure is Eyal Weizman, an Israeli architect and urbanist known for his critical approach to architecture and its political implications.
In modern times, the name Eyal has gained international recognition thanks to various notable figures such as Eyal Weintraub, an Israeli-American singer-songwriter, and Eyal Ofer, a British-Israeli businessman and philanthropist. These individuals have contributed to making the name Eyal more familiar among non-Jewish communities.
Overall, the name Eyal is deeply rooted in Jewish history and culture, carrying a powerful meaning that signifies hope and faith in divine intervention. Despite its origin, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition worldwide due to the accomplishments of those who bear this unique name.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the number of babies named Eyal born annually in the United States over the past few decades.
From 1967 to 1989, the number of births with the name Eyal ranged between 5 and 7 per year. However, there was a significant increase starting from 1990, with an average of about 8 births per year up until 2003.
The peak period for the popularity of this name seems to be between 2004 and 2014, during which time the annual number of babies named Eyal ranged from a low of 12 births in 2005 to a high of 21 births in both 2010 and 2011. Interestingly, there were also two years with higher than average numbers of Eyal births: 2009 (with 18 births) and 2014 (also with 18 births).
After reaching its peak popularity around the early 2010s, the number of babies named Eyal has slowly decreased over recent years. From 2015 onwards, the annual figure has fluctuated between lows of 9 births in both 2022 and 2016 to a high of 19 births in 2021.
In total, there have been 442 babies named Eyal born in the United States since 1967. This data suggests that while the name may not be among the most popular choices for parents, it has maintained a consistent level of usage over time and even experienced periods of notable popularity during certain decades.
It's important to note that these statistics only reflect births registered with the Social Security Administration and do not account for any potential spelling variations or cases where parents chose not to register their child's name. Nevertheless, they provide valuable insight into how the name Eyal has fared in terms of popularity among American parents over several decades.
Sources:
- Social Security Administration data on baby names