← All names

Bilal

Boy name · 134 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Bilal: 134 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 10 births in 1998.

The name Bilal originates from Arabic, where it means “moist” or “fresh,” often evoking the idea of cool, life-giving water. Its most famous bearer is Bilal ibn Rabah, a beloved companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the first muezzin in Islamic history, whose powerful voice called the faithful to prayer. While no major geographical places bear his name directly, numerous mosques and community centres around the world honour him. In Scotland, Bilal has been a steady choice among Muslim families since the 1970s, reflecting the country’s multicultural heritage. A notable variant is the Turkish spelling Bülent, though the original form remains most common in Arabic-speaking and diaspora communities.