Shiloh
Meaning of Shiloh
Shiloh, rendered in contemporary English as SHY-loh (/ˈʃaɪloʊ/), derives from the Hebrew shîlōh, a term that surfaces in Genesis 49:10 as a messianic title and later as the name of the central cultic site in the hill country of Ephraim; etymological consensus links the root to concepts of repose or wholeness, yielding translations such as “tranquil” or “one to whom tribute is due.” Beyond Scripture, the toponym migrated into American historical consciousness through the 1862 Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee, an irony in that an emblem of peace became attached to one of the Civil War’s costliest engagements. Modern popular culture supplied additional vectors: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Newbery-winning 1991 novel “Shiloh” introduced the name to adolescent readers, and the 2006 birth of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt precipitated a statistically measurable surge, with U.S. usage rising from 183 births in 2006 to over 1,200 in 2024, while remaining comfortably within the national top 300 yet retaining a sense of distinction. Classified as unisex in current registries, Shiloh’s phonetic clarity, biblical gravitas, and cross-gender neutrality combine to furnish parents with a designation that is simultaneously archaic and contemporary, pacific in meaning yet resonant with layered historical and cultural associations.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as SHY-loh (/ˈʃaɪloʊ/)
- Pronunced as SHY-loh (/ʃaɪlɔ/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Shiloh
| Shiloh Fernandez is an American actor known for Jericho, United States of Tara, Deadgirl, Red Riding Hood, and for playing David Allen in Evil Dead and the video game Evil Dead The Game. |
| Shiloh Walker is an American author of contemporary and erotic romance novels and novellas who also writes as JC Daniels. |
| Shiloh Arielle Nelson is an American actress, TikToker, and YouTuber known for Shiloh and Bros and roles in Tomorrowland, Puppy Dog Pals, Feel the Beat, Moms Night Out, and Adopting Terror. |
