indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Masculine & Feminine
Usage Biblical, English (Puritan, Rare)
Other Forms FormsAssia (in the Douay-Rheims Bible), Asua (in Wycliffe's Bible), Azalia, Azaliya, Azaliyah, Esalia, Eselia, Ezalia, Ezaliah, Ezelia, Ezeliah. Puritan use: Azella, Azilla, Azillah and Azulah.
Meaning & History
English form of Atsalyahu via its latinized form Aslia. This was the name of a character from the Old Testament, who appeared in 2 Kings 22:3 (also known as 4 Kings 22:3). He was a son of Meshullam and was himself the father of Shaphan the scribe.Although this biblical bearer is male, the Puritans used it as a feminine name in the 1600s, probably due to its similarity to other feminine names in use at the time (see Azelia and Azalea).