| Bilal | Sultan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | moisture, freshness | ruler, authority |
| Origin | arabic | arabic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | bi-LAAL | SUL-tun |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2018 (195) | 2025 (161) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Bilal | Sultan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 981 | 816 |
| 2010s | 1,580 | 716 |
| 2000s | 1,419 | 293 |
| 1990s | 1,071 | 238 |
| 1980s | 553 | 166 |
| 1970s | 236 | 158 |
| 1960s | 18 | 9 |
From the root b-l-l (ب-ل-ل, 'to moisten, to wet'), understood as 'moisture, wetting, freshness'. Famously borne by Bilal ibn Rabah, the Abyssinian companion of the Prophet and Islam's first muezzin.
From Arabic 'sultan', originally an abstract noun meaning 'strength, authority, rulership' (from 'sulta', power/authority), later a sovereign's title. Note: 'ruler/authority', and distinct from 'malik' (king) proper.
Bilal and Sultan are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Bilal means moisture, freshness (arabic origin), while Sultan means ruler, authority (arabic origin).
In US records, Bilal first appears in 0 and Sultan in 0, so Bilal has the longer recorded history.