Eliphalet

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, borne in the Bible by a son of King David and later by various American figures
2. A traditional male first name of Hebrew origin, recorded in the Old Testament as a son of David
3. The Hebrew-derived masculine personal name found in the Bible and used by people in English-speaking countries

Etymology: Eliphalet is a Hebrew name, taken from the Hebrew "'Elifelet" (אֱלִיפָלֶת), and it appears in the Old Testament as the name of several men, including a son of David. The name combines "'El", the Hebrew word for God, with a second element that is usually explained as meaning something like "God is deliverance," so it is a name built on a short prayer or declaration of faith. In English the name has a long life as a given name, especially among Puritan families in New England, who drew heavily on Old Testament names. Its use there is the main reason most English speakers meet it today. Nothing in the source supports a specific date for its first English appearance, so that detail is left out.