Boy Old Testament Rare
Mahlon
Mahlon
מַחְלוֹן mach.lon
Mahlon (Hebrew: מַחְלוֹן, mach.lon) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears in 4 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 44 children in the United States. Around 5,683 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Boaz in Ruth 4.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Mahlon
son of Elimelech
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 44 | Steady |
| All-time total | 5,683 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 95 in 1919 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | PA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Ruth 1:2 |
| Last appears | Ruth 4:10 |
| Cross-references | 51 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Chilion attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Elimelech.
- Chilion co-occurrence Appears with Chilion in Ruth 1.
- Elimelech co-occurrence Appears with Elimelech in Ruth 4.
- Naomi co-occurrence Appears with Naomi in Ruth 4.
- Ephrathah co-occurrence Appears with Ephrathah in Ruth 1.
- Ruth co-occurrence Appears with Ruth in Ruth 4.
- Boaz co-occurrence Appears with Boaz in Ruth 4.
- Orpah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Orpah.
Origin & meaning
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.1.2;
son of: Elimelech (H0458) and Naomi (H5281);
brother of: Chilion (H3630); married to Ruth (H7327)
§ Mahlon = "sick"
son of Elimelech by Naomi and first husband of Ruth
Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi, married Ruth but died in Moab.
The biblical story
Mahlon was the son of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem in Judah. He had a brother named Chilion. Due to a famine in Judah, Elimelech took his family to live in the country of Moab. There, Mahlon married a Moabite woman named Ruth. However, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all died in Moab, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law as widows. When Naomi decided to return to Judah, Ruth chose to go with her. In Bethlehem, Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, acted as a kinsman-redeemer. He married Ruth and bought the property that had belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon to maintain their inheritance (Rut.1.2, 5; 4.9, 10).
Key verses
Mahlon appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth–lehem–judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Ruth 1:2 -
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:5 -
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
Ruth 4:9 -
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Ruth 4:10
Show all 4 references
Ruth (4)
- Ruth 1:2
- Ruth 1:5
- Ruth 4:9
- Ruth 4:10