Mahlon

Mahlon is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. In the Hebrew Bible, Mahlon is the elder son of Elimelech and Naomi and the husband of Ruth. He dies in Moab, and his death, along with that of his brother Chilion, helps prompt Naomi’s decision to return to Bethlehem with Ruth.

Etymology and meaning: The exact meaning of Mahlon is uncertain. It is typically associated with Hebrew roots connected to illness, leading some scholars to render the name as “the sickly one” or “the weak.” The precise derivation remains debated, and in biblical usage Mahlon is treated primarily as a personal name rather than a descriptive term.

Modern usage: Beyond the biblical text, Mahlon has been used as a given name in Jewish and Christian communities, especially in English-speaking countries. It appears in historical records and literature, but it remains relatively uncommon as a given name in contemporary times. There are no widely recognized contemporary figures whose prominence has made the name Mahlon particularly well known.

See also: Ruth, Elimelech, Chilion, Orpah.