Helah is a feminine name mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in 1 Chronicles 4:5 and 1 Chronicles 4:7. It means "rust" in Hebrew, a rare and distinctive etymology that appears in Jewish onomastic tradition. The name belongs to one of the two wives of Ashur, a figure from the genealogies of the Tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:5-8). Ashur, not to be confused with the biblical Ashur son of Shem of the same name's parent root, is described as the father of Tekoa, a town in Judah. In this context, Helah is paired with her co-wife Naarah (meaning "girl" or "young woman"). The name's appearance is limited to these passages.
Etymology and Meaning
The name Helah derives from the Hebrew root ḥ-y-l, associated with rust or corrosion (possibly related to the impurity of metal in poetic usage). There is no widely accepted secondary interpretation. Rust metaphorically evoked decay, which contrasts with the vitality expected from a name in biblical times. This semantic range place Helah alongside other obscure names in the Patronymic tradition that reflect objects, materials, or conceptual states.
Sources: Wikipedia — Ashur (Bible)