The etymology of the ancient name  is uncertain. It is attested as 𒀲𒋙  in Akkadian,  in Egyptian,  () in Old Aramaic and  () in Biblical Hebrew. A number of Akkadian spellings are found in the Amarna letters, from the 14th century BC: 𒁲𒈦𒋡 , 𒁲𒈦𒀸𒄀 , and 𒁲𒈦𒀸𒋡 .