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Elijah

/i-LY-jə/

Elijah is a boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning My God is Yahweh.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginHebrew
  • StyleModern
  • Syllables3
  • US rank#4

What does Elijah mean?

My God is Yahweh

From the Hebrew Eliyahu, combining El ("God") and Yahu (a form of the divine name). The name is a declaration of allegiance: my God is the Lord.

The story behind the name

Elijah is the prophet who confronts the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel and who, uniquely, does not die but is taken up in a whirlwind by a chariot of fire. That detail made him central to later Jewish and Christian expectation: a cup is set for Elijah at every Passover seder.

English use of the Hebrew form rather than the Greek Elias is a Reformation preference, and Elijah was popular among Puritans and later among African American communities, where the prophetic tradition kept it strong.

The name has climbed steadily since the 1990s and has sat in the American top ten since 2016.

Notable people named Elijah

  • Elijah, Hebrew prophet
  • Elijah Muhammad, religious leader
  • Elijah Wood, actor

How popular is Elijah?

Popularity in the United States

Elijah has been given to 322,278 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 126 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

07,00614,011188019502020
Babies named Elijah per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Elijah has been given to 3,472 babies in France since 1995, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

0134268199520082022
Babies named Elijah per year in France, 1995–2022. Source: INSEE
322,278 Babies named since 1880
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Elias, Eliyahu, Elia, Ilias

Related names: Elias, Eli, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Elisha

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Frequently asked questions about Elijah

What does the name Elijah mean?

Elijah means My God is Yahweh. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Elijah a boy's or a girl's name?

Elijah is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Elijah?

Elijah is pronounced i-LY-jə.

How popular is the name Elijah?

Elijah has been given to 322,278 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Elijah?

Common variants include Elias, Eliyahu, Elia, Ilias.