Elijah: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced ih-LY-juh · 3 syllables
Elijah means “my God is Yahweh”, from Hebrew.
From Hebrew (Eliyahu, literally “Yahweh is my god”). Doublet of Ilya and Iliya. Compare Joel. See also Arabic.
- Meaning
- my God is Yahweh
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- ih-LY-juh
- US rank (2025)
- #7
- US babies a year
- about 11,799 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 2010
- Style
- Biblical
- Nicknames
- Eli
How popular is Elijah?
Elijah was the #7 name in the US in 2025, given to 11,126 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2010.
Most popular in Hawaii (#1), Arkansas (#4), Florida (#4), Georgia (#4), Louisiana (#4), New Mexico (#4), Mississippi (#5), Oklahoma (#5).
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #7 |
| England & Wales | #30 |
| Scotland | #100 |
| Northern Ireland | #71 |
| Ireland | #99 |
| France | #209 |
| Canada | #37 |
| Australia | #12 |
How old are people named Elijah?
Half of US adults named Elijah are older than 24; most are between 18 and 47. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Elijah
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Elijah have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Elijah
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Elijah
What does the name Elijah mean?
Elijah means “my God is Yahweh”. It comes from Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Elijah?
Elijah is pronounced ih-LY-juh.
How popular is the name Elijah?
Elijah was the #7 name in the US in 2025, given to 11,126 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2010.
How old are people named Elijah?
Half of US adults named Elijah are older than 24. Most are between 18 and 47.