Elijah
Elijah: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈlaɪd͡ʒə/ · /ɪˈlaɪʒə/
Meaning and origin of Elijah
- A unisex given name from Hebrew, of chiefly male usage
- A male given name from Hebrew.
- A female given name from Hebrew, of chiefly Philippine usage.
- A surname transferred from the given name
Etymology
From Hebrew אליהו (Eliyahu, literally “Yahweh is my god”). Doublet of Ilya and Iliya. Compare Joel. See also Arabic إلياس.
How popular is Elijah?
Since 1880, 1,304 girls and 380,611 boys in the U.S. have been named Elijah (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2268 in 2004. Its highest rank for boys was #4 in 2020. In 2025 it ranked #7 for boys, with 11,126 babies given the name.
Names similar to Elijah
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Elijah
Sister and brother names that share Elijah's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Elijah FAQ
What does the name Elijah mean?
A unisex given name from Hebrew, of chiefly male usage A male given name from Hebrew. A female given name from Hebrew, of chiefly Philippine usage. A surname transferred from the given name From Hebrew אליהו (Eliyahu, literally “Yahweh is my god”). Doublet of Ilya and Iliya. Compare Joel. See also Arabic إلياس.
What is the origin of the name Elijah?
Elijah is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Elijah?
Since 1880, 1,304 girls and 380,611 boys in the U.S. have been named Elijah (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2268 in 2004. Its highest rank for boys was #4 in 2020. In 2025 it ranked #7 for boys, with 11,126 babies given the name.
Is Elijah a boy or girl name?
Elijah is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,304 girls and 380,611 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.