Boy nameCurrently #8 in the USSteady
Elijah
ee-LY-juh//ɪˈlaɪdʒə//
3 syllablesPeak year: 20116 lettersStarts with E
Meaning & origin
My God is Yahweh
Elijah comes from the Hebrew 'Eliyahu', meaning 'my God is Yahweh', and belongs in the Bible to one of the most powerful prophets, known for his dramatic confrontations and miracles. Its rich biblical weight and warm sound have made it hugely popular in recent decades.
Elijah's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Elijah |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 100 |
| 1881 | 69 |
| 1882 | 111 |
| 1883 | 92 |
| 1884 | 85 |
| 1885 | 82 |
| 1886 | 93 |
| 1887 | 75 |
| 1888 | 88 |
| 1889 | 61 |
| 1890 | 64 |
| 1891 | 57 |
| 1892 | 85 |
| 1893 | 77 |
| 1894 | 54 |
| 1895 | 75 |
| 1896 | 87 |
| 1897 | 65 |
| 1898 | 76 |
| 1899 | 64 |
| 1900 | 86 |
| 1901 | 79 |
| 1902 | 66 |
| 1903 | 58 |
| 1904 | 60 |
| 1905 | 81 |
| 1906 | 65 |
| 1907 | 76 |
| 1908 | 64 |
| 1909 | 90 |
| 1910 | 101 |
| 1911 | 94 |
| 1912 | 142 |
| 1913 | 149 |
| 1914 | 187 |
| 1915 | 243 |
| 1916 | 232 |
| 1917 | 256 |
| 1918 | 264 |
| 1919 | 295 |
| 1920 | 277 |
| 1921 | 257 |
| 1922 | 311 |
| 1923 | 302 |
| 1924 | 261 |
| 1925 | 283 |
| 1926 | 283 |
| 1927 | 290 |
| 1928 | 255 |
| 1929 | 248 |
| 1930 | 226 |
| 1931 | 198 |
| 1932 | 231 |
| 1933 | 198 |
| 1934 | 209 |
| 1935 | 210 |
| 1936 | 221 |
| 1937 | 216 |
| 1938 | 195 |
| 1939 | 237 |
| 1940 | 201 |
| 1941 | 239 |
| 1942 | 245 |
| 1943 | 221 |
| 1944 | 227 |
| 1945 | 237 |
| 1946 | 222 |
| 1947 | 296 |
| 1948 | 249 |
| 1949 | 267 |
| 1950 | 282 |
| 1951 | 223 |
| 1952 | 263 |
| 1953 | 248 |
| 1954 | 259 |
| 1955 | 235 |
| 1956 | 197 |
| 1957 | 218 |
| 1958 | 209 |
| 1959 | 185 |
| 1960 | 180 |
| 1961 | 194 |
| 1962 | 179 |
| 1963 | 149 |
| 1964 | 161 |
| 1965 | 122 |
| 1966 | 140 |
| 1967 | 134 |
| 1968 | 122 |
| 1969 | 143 |
| 1970 | 184 |
| 1971 | 196 |
| 1972 | 209 |
| 1973 | 212 |
| 1974 | 288 |
| 1975 | 263 |
| 1976 | 311 |
| 1977 | 509 |
| 1978 | 555 |
| 1979 | 702 |
| 1980 | 759 |
| 1981 | 757 |
| 1982 | 748 |
| 1983 | 681 |
| 1984 | 636 |
| 1985 | 689 |
| 1986 | 729 |
| 1987 | 755 |
| 1988 | 894 |
| 1989 | 1,004 |
| 1990 | 1,150 |
| 1991 | 1,361 |
| 1992 | 1,544 |
| 1993 | 1,895 |
| 1994 | 2,643 |
| 1995 | 4,011 |
| 1996 | 4,854 |
| 1997 | 5,121 |
| 1998 | 5,712 |
| 1999 | 6,632 |
| 2000 | 7,497 |
| 2001 | 8,381 |
| 2002 | 10,092 |
| 2003 | 10,711 |
| 2004 | 11,791 |
| 2005 | 11,651 |
| 2006 | 12,093 |
| 2007 | 12,464 |
| 2008 | 13,283 |
| 2009 | 12,882 |
| 2010 | 13,967 |
| 2011 | 14,030 |
| 2012 | 13,937 |
| 2013 | 13,859 |
| 2014 | 13,915 |
| 2015 | 13,735 |
| 2016 | 13,997 |
| 2017 | 13,472 |
| 2018 | 13,045 |
| 2019 | 13,449 |
| 2020 | 13,255 |
| 2021 | 12,853 |
| 2022 | 12,107 |
| 2023 | 11,523 |
| 2024 | 11,197 |
Elijah through the decades
- Elijah peaked in 2011, when 14,030 babies were named Elijah in the US.
- Elijah currently ranks #8 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Eli
Variants & spellings
EliyahuElias