Fun Facts About the Name Elijah
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 380,415 boys named Elijah from 1880 through 2025.
- An established favorite: Elijah held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 31 consecutive years, from 1995 through 2025.
- More than 381 thousand babies named Elijah: U.S. records list 381,719 babies given the name Elijah from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,304 girls received the name Elijah - about 1 girl for every 292 boys.
What Does the Name Elijah Mean?
Elijah is the English form of the Hebrew name Eliyahu (אֱלִיָּהוּ), meaning "My God is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my God." The name joins el (אֵל), "God," with the first-person singular suffix -i, giving "my God," and yahu (יָהוּ), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. A shorter Hebrew form, Eliyah (אֱלִיָּה), also appears. Because many English Bibles render Yahweh as "the LORD," Elijah is often explained as "The Lord is my God." That is a customary translation of the divine name, not a separate etymology. The Greek form Elias and the Latin Elias are related to the name, but the English spelling Elijah reflects the Hebrew form more directly.
Elijah Name History & Origins
The name Elijah belongs to a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Kings, Elijah appears during the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel, traditionally dated to the ninth century BCE. He announces a drought, is fed by ravens, stays with the widow of Zarephath, and challenges the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 2 Kings, he is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Jewish tradition links Elijah with the coming of the Messiah, with the Passover Seder, with the circumcision ceremony, and with Havdalah. In the New Testament, Elijah appears at the Transfiguration, and John the Baptist is described as coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. The name also appears in the Quran as Ilyas.
The Hebrew name passed into Greek as Elias and into Latin as Elias. The King James Version of 1611 uses Elijah in the Old Testament and Elias in the New Testament. Related forms include Elias, Elia, Élie, Ilya, and Ilyas. In English literature, Herman Melville's Moby-Dick (1851) includes a minor character named Elijah who delivers a prophetic warning; this is a literary use of the name, not its origin.
How Popular is the Name Elijah?
Elijah remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1995 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 2011, and people born that year turn 15 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,226 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #5,044 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #6,020 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #4,399 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 2021 | #4,753 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2020 | #4,376 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #5,847 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #4,259 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2017 | #4,842 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2016 | #5,036 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #4,894 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2014 | #4,295 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2013 | #4,355 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2012 | #5,000 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #4,389 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #3,376 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 2009 | #4,125 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2008 | #3,663 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 2007 | #3,935 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2006 | #3,946 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2005 | #3,755 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2004 | #2,268 | 77 | 0.0042% |
| 2003 | #3,198 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2002 | #3,477 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2001 | #3,266 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2000 | #4,698 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1999 | #3,458 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1998 | #2,702 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1997 | #3,567 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1996 | #3,251 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1995 | #3,239 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1994 | #4,570 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #6,745 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #4,734 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #5,743 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #7,464 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #6,269 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #8,623 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,543 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #6,291 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #7,778 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #10,886 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #6,355 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #7,044 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #8,371 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #10,842 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #9,323 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #7,855 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #10,062 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #6,196 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #5,978 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #5,473 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1937 | #3,928 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1929 | #4,779 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #3,987 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7 | 11,111 | 0.6505% |
| 2024 | #8 | 11,171 | 0.6513% |
| 2023 | #5 | 11,503 | 0.6733% |
| 2022 | #5 | 12,075 | 0.6922% |
| 2021 | #4 | 12,825 | 0.7336% |
| 2020 | #4 | 13,224 | 0.7666% |
| 2019 | #5 | 13,428 | 0.7488% |
| 2018 | #7 | 13,012 | 0.7167% |
| 2017 | #8 | 13,444 | 0.7266% |
| 2016 | #9 | 13,970 | 0.7363% |
| 2015 | #11 | 13,707 | 0.7153% |
| 2014 | #11 | 13,881 | 0.7228% |
| 2013 | #11 | 13,826 | 0.7310% |
| 2012 | #13 | 13,909 | 0.7334% |
| 2011 | #13 | 13,997 | 0.7371% |
| 2010 | #18 | 13,919 | 0.7255% |
| 2009 | #21 | 12,845 | 0.6477% |
| 2008 | #22 | 13,239 | 0.6490% |
| 2007 | #30 | 12,424 | 0.5987% |
| 2006 | #29 | 12,055 | 0.5866% |
| 2005 | #31 | 11,612 | 0.5814% |
| 2004 | #31 | 11,714 | 0.5902% |
| 2003 | #37 | 10,665 | 0.5399% |
| 2002 | #41 | 10,053 | 0.5178% |
| 2001 | #45 | 8,339 | 0.4292% |
| 2000 | #52 | 7,472 | 0.3805% |
| 1999 | #60 | 6,596 | 0.3435% |
| 1998 | #66 | 5,662 | 0.2962% |
| 1997 | #74 | 5,089 | 0.2700% |
| 1996 | #81 | 4,818 | 0.2544% |
| 1995 | #93 | 3,976 | 0.2089% |
| 1994 | #133 | 2,621 | 0.1357% |
| 1993 | #170 | 1,882 | 0.0960% |
| 1992 | #203 | 1,523 | 0.0763% |
| 1991 | #222 | 1,345 | 0.0666% |
| 1990 | #243 | 1,139 | 0.0555% |
| 1989 | #257 | 991 | 0.0495% |
| 1988 | #266 | 886 | 0.0463% |
| 1987 | #289 | 746 | 0.0400% |
| 1986 | #290 | 718 | 0.0390% |
| 1985 | #299 | 681 | 0.0368% |
| 1984 | #310 | 631 | 0.0350% |
| 1983 | #296 | 671 | 0.0374% |
| 1982 | #280 | 739 | 0.0407% |
| 1981 | #277 | 750 | 0.0419% |
| 1980 | #279 | 754 | 0.0423% |
| 1979 | #290 | 696 | 0.0404% |
| 1978 | #320 | 548 | 0.0334% |
| 1977 | #350 | 504 | 0.0307% |
| 1976 | #450 | 302 | 0.0192% |
| 1975 | #491 | 263 | 0.0168% |
| 1974 | #472 | 288 | 0.0183% |
| 1973 | #537 | 212 | 0.0136% |
| 1972 | #552 | 209 | 0.0129% |
| 1971 | #589 | 196 | 0.0111% |
| 1970 | #597 | 184 | 0.0099% |
| 1969 | #660 | 143 | 0.0080% |
| 1968 | #680 | 122 | 0.0070% |
| 1967 | #646 | 134 | 0.0077% |
| 1966 | #626 | 140 | 0.0078% |
| 1965 | #672 | 122 | 0.0066% |
| 1964 | #618 | 161 | 0.0081% |
| 1963 | #642 | 149 | 0.0073% |
| 1962 | #583 | 179 | 0.0087% |
| 1961 | #564 | 194 | 0.0091% |
| 1960 | #580 | 180 | 0.0084% |
| 1959 | #575 | 185 | 0.0087% |
| 1958 | #532 | 209 | 0.0098% |
| 1957 | #522 | 218 | 0.0101% |
| 1956 | #533 | 197 | 0.0093% |
| 1955 | #478 | 235 | 0.0114% |
| 1954 | #453 | 254 | 0.0125% |
| 1953 | #455 | 248 | 0.0126% |
| 1952 | #431 | 263 | 0.0135% |
| 1951 | #453 | 223 | 0.0118% |
| 1950 | #403 | 282 | 0.0158% |
| 1949 | #415 | 267 | 0.0151% |
| 1948 | #427 | 244 | 0.0139% |
| 1947 | #399 | 296 | 0.0162% |
| 1946 | #426 | 222 | 0.0137% |
| 1945 | #388 | 237 | 0.0176% |
| 1944 | #399 | 227 | 0.0167% |
| 1943 | #416 | 221 | 0.0155% |
| 1942 | #387 | 245 | 0.0177% |
| 1941 | #375 | 239 | 0.0195% |
| 1940 | #405 | 201 | 0.0173% |
| 1939 | #371 | 237 | 0.0214% |
| 1938 | #407 | 195 | 0.0176% |
| 1937 | #382 | 210 | 0.0197% |
| 1936 | #365 | 221 | 0.0213% |
| 1935 | #374 | 210 | 0.0202% |
| 1934 | #379 | 209 | 0.0202% |
| 1933 | #386 | 198 | 0.0200% |
| 1932 | #365 | 231 | 0.0221% |
| 1931 | #400 | 198 | 0.0190% |
| 1930 | #378 | 226 | 0.0206% |
| 1929 | #368 | 243 | 0.0226% |
| 1928 | #365 | 255 | 0.0230% |
| 1927 | #336 | 290 | 0.0257% |
| 1926 | #348 | 276 | 0.0249% |
| 1925 | #348 | 283 | 0.0254% |
| 1924 | #375 | 261 | 0.0230% |
| 1923 | #335 | 302 | 0.0276% |
| 1922 | #327 | 311 | 0.0286% |
| 1921 | #378 | 257 | 0.0233% |
| 1920 | #356 | 277 | 0.0260% |
| 1919 | #327 | 295 | 0.0301% |
| 1918 | #358 | 264 | 0.0260% |
| 1917 | #348 | 256 | 0.0277% |
| 1916 | #353 | 232 | 0.0261% |
| 1915 | #340 | 243 | 0.0286% |
| 1914 | #340 | 187 | 0.0286% |
| 1913 | #335 | 149 | 0.0291% |
| 1912 | #303 | 142 | 0.0330% |
| 1911 | #269 | 94 | 0.0416% |
| 1910 | #234 | 101 | 0.0520% |
| 1909 | #231 | 90 | 0.0549% |
| 1908 | #266 | 64 | 0.0415% |
| 1907 | #234 | 76 | 0.0518% |
| 1906 | #243 | 65 | 0.0488% |
| 1905 | #212 | 81 | 0.0612% |
| 1904 | #243 | 60 | 0.0468% |
| 1903 | #240 | 58 | 0.0486% |
| 1902 | #221 | 66 | 0.0538% |
| 1901 | #184 | 79 | 0.0742% |
| 1900 | #211 | 86 | 0.0572% |
| 1899 | #205 | 64 | 0.0603% |
| 1898 | #197 | 76 | 0.0619% |
| 1897 | #209 | 65 | 0.0576% |
| 1896 | #186 | 87 | 0.0728% |
| 1895 | #194 | 75 | 0.0639% |
| 1894 | #235 | 54 | 0.0466% |
| 1893 | #189 | 77 | 0.0686% |
| 1892 | #184 | 85 | 0.0697% |
| 1891 | #210 | 57 | 0.0563% |
| 1890 | #204 | 64 | 0.0576% |
| 1889 | #209 | 61 | 0.0552% |
| 1888 | #171 | 88 | 0.0728% |
| 1887 | #169 | 75 | 0.0740% |
| 1886 | #152 | 93 | 0.0839% |
| 1885 | #163 | 82 | 0.0761% |
| 1884 | #164 | 85 | 0.0743% |
| 1883 | #135 | 92 | 0.0879% |
| 1882 | #126 | 111 | 0.0976% |
| 1881 | #172 | 69 | 0.0685% |
| 1880 | #135 | 100 | 0.0905% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Elijah
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Elijah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Elijah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Elijah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.