Elihu Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EL-ee-hoo /ˈɛlɪhuː/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Elihu has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the elements 'El' meaning 'God' and 'Chai' meaning 'my God' or 'He is my God.' The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Job, where Elihu is a significant character who offers a unique perspective on suffering and divine justice. The name's earliest forms can be traced back to ancient Hebrew, which later influenced the Greek translations of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint, and subsequently the Latin Vulgate, before making its way into English through the King James Bible in the early 17th century.
Elihu's mention in the Book of Job, which dates back to the 6th century BCE, marks a critical point in its historical significance. In this biblical narrative, Elihu serves as a younger voice among Job's friends, providing a theological discourse that emphasizes God's omnipotence and the importance of humility in the face of divine wisdom.
This portrayal has contributed to the name's enduring presence in religious and literary contexts, as Elihu's arguments reflect themes of faith, suffering, and the human condition. Culturally, the name Elihu has resonated within Jewish and Christian traditions, symbolizing a connection to divine authority and wisdom.
It has been used in various religious texts and sermons, reinforcing its significance as a name that embodies spiritual insight. The name's historical and biblical associations have allowed it to persist through centuries, often evoking a sense of reverence and contemplation.
While diminutive forms such as Eli may also be encountered, Elihu remains distinct in its rich theological and literary heritage.
Famous people named Elihu
In this section, you will find notable people named Elihu. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Elihu who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Elihu who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Elihu Yale is a philanthropist and merchant best known for founding Yale University.
Fictional characters named Elihu
The following list of fictional characters named Elihu is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Elihu is a fictional character from the novel Moby-Dick. He is a minor character who serves as a narrator for some chapters, providing insights into the story's themes and characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elihu, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elihu. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Elihu was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Elihu has ranked as high as #868 nationally, which occurred in 1928, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, and Kentucky.
In the past 5 years the name Elihu has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Elihu is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Elihu was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Elihu (2019)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Elihu.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1994 | 9 |
| 1993 | 9 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 13 |
| 1990 | 14 |
| 1989 | 11 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1986 | 12 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1979 | 8 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1974 | 11 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1961 | 8 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1954 | 7 |
| 1953 | 12 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1950 | 7 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1938 | 8 |
| 1937 | 9 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1933 | 12 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1931 | 13 |
| 1930 | 11 |
| 1929 | 16 |
| 1928 | 26 |
| 1927 | 21 |
| 1926 | 21 |
| 1925 | 15 |
| 1924 | 19 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1921 | 20 |
| 1920 | 15 |
| 1919 | 20 |
| 1918 | 21 |
| 1917 | 19 |
| 1916 | 20 |
| 1915 | 22 |
| 1914 | 20 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1900 | 7 |
| 1897 | 6 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1881 | 11 |
| 1880 | 6 |