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Elijah Boy

Popularity: #8 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Pronunciationih-LIE-jah / ɪˈlaɪdʒə

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: My God is Yahweh

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Elijah originates from the Hebrew name אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu), which translates to "My God is Yahweh." The name is composed of two elements: "El," meaning God, and "Yah," a shortened form of Yahweh, the personal name of the God of Israel. The transition of the name into English occurred through the Greek form Ἠλίας (Elias) and the Latin form Elias, which were used in early Christian texts. The name was adopted into Old French as Élie before finally entering Middle English as Elijah, particularly through the influence of the Bible and religious texts during the Middle Ages.

Elijah is a significant biblical figure, known as a prophet in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of Kings, where he appears prominently in the 9th century BCE. He is celebrated for his role in defending the worship of Yahweh against the Canaanite deity Baal and is associated with miracles and prophetic acts. The name gained further prominence through the Christian tradition, where Elijah is recognized as a precursor to John the Baptist and is mentioned in the New Testament. The translation of the Bible into various languages, including the King James Version in the early 17th century, helped solidify the name's presence in Christian contexts.

Culturally, Elijah has been a symbol of faith and divine intervention, often associated with themes of hope and redemption. In Jewish tradition, Elijah is expected to return as a forerunner of the Messiah, making his name resonate deeply within religious practices and beliefs. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Eli, which have been used in different cultures. Overall, the enduring legacy of Elijah reflects its deep roots in religious history and its continued significance in various cultural narratives.

Trend Summary

Elijah has seen a steady increase in popularity in the United States, consistently ranking among the top names for boys.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Elia
  • Eli

International Variants

  • Elias (Greek)
  • Elia (Italian)
  • Ilyas (Arabic)
  • Elías (Spanish)

Famous people named Elijah

Elijah Wood is an actor best known for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Wilfred.

Elijah Kelley is an actor and singer best known for Hairspray, The Butler, and The Wiz Live!

Elijah Jordan Wood is a voice actor best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings video games.

Fictional characters named Elijah

Elijah Mikaelson is a fictional character from the TV series The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off The Originals. He is a member of the Original vampire family and often serves as a protector of his loved ones, showcasing a complex moral code.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Elijah was first seen in the United States in 1880. Elijah has ranked as high as #19 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia. In the past 5 years the name Elijah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Elijah (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 1,434
13%
CA 1,257
12%
FL 841
8%
GA 412
4%
NC 411
4%
NY 402
4%
OH 377
4%
PA 331
3%
TN 322
3%
MI 311
3%
VA 308
3%
IL 280
3%
IN 265
2%
AZ 259
2%
WA 244
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880100
188169
1882111
188392
188485
188582
188693
188775
188888
188961
189064
189157
189285
189377
189454
189575
189687
189765
189876
189964
190086
190179
190266
190358
190460
190581
190665
190776
190864
190990
1910101
191194
1912142
1913149
1914187
1915243
1916232
1917256
1918264
1919295
1920277
1921257
1922311
1923302
1924261
1925283
1926276
1927290
1928255
1929243
1930226
1931198
1932231
1933198
1934209
1935210
1936221
1937210
1938195
1939237
1940201
1941239
1942245
1943221
1944227
1945237
1946222
1947296
1948244
1949267
1950282
1951223
1952263
1953248
1954254
1955235
1956197
1957218
1958209
1959185
1960180
1961194
1962179
1963149
1964161
1965122
1966140
1967134
1968122
1969143
1970184
1971196
1972209
1973212
1974288
1975263
1976302
1977504
1978548
1979696
1980754
1981750
1982739
1983671
1984631
1985681
1986718
1987746
1988886
1989991
19901,139
19911,345
19921,523
19931,882
19942,621
19953,976
19964,818
19975,089
19985,662
19996,596
20007,472
20018,339
200210,053
200310,665
200411,714
200511,612
200612,055
200712,424
200813,239
200912,845
201013,919
201113,997
201213,909
201313,826
201413,881
201513,707
201613,970
201713,444
201813,012
201913,428
202013,224
202112,825
202212,075
202311,503
202411,171