Elijah
Elijah is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “my God is Yahweh.” It ranked #6 in the United States in 2025. Elijah was a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible who ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire.
how do you pronounce Elijah?
eh-LY-jah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Elijah mean?
The name Elijah means “my God is Yahweh.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
Elijah was a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible who ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. The name has been a top-10 staple in the US since 2016, blending biblical gravitas with a contemporary feel.
where does the name Elijah come from?
From the Hebrew אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu), combining El, meaning God, with Yah, the shortened divine name. It states a position rather than describing a person: my God is Yahweh, which was a pointed claim in a period when it was contested.
the history of Elijah
The prophet's confrontation with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel in the first book of Kings is one of the sharpest scenes in the Hebrew Bible, and his departure by whirlwind rather than death shaped later expectations of his return. A cup is still poured for Elijah at the Passover seder, and the door opened for him.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #6 |
| 2023 | #5 |
| 2022 | #4 |
| 2021 | #4 |
| 2020 | #4 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Elijah?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Elijah?
- Elijah Wood (actor, Lord of the Rings)
- Elijah (biblical prophet)
- Elijah Cummings (US congressman)
what names are similar to Elijah?
what names go well with Elijah?
Sibling names that share Elijah's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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