Elijah

Elijah is a resonant Hebrew name meaning 'my God is the Lord,' carrying prophetic gravity alongside a soft, appealing modern sound.

What Does the Name Elijah Mean?

Elijah comes from the Hebrew Eliyahu, combining 'Eli' (my God) and 'Yah' (a short form of Yahweh, the divine name). Together it declares 'my God is Yahweh' or 'the Lord is my God.' It is a name of devotion and conviction, rooted in one of the Hebrew Bible's boldest figures.

Personality & Traits

Elijah blends strength and softness, its firm meaning offset by a flowing, melodic sound. It carries an air of thoughtfulness and depth. Parents often pick it for that mix of spiritual weight and contemporary warmth.

Nicknames & Variations

Common nicknames include Eli, Lijah, and sometimes Ellie. Variants include the Hebrew Eliyahu, the Spanish Elias, the Arabic Ilyas, and the shorter Elias used across Europe. Eli is popular enough to be given as a standalone name.

Is Elijah a Good Name in 2026?

Elijah has been a US top-ten boys' name in recent years, prized for its blend of tradition and gentle sound. It offers biblical depth, a great nickname in Eli, and cross-cultural recognition. Its popularity means it is well-loved and widely used rather than unusual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elijah a boy or girl name?

Elijah is a boys' name, used almost exclusively for boys.

What does the name Elijah mean?

Elijah means 'my God is Yahweh' or 'the Lord is my God,' from the Hebrew Eliyahu.

Where does the name Elijah come from?

Elijah is Hebrew in origin and comes from the biblical prophet Eliyahu.

Is Elijah a popular name?

Yes. Elijah has been among the top ten US boys' names in recent years.

Notable people named Elijah

Elijah — A prophet in the Hebrew Bible active in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab, who confronted the worship of Baal and, per the Books of Kings, was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind rather than dying.

Source: Wikipedia: Elijah

Elijah Wood — American actor (b. 1981), a prominent child actor of the 1990s who later gained international recognition playing Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003).

Source: Wikipedia: Elijah Wood

Popularity of the name Elijah in the US

2011 · 14,030 babies · rank #19 (33 girls, 13,997 boys)