gender neutral
Elijah
my God is Yahweh, Jehovah is God
About Elijah
Among the most beloved names in recent generations, Elijah combines timeless tradition with contemporary popularity. This four-syllable name flows beautifully, offering both elegance and strength in its pronunciation. Parents consistently choose Elijah for its rich historical associations and its sound's inherent warmth. The name provides excellent nickname versatility—Eli, Lijah, or the full form—allowing children to choose how they present themselves in different contexts. Elijah works seamlessly across cultural boundaries, recognized and appreciated in diverse communities worldwide. Its biblical heritage gives it depth and gravitas, while its current widespread use demonstrates its continued relevance. The name balances formality and friendliness expertly, suitable for professional settings without feeling stiff in casual environments. Children named Elijah often find their name receives universal positive reception, as it's both familiar and distinguished. The strong consonants at the beginning and end frame the softer middle sounds, creating a name that feels complete and harmonious. For families seeking a name that honors tradition while remaining firmly contemporary, Elijah delivers on all fronts. Its popularity reflects genuine appreciation for its qualities rather than fleeting trend-following, suggesting staying power for years to come.
Popularity of the Name Elijah
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #135 | ||||
| 1881 | #172 | ||||
| 1882 | #126 | ||||
| 1883 | #135 | ||||
| 1884 | #164 | ||||
| 1885 | #163 | ||||
| 1886 | #152 | ||||
| 1887 | #169 | ||||
| 1888 | #171 | ||||
| 1889 | #209 | ||||
| 1890 | #204 | ||||
| 1891 | #210 | ||||
| 1892 | #184 | ||||
| 1893 | #189 | ||||
| 1894 | #235 | ||||
| 1895 | #194 | ||||
| 1896 | #186 | ||||
| 1897 | #209 | ||||
| 1898 | #197 | ||||
| 1899 | #205 | ||||
| 1900 | #211 | ||||
| 1901 | #184 | ||||
| 1902 | #221 | ||||
| 1903 | #240 | ||||
| 1904 | #243 | ||||
| 1905 | #212 | ||||
| 1906 | #243 | ||||
| 1907 | #234 | ||||
| 1908 | #266 | ||||
| 1909 | #231 | ||||
| 1910 | #234 | ||||
| 1911 | #269 | ||||
| 1912 | #303 | ||||
| 1913 | #335 | ||||
| 1914 | #340 | ||||
| 1915 | #340 | ||||
| 1916 | #353 | ||||
| 1917 | #348 | ||||
| 1918 | #358 | ||||
| 1919 | #327 | ||||
| 1920 | #356 | ||||
| 1921 | #378 | ||||
| 1922 | #327 | ||||
| 1923 | #335 | ||||
| 1924 | #375 | ||||
| 1925 | #348 | ||||
| 1926 | #348 | ||||
| 1927 | #336 | ||||
| 1928 | #365 | ||||
| 1929 | #368 | ||||
| 1930 | #378 | ||||
| 1931 | #400 | ||||
| 1932 | #365 | ||||
| 1933 | #386 | ||||
| 1934 | #379 | ||||
| 1935 | #374 | ||||
| 1936 | #365 | ||||
| 1937 | #382 | ||||
| 1938 | #407 | ||||
| 1939 | #371 | ||||
| 1940 | #405 | ||||
| 1941 | #375 | ||||
| 1942 | #388 | ||||
| 1943 | #416 | ||||
| 1944 | #399 | ||||
| 1945 | #388 | ||||
| 1946 | #426 | ||||
| 1947 | #399 | ||||
| 1948 | #427 | ||||
| 1949 | #414 | ||||
| 1950 | #402 | ||||
| 1951 | #452 | ||||
| 1952 | #430 | ||||
| 1953 | #454 | ||||
| 1954 | #452 | ||||
| 1955 | #477 | ||||
| 1956 | #532 | ||||
| 1957 | #521 | ||||
| 1958 | #531 | ||||
| 1959 | #574 | ||||
| 1960 | #579 | ||||
| 1961 | #565 | ||||
| 1962 | #583 | ||||
| 1963 | #642 | ||||
| 1964 | #618 | ||||
| 1965 | #672 | ||||
| 1966 | #626 | ||||
| 1967 | #645 | ||||
| 1968 | #680 | ||||
| 1969 | #660 | ||||
| 1970 | #597 | ||||
| 1971 | #589 | ||||
| 1972 | #552 | ||||
| 1973 | #537 | ||||
| 1974 | #472 | ||||
| 1975 | #491 | ||||
| 1976 | #452 | ||||
| 1977 | #350 | ||||
| 1978 | #320 | ||||
| 1979 | #290 | ||||
| 1980 | #279 | ||||
| 1981 | #277 | ||||
| 1982 | #280 | ||||
| 1983 | #296 | ||||
| 1984 | #310 | ||||
| 1985 | #299 | ||||
| 1986 | #290 | ||||
| 1987 | #289 | ||||
| 1988 | #266 | #247 | |||
| 1989 | #257 | #316 | |||
| 1990 | #243 | ||||
| 1991 | #222 | #229 | #415 | ||
| 1992 | #203 | #226 | #357 | ||
| 1993 | #170 | #194 | #301 | ||
| 1994 | #133 | #156 | #273 | ||
| 1995 | #93 | #141 | #200 | ||
| 1996 | #81 | #113 | #178 | ||
| 1997 | #74 | #316 | #92 | #180 | |
| 1998 | #66 | #384 | #102 | #177 | |
| 1999 | #60 | #338 | #99 | #151 | |
| 2000 | #52 | #306 | #76 | #286 | #145 |
| 2001 | #45 | #312 | #77 | #374 | #151 |
| 2002 | #41 | #224 | #57 | #226 | #108 |
| 2003 | #37 | #191 | #47 | #269 | #109 |
| 2004 | #31 | #182 | #63 | #249 | #94 |
| 2005 | #31 | #170 | #67 | #376 | #97 |
| 2006 | #29 | #176 | #73 | #286 | #89 |
| 2007 | #30 | #156 | #56 | #285 | #101 |
| 2008 | #22 | #147 | #51 | #240 | #100 |
| 2009 | #21 | #147 | #56 | #265 | #91 |
| 2010 | #18 | #127 | #51 | #236 | #85 |
| 2011 | #13 | #102 | #33 | #223 | #91 |
| 2012 | #13 | #88 | #30 | #224 | #68 |
| 2013 | #11 | #75 | #25 | #210 | #63 |
| 2014 | #11 | #59 | #26 | #196 | #61 |
| 2015 | #11 | #50 | #22 | #229 | #57 |
| 2016 | #9 | #45 | #26 | #179 | #52 |
| 2017 | #8 | #43 | #18 | #162 | #48 |
| 2018 | #7 | #44 | #17 | #134 | #46 |
| 2019 | #5 | #40 | #18 | #160 | #39 |
| 2020 | #4 | #31 | #11 | #113 | #41 |
| 2021 | #4 | #34 | #11 | #135 | #37 |
| 2022 | #5 | #36 | #13 | #104 | #36 |
| 2023 | #5 | #34 | #13 | #106 | #34 |
| 2024 | #8 | #25 | #9 | #128 | #33 |
| 2025 | #7 | #23 | #9 | #100 | #29 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Elijah
Names Similar to Elijah
Nicknames for Elijah
- Eli
- Lij
- E.J.
- Lige
Famous People Named Elijah
| Elijah Wood | American actor |
| Elijah McCoy | Canadian-American inventor |
| Elijah Cummings | American politician |
| Elijah Blake | American singer-songwriter |
| Elijah Craig | American reverend and distiller |
| Elijah Burke | American professional wrestler |
| Elijah Blue Allman | American musician |
| Elijah Muhammad | American religious leader |
| Elijah Harper | Canadian politician |
| Elijah Tana | South Sudanese footballer |
| Elijah Kelley | American actor and singer |
| Elijah Johnson | American basketball player |
| Elijah Dukes | American former baseball player |
| Elijah P. Lovejoy | American journalist and abolitionist |
| Elijah Daniel | American comedian and author |
| Elijah Pitts | American football player |
| Elijah W. Smith | American composer |
| Elijah Gardner | British actor |
| Elijah Hall | American sprinter |
Characters Named Elijah
| Elijah Kamski | Character from the video game "Detroit: Become Human" |
| Elijah Baley | Character from Isaac Asimov's "Robot" series |
| Elijah Price | Character from the movie "Unbreakable" |
| Elijah Slaughter | Character from the TV show "Oz" |
| Elijah Woodard | Character from the TV show "Power" |
| Elijah Wells | Character from the TV show "Gotham" |
| Elijah Stern | Character from the TV show "Crossing Lines" |
| Elijah Lovejoy | Character from the book "From the Darkness Cometh the Light" |
| Elijah "Eli" Thompson | Character from the TV show "Boardwalk Empire" |
| Elijah Snow | Character from the comic book series "Planetary" |
| Elijah Mikaelson | Character from the TV show "The Originals" |