Elijah Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Elijah originates from the Hebrew name 'Eliyahu', meaning 'My God is Yahweh'. It evolved through various languages, maintaining its religious significance throughout history. The name is linked to the biblical prophet Elijah, reflecting traits of strength and faith. It has gained popularity in English-speaking regions since the Reformation and remains a respected and traditional name today.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elijah"
Pronunciation
/ɪˈlaɪdʒə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name 'Eliyahu', which means 'My God is Yahweh'.
Meaning
My God is Yahweh
Language Evolution
Eliyahu (Hebrew), Elia (Latin), Elias (Greek), Elijah (English)
Biblical Background
Elijah is a significant prophet in the Hebrew Bible, known for his role in defending the worship of Yahweh against the worship of Baal.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Protestant Reformation, particularly among those influenced by biblical naming practices.
Variants & Derivatives
Elia, Elias, Eli, Elie
Modern Popularity & Image
Elijah is currently perceived as a strong and traditional name, often associated with faith and spirituality.
Famous People
Elijah Wood (actor), Elijah Cummings (politician), Elijah Muhammad (religious leader)
📊 Elijah Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Elijah Name Visualizations
✨ Elijah Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 14,030 peak births in 2011
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Nevada
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Elijah" - Complete Guide (15 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Elijah". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 15 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Elijah" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elijah"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Elijah"
"Elijah" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 333rd of 7545 | 4,859 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 388th of 6773 | 4,003 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 502nd of 7552 | 4,206 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 469th of 10718 | 4,817 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 196th of 16616 | 24,117 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 34th of 24088 | 169,590 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6th of 23106 | 156,066 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8441st of 9107 | 7 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7783rd of 9204 | 11 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11010th of 12526 | 10 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11493rd of 19264 | 32 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5627th of 27321 | 234 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3592nd of 35406 | 654 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4775th of 30306 | 341 |
Regional Popularity of "Elijah" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
50.21% 711th/1416 |
59.68% 823rd/1379 |
8.71% 206th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
47.28% 731st/1546 |
49.74% 774th/1556 |
11.05% 260th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
29.64% 660th/2227 |
28.40% 690th/2430 |
12.55% 358th/2853 |
47.64% 1322nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
15.90% 467th/2937 |
12.43% 433rd/3483 |
12.82% 451st/3518 |
10.91% 441st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.83% 178th/3685 |
3.31% 148th/4475 |
3.91% 203rd/5194 |
3.21% 203rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
0.76% 35th/4582 |
0.89% 46th/5164 |
0.44% 32nd/7313 |
0.52% 39th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.20% 8th/3984 |
0.65% 29th/4487 |
0.06% 4th/6822 |
0.16% 10th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Elijah" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
100.00% 4475th/4475 |
100.00% 5194th/5194 |
78.90% 4984th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
78.20% 4038th/5164 |
51.61% 3774th/7313 |
48.73% 3637th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
75.29% 5136th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Elijah"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elijah" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Elijah" in the United States
The name Elijah is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Elijah has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Elijah' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 333rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 388th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 502nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 469th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 196th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 34th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8441st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7783rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11010th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11493rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5627th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3592nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4775th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Elijah' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.