What Does the Name Elijah Mean?
Elijah is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “my God is Yahweh.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Elijah |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | my God is Yahweh |
| Variants | Elias, Eli, Elia, Ilya |
| Popularity | Top 5 US boys' name through the early 2020s |
The meaning and origin of Elijah
The name Elijah means “my God is Yahweh” and has Hebrew origins. Elijah is the English form of the Hebrew Eliyyahu, meaning 'my God is Yahweh.' It was borne by the major Old Testament prophet and has become a top-tier American name in recent decades.
Variants and related names
Elijah is related to several other names you may recognize: Elias, Eli, Elia, Ilya. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Elijah?
Top 5 US boys' name through the early 2020s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elijah mean?+
The name Elijah means “my God is Yahweh” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Elijah?+
Elijah originates from Hebrew.
Is Elijah a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Elijah has trended in the US over time.
Elijah by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press