Names › Boys' names › E › Elijah

Elijah

Meaning: my God is Yahweh · Origin: Hebrew · Gender: usually a boy's name

Origin & history

From Hebrew Eliyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — the great prophet of the Book of Kings.

Famous people named Elijah

Elijah Wood (actor)
Elijah McCoy (inventor)

Nicknames

Eli, Lij

Variants & related names

Elias, Ilya, Elie

Elijah name art

A free preview of a printable “Elijah” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Elijah mean?

Elijah means “my God is Yahweh”. It comes from Hebrew.

Is Elijah a popular name?

Yes — Elijah has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Elijah?

Eli, Lij.

What are other forms of Elijah?

Elias, Ilya, Elie.

Similar names

Nathaniel · Jonah · Zachary · Toby · Jude · Jesse

More: names starting with E · all boys' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.