Find out how popular the first name Elian has been for the last 36 years (from 1988 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Elian by gender

Based on the last 36 years of data, Elian is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Elian being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,483 male babies and 7 female babies born with the name Elian.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby girls were named Elian in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Elian

The name Elian has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, and is believed to have emerged during the ancient era. It is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, which means "my God is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is God." The name Eliyahu is a combination of the Hebrew words "El" (meaning "God") and "Yahu" (a shortened form of "Yahweh," the name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible).

The name Elian is a shortened form of Eliyahu and shares a similar meaning, emphasizing the devotion to the God of Israel. It first appeared in biblical texts and ancient Hebrew records, where it was used to refer to various individuals who held significant roles in the religious and cultural life of the Israelites.

One of the earliest and most notable figures associated with the name Elian is the biblical prophet Elijah, also known as Eliyahu in Hebrew. He lived during the 9th century BCE and played a crucial role in the religious history of ancient Israel. His name and story are mentioned in the books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Hebrew Bible.

Throughout history, several other prominent individuals have borne the name Elian or its variants. For example, Elian (born c. 605 CE) was a Byzantine mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the study of celestial motions.

Another notable figure was Elian the Hermit (c. 451-c. 513 CE), a Christian monk and ascetic who lived in Palestine during the Byzantine era. He was renowned for his pious life and is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches.

In more recent times, the name Elian gained international attention with the case of Elian Gonzalez (born December 6, 1993), a Cuban boy who was at the center of a highly publicized custody battle between his relatives in Miami and his father in Cuba in the late 1990s.

Additionally, Elian Herrera (born May 26, 1985) is a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic who has played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.

Elian Somaza (born July 18, 1981) is a former Colombian professional footballer who played as a midfielder for various clubs, including Deportivo Cali and Millonarios.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elian, please contact us.

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