Find out how popular the first name Elishama has been for the last 7 years (from 2017 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Elishama by gender

Based on the last 7 years of data, Elishama is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Elishama.

The history of the first name Elishama

The name Elishama has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a combination of the Hebrew words "El" meaning "God" and "shama" meaning "to hear." The name essentially translates to "God hears" or "God has heard."

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Elishama is mentioned as the name of several individuals. One Elishama was the son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim, and he was appointed as a leader during the time of Moses (Numbers 1:10). Another Elishama was a scribe during the reign of King Jehoiakim in the 7th century BCE (Jeremiah 36:12).

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Elishama can be found in the Book of Samuel, where it is mentioned as the name of a son of King David (1 Chronicles 3:8). This would place the name's use around the 10th century BCE during the biblical era.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Elishama. One such individual was Elishama ben Avuya, a prominent Jewish scholar who lived in the 2nd century CE and was known for his expertise in the Mishnah, the foundational text of the Jewish oral tradition.

Another Elishama of note was Elishama ben Gershom, a 14th-century rabbi and scholar from the city of Avignon in modern-day France. He was renowned for his commentary on the Talmud and his works on Jewish law.

In the 16th century, there was Elishama ben Gershon Abulafia, a Jewish poet and philosopher from Spain who wrote extensively on Kabbalah, the mystical branch of Judaism.

Moving forward, Elishama Whitcomb (1681-1752) was an American clergyman and educator who served as the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and was also involved in establishing several schools in the region.

Lastly, Elishama Townsend (1809-1885) was a 19th-century American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Elishama, which has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and culture and has been used across various regions and time periods.

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 Elishama was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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