Find out how popular the first name Elyjah has been for the last 30 years (from 1994 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Elyjah by gender

Based on the last 30 years of data, Elyjah is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 67 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Elyjah.

The history of the first name Elyjah

The name Elyjah originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the biblical name Elijah, which means "my God is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is God" in Hebrew.

The earliest known reference to the name Elijah comes from the Old Testament of the Bible, where it is the name of a prominent prophet. Elijah is described as a bold and courageous figure who stood up against the worship of false gods and performed miracles through the power of God.

One of the most famous stories associated with Elijah is his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he challenged them to a contest to prove the supremacy of the God of Israel. Elijah's victory in this event solidified his reputation as a powerful prophet and a champion of monotheism.

Throughout history, the name Elijah (and its variant spellings) has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded examples is Elijah ben Solomon, also known as the Gaon of Vilna, who was a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher born in 1720 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Another significant figure with this name is Elijah Muhammad, born Elijah Poole in 1897, who was a highly influential leader of the Nation of Islam movement in the United States during the 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Elijah is the name of a character in Herman Melville's famous novel "Moby Dick," published in 1851. This character, a former harpooner, represents the voice of wisdom and experience aboard the Pequod.

The name Elijah (and its variant spellings) has also been carried by several political and religious figures throughout history, such as Elijah Parish Lovejoy, an American abolitionist and Christian minister who was killed in 1837 while defending his anti-slavery newspaper.

Another notable bearer of this name is Elijah Delmedigo, an Italian Jewish philosopher and scholar who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries and made significant contributions to the fields of logic, mathematics, and astronomy.

While the name Elyjah is a less common variant spelling, it shares the same rich historical and cultural significance as its more widely recognized counterpart, Elijah. The name has endured through the ages, carrying the weight of its biblical origins and the stories of the remarkable individuals who have borne it.

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

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

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