Find out how popular the first name Ilya has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ilya by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ilya is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 81% of people named Ilya being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 34 male babies and 21 female babies born with the name Ilya.

The history of the first name Ilya

The given name Ilya has its origins in the Russian and Slavic languages, tracing back to the Greek name Elias. It is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, which means "My God is Yahweh" or "Jehovah is God." This name has a significant religious and cultural significance in various traditions.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Elijah (or Elias in Greek) was a prominent prophet known for his miracles and confrontation with the pagan priests of Baal. His name is mentioned numerous times throughout the biblical texts, making it a revered name in Judeo-Christian traditions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ilya can be found in medieval Slavic documents, particularly in Russia and other Eastern European regions influenced by the Orthodox Christian faith. The name gained popularity among Eastern Slavic populations due to its connection with the biblical prophet and the veneration of saints in Orthodox Christianity.

One of the most famous historical figures bearing the name Ilya was Ilya Muromets, a semi-legendary Russian bogatyr (warrior) and hero of the Russian epic byliny (folk tales) from the 12th century. His exploits and bravery in defending the Russian lands have been celebrated in numerous literary works and folklore.

Another notable Ilya was Ilya Repin (1844-1930), a renowned Russian realist artist known for his masterpieces such as "Barge Haulers on the Volga" and "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan." His works captured the essence of Russian life and had a significant impact on the development of Russian art.

In the realm of literature, Ilya Ehrenburg (1891-1967) was a prominent Soviet writer, journalist, and cultural figure. He was known for his novels, short stories, and memoirs that depicted the Russian Revolution and the struggles of the Soviet people during World War II.

Another influential figure was Ilya Prigogine (1917-2003), a Russian-born Belgian physicist and chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977 for his groundbreaking work on dissipative structures and the theory of irreversible processes in physical and chemical systems.

Ilya Kabakov (born 1933) is a celebrated Russian-American conceptual artist and art theorist, whose installations and artworks explore themes of Soviet life, memory, and the human condition. His works have been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ilya, a name steeped in religious and cultural significance, reflecting its enduring presence across various societies and disciplines.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!