Ilyaas
A masculine Arabic name meaning "great strength" or "resolute".
Name Census estimates that about 160 living Americans carry the first name Ilyaas. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ilyaas today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ilyaas births was 2024 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ilyaas. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Ilyaas with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
160
~ 1 in 2,142,215 Americans
Peak year
2024
17 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,507
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Ilyaas: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ilyaas from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 69 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ilyaas by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ilyaas during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ilyaas
The name Ilyaas has its origins in Arabic, rooted in the ancient Semitic languages. It is a variation of the name Elijah, derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, which means "my God is Yahweh." This name can be traced back to ancient times in the Middle East, where it was commonly used in various Semitic cultures and religions.
One of the earliest and most prominent references to the name Ilyaas can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Ilyaas is mentioned as a prophet and messenger of God, revered for his unwavering faith and dedication to the divine message. This association with a significant religious figure contributed to the name's popularity and widespread use among Arabic-speaking communities.
The name Ilyaas gained further prominence in the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Ilyaas ibn Mudar (570-630 CE), a renowned Arab poet and warrior from the pre-Islamic era. His poetic prowess and military exploits earned him a place in the annals of Arabic literature and history.
Another notable figure was Ilyaas al-Bakri (803-892 CE), a celebrated Arab geographer and historian from the Abbasid era. His works, such as the "Book of Routes and Kingdoms," provided invaluable insights into the geography, history, and cultures of the Islamic world during that period.
In the 12th century, Ilyaas ibn Yahya al-Munajjim (1193-1242 CE) was a renowned astronomer and mathematician from Damascus. His contributions to the field of astronomy, including the development of astronomical instruments and the compilation of star catalogues, left a lasting impact on the scientific world.
Moving forward in history, Ilyaas Qadri (1832-1917) was a prominent Sufi scholar and spiritual leader from the Indian subcontinent. He played a significant role in the revival and propagation of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, and his teachings and writings continue to inspire millions of followers today.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the name Ilyaas throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and religion to science and spirituality. The name's rich heritage and associations with notable figures have contributed to its enduring popularity across diverse cultures and regions.
People
Ilyaas + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ilyaas as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ilyaas: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ilyaas?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 160 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ilyaas going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,142,215 US residents.
Is Ilyaas a common name?
We classify Ilyaas as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 161 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ilyaas most popular?
The single biggest year for Ilyaas was 2024, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ilyaas is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ilyaas in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ilyaas a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ilyaas in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ilyaas still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ilyaas in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ilyaas can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Ilyaas?
Want to know how many people share the name Ilyaas? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.