Olijah
A unisex name derived from Hebrew "Elijah" meaning "my God is Yahweh".
Name Census estimates that about 35 living Americans carry the first name Olijah. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Olijah today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Olijah births was 2019 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Olijah. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Olijah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
35
~ 1 in 9,792,981 Americans
Peak year
2019
8 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,648
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Olijah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Olijah from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 24 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Olijah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Olijah 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 Olijah 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 Olijah
The name Olijah is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language. Its origins can be traced back to the time of the Old Testament, where it is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew word "olam," meaning "eternity" or "forever." The name is a combination of two distinct components: "Oli," which signifies "my God," and "jah," a contraction of the sacred name "Yahweh," the personal name of God in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Olijah's linguistic ancestry suggests a deep connection to the realm of spirituality and divine reverence. Its meaning is often interpreted as "God is eternal" or "my God is forever," reflecting a profound reverence for the enduring nature of the divine. This name carries a rich tapestry of religious and cultural significance, rooted in the ancient Israelite traditions.
In terms of historical references, the name Olijah does not appear to have been prominently featured in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, its linguistic components hold profound significance within the Judeo-Christian tradition, reflecting the unwavering faith and devotion of those who bore this name throughout the ages.
The earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing the name Olijah can be traced back to the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with a strong Jewish or Christian presence. One notable figure was Olijah ben Avraham, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century in Spain. His contributions to the fields of religious studies and metaphysics were highly regarded during his time.
Another prominent figure was Olijah the Scribe, a Christian monk who lived in the 9th century in the Byzantine Empire. He is celebrated for his meticulous work in transcribing and preserving numerous religious texts, ensuring the preservation of invaluable knowledge for future generations.
In the Renaissance era, Olijah Della Rovere, an Italian nobleman and patron of the arts, left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Born in 1457, he commissioned numerous works of art and architecture, fostering the flourishing of the Renaissance spirit in Italy.
During the 17th century, Olijah Cromwell, a renowned English Puritan minister, played a significant role in the religious and political landscape of his time. His fiery sermons and unwavering commitment to religious reform inspired many of his contemporaries.
In more recent times, Olijah Anderton, a British explorer and naturalist born in 1825, made significant contributions to the field of botany. His expeditions to remote regions of the world led to the discovery and documentation of numerous plant species, expanding our understanding of the natural world.
These are but a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Olijah throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.
People
Olijah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Olijah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Olijah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Olijah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 35 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Olijah 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 9,792,981 US residents.
Is Olijah a common name?
We classify Olijah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 48.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 35 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Olijah most popular?
The single biggest year for Olijah was 2019, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Olijah is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Olijah a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Olijah 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.
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.