"my God is Yahweh"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Ilijah
Does Ilijah flow with your last name?
The great prophet's name — power and faith
English
Hebrew
American
Christian
Jewish
Spiritual
Strong
Classic
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Ilijah
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Ilijah
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"Yahweh is my God"
Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Ilijah
See all →What the Ilijah report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Ilijah the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Ilijah
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Ilijah head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Ilijah actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Ilijah
Ilijah is an alternate spelling of Elijah, the great Hebrew prophet whose name means 'my God is Yahweh' or 'Yahweh is my God' — from 'Eli' (my God) and 'Yah' (a shortened form of Yahweh). In the Hebrew Bible, Elijah is one of the most dramatic figures, calling fire down from heaven, defeating the prophets of Baal, and ascending to heaven in a fiery chariot. The 'I' spelling at the beginning is a variant that occasionally appears in American birth records.
Elijah has been in the US top 10 boys names since 2016 and in the top 20 since 2010, driven by the long-running surge in biblical names. The Ilijah variant is much rarer and appears to be a stylistic or phonetic spelling choice.
Elijah holds profound significance in Jewish tradition — a place is set for him at every Passover seder, and his imminent return is associated with the coming of the Messiah. In Christianity, Elijah is understood as a forerunner to John the Baptist. In Islam, he is revered as the prophet Ilyas.
Historical Record
Ilijah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1996.
Over 573 babies have been named Ilijah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ilijah is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #4,620 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- A place is set for Elijah at every Jewish Passover seder, symbolizing hope for redemption
- Elijah is one of only two figures in the Hebrew Bible taken directly to heaven without dying (along with Enoch)
- The name has been in the US top 5 for boys since 2016, showing remarkable staying power
Ilijah in Other Languages
Greek
Ηλίας (Elias)
Arabic
إلياس (Ilyas)
Hebrew
אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu)
Italian
Elia
Russian
Илья (Ilya)
Spanish
Elías
Popularity Over Time
#4,620
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ilijah
E
Elijah Wood
Actor
1981
American actor best known as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy
E
Elijah Muhammad
Religious
1897
Leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975, mentor of Malcolm X
E
Elijah (Prophet)
Religious
Hebrew prophet who called fire from heaven and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and...
Hebrew prophet who called fire from heaven and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Henrry
Boy
"home ruler"
#4,617
Jashaun
Boy
"Yahweh is gracious"
#4,775
Karston
Boy
"Christian, follower of Christ"
#4,579
Boy
Boy
"term of endearment for the firstborn or youngest son"
#4,506
Phenix
Boy
"mythical bird of rebirth"
#4,459
Compare Ilijah with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #4,620
- Total SSA Count
- 22
- Cultural Origins
- English Hebrew American Christian Jewish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Eli
Lijah
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ilijah
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Ilijah fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Ilijah →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Ilijah with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Ilijah
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Ilijah and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Ilijah sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Henrry
Boy
Old High German origin
"home ruler"
#4,617 in US
Jashaun
Boy
Hebrew origin
"Yahweh is gracious"
#4,775 in US
Karston
Boy
Latin via Scandinavian origin
"Christian, follower of Christ"
#4,579 in US
Boy
Boy
Southeast Asian origin
"term of endearment for the firstborn ..."
#4,506 in US
Phenix
Boy
Greek mythology origin
"mythical bird of rebirth"
#4,459 in US
Alanzo
Boy
Germanic via Spanish origin
"noble and ready"
#4,762 in US
Rollin
Boy
Old High German hrod + land origin
"renowned in the land"
#4,757 in US
Andersen
Boy
Greek via Old Norse origin
"descendent of Andrew; virile"
#4,505 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Ilijah's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ilijah
What does the name Ilijah mean?
"my God is Yahweh" (from Hebrew). "Yahweh is my God" (from Biblical Hebrew). Ilijah is an alternate spelling of Elijah, the great Hebrew prophet whose name means 'my God is Yahweh' or 'Yahweh is my God' — from 'Eli' (my God) and 'Yah' (a shortened form of Yahweh). In the Hebrew Bible, Elijah is one of the most dramatic figures, calling fire down from heaven, defeating the prophets of Baal, and ascending to heaven in a fiery chariot. The 'I' spelling at the beginning is a variant that occasionally appears in American birth records.
What is the origin of the name Ilijah?
Ilijah has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, English, American, Christian, and Jewish origins. In Hebrew, it means "my God is Yahweh". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "Yahweh is my God".
Is Ilijah a boy or girl name?
Ilijah is primarily used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Ilijah?
Ilijah is currently ranked #4620 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Ilijah?
Common nicknames for Ilijah include Eli and Lijah.
What are good middle names for Ilijah?
Popular middle name pairings include Ilijah James, Ilijah Cole, Ilijah Thomas, Ilijah David, Ilijah Michael, Ilijah Alexander, and Ilijah Grant.
What are good sibling names for Ilijah?
Names that pair well with Ilijah as siblings include Isaiah, Ezra, Micah, Zion, Naomi, Eden, and Lydia.
How many syllables does Ilijah have?
Ilijah has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Ilijah a common or rare name?
Ilijah is an uncommon name, ranked #4620 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Ilijah
Ilijah is a boy name with English, Hebrew, American, Christian, and Jewish origins . The name means "my God is Yahweh" in Hebrew .
Ilijah is currently ranked #4,620 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Ilijah has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Ilijah include Eli and Lijah. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew Names
Browse all names with this origin
I
Names Starting with I
More boy names like Ilijah
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis