Elisha

Pronunciation: [ EHL-ihsh-uh ]

Boy Name #851 Most Popular Rising 3 Syllables

A Biblical prophet's name with electric energy

English American Jewish Christian

Spiritual Classic Strong Traditional Literary

Meaning & Origin

"my God is salvation"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

"God is my help"

Origin: Hebrew alternate reading

Language: Hebrew

Things to Know About This Name

Name is gender-ambiguous and is used for both boys and girls, causing some confusion

The Story of Elisha

Elisha is a Hebrew name meaning 'my God is salvation,' composed of 'El' (God) and 'yasha' (to save), the same root as Joshua and Isaiah. In the Hebrew Bible, Elisha was the prophetic successor of Elijah, performing even more miracles than his predecessor — including raising the dead, healing lepers, and parting the Jordan River. The name has been used continuously in Jewish and Christian communities for over three thousand years.

Elisha has gained momentum in the US as parents seek Biblical names that feel fresh — its similarity to the mega-popular Elijah makes it feel familiar yet distinctive. It rose steadily on US charts throughout the 2010s alongside the broader revival of Old Testament names for boys.

In Jewish tradition, Elisha is a major prophet whose stories fill much of 2 Kings. He is associated with social justice miracles — feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and healing the sick. In Ethiopian Christian tradition, Elisha is venerated as a saint.

Fun Facts

The prophet Elisha performed 16 miracles recorded in the Bible, double the number recorded for Elijah
Elisha Gray filed a patent caveat for the telephone on the same day as Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 — and lost the priority by just hours

Elisha in Other Languages

Arabic اليسع

French Élisée

Hebrew אֱלִישָׁע

Italian Eliseo

Spanish Eliseo

Famous People Named Elisha

Elisha Cook Jr.

Actor

1903

American character actor known for memorable supporting roles in classic noir films including The Maltese Falcon and Sha...

American character actor known for memorable supporting roles in classic noir films including The Maltese Falcon and Shane

Elisha Gray

Engineer

1835

American electrical engineer who co-founded Western Electric and famously came within hours of Alexander Graham Bell in ...

American electrical engineer who co-founded Western Electric and famously came within hours of Alexander Graham Bell in the race to patent the telephone

Elisha (prophet)

Religious

Hebrew prophet and miraculous healer in the Bible, successor to Elijah and one of the most active wonder-workers in the ...

Hebrew prophet and miraculous healer in the Bible, successor to Elijah and one of the most active wonder-workers in the Hebrew scriptures

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 3
Popularity Rank: #851
Total SSA Count: 284
Cultural Origins: English American Jewish Christian
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Eliseo #630

Common Nicknames

Eli Lish

Pairs Well With

Elisha James Elisha Cole Elisha Dean Elisha Grant Elisha Ray Elisha Thomas Elisha Aaron

Sibling Names

Elijah Isaiah Micah Caleb Naomi Miriam Deborah Jonah

Also a Girl Name

Elisha is also used as a girl name, ranked #2039.

View Elisha as a girl name →

Similar Names

Isaac Elijah Eli Elias Ellis Isaiah Ezra Josiah

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Elisha

What does the name Elisha mean?

"my God is salvation" (from Hebrew). "God is my help" (from Hebrew alternate reading). Elisha is a Hebrew name meaning 'my God is salvation,' composed of 'El' (God) and 'yasha' (to save), the same root as Joshua and Isaiah. In the Hebrew Bible, Elisha was the prophetic successor of Elijah, performing even more miracles than his predecessor — including raising the dead, healing lepers, and parting the Jordan River. The name has been used continuously in Jewish and Christian communities for over three thousand years.

What is the origin of the name Elisha?

Elisha has Hebrew, Hebrew alternate reading, English, American, Jewish, and Christian origins. In Hebrew, it means "my God is salvation". In Hebrew alternate reading, it means "God is my help".

Is Elisha a boy or girl name?

Elisha is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #851. As a girl name, it is ranked #2039. Elisha is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Elisha?

Elisha is pronounced EHL-ihsh-uh.

How popular is the name Elisha?

Elisha is currently ranked #851 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Elisha?

Common nicknames for Elisha include Eli and Lish.

What are good middle names for Elisha?

Popular middle name pairings include Elisha James, Elisha Cole, Elisha Dean, Elisha Grant, Elisha Ray, Elisha Thomas, and Elisha Aaron.

What are good sibling names for Elisha?

Names that pair well with Elisha as siblings include Elijah, Isaiah, Micah, Caleb, Naomi, Miriam, Deborah, and Jonah.

How many syllables does Elisha have?

Elisha has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.

Is Elisha a common or rare name?

Elisha is moderately common, ranked #851 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Elisha

Elisha is a boy name with English, American, Jewish, and Christian origins . The name means "my God is salvation" in Hebrew .

Is Elisha a boy or girl name? Elisha is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #851 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #2,039. Elisha is more commonly used as a boy name.

Elisha is currently ranked #851 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Elisha has 3 syllables and is pronounced EHL-ihsh-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Elisha include Eli and Lish. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Elisha include Eliseo . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.