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Name at a glance

Elijah

Elijah is a Hebrew name meaning my God is the LORD.

Ranked #7 in US baby names in 2025, stable over the past 5 years.

Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets in the Old Testament and remains a name with deep resonance across Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions.

Browse namesRead Elijah's story
OriginHebrew
GenderBoy
FeelStrong
Pronunciationih-LIE-juh

Is Elijah biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Elijah is a named person in Scripture, one of the major prophets of 1 and 2 Kings, also referenced in the New Testament.

Is Elijah a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Elijah has deep, longstanding Christian use, venerated as a prophet in Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican tradition and linked in the New Testament to John the Baptist.

Plain answer

Elijah is a major biblical prophet and a foundational Christian name with broad cross-tradition veneration and use.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Elijah

Elijah comes from the Hebrew Eliyahu, built from El, meaning God, and Yah, a shortened form of YHWH, the divine name used in the Hebrew Bible. The name is not only a statement about God. It is a confession of loyalty, saying that the LORD, not Baal or any rival god, is the true God.

Sound

How to pronounce Elijah

Phonetic
ih-LIE-juh
IPA
/ɪˈlaɪdʒə/

3 syllables · stress: ih-LIE-juh · ends in a vowel

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Elias
  • Eliyahu
  • Ellis
  • Eliot

Short forms and nicknames

  • Eli
  • Lijah

Languages

Elijah in other languages

Hebrew
אֵלִיָּהוּEliyahu
Greek
ἨλίαςĒlias
Latin
Elias
Spanish
Elías
French
Élie
German
Elija
Italian
Elia
Russian
ИлияIliya
Arabic
إِلْيَاسIlyas

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Elijah appears in 1 and 2 Kings. In Christian reading, he becomes a model of prophetic courage, prayer, and faithfulness under pressure. The New Testament also connects John the Baptist with the spirit and power of Elijah, which kept the name active in Christian imagination. For more on prophet names in the Bible and the prophetic tradition, see Biblical prophet names.

Scripture

The biblical figure

In the Bible, Elijah confronts Israel's king, challenges the prophets of Baal, and calls the people back to the LORD. His story is dramatic, but the meaning of his name explains the center of it: Israel must decide who God is.

Read the full story of Elijah in the Bible

Bearers

Notable people named Elijah

  • biblical

    Elijah the prophetHebrew Bible prophet active during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah in the ninth century BC

  • historical

    Elijah LovejoyAmerican Presbyterian minister, abolitionist editor of the Alton Observer, killed by a pro-slavery mob in 1837

  • historical

    Elijah MuhammadAmerican religious leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975

  • modern

    Elijah CummingsUS Congressman from Maryland from 1996 to 2019 and chair of the House Oversight Committee

  • modern

    Elijah WoodAmerican actor known for the role of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings films

Saint

Holy Prophet Elijah

Traditions
Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican
Patron of
Carmelites

Elijah is one of the most widely venerated prophets, especially in Orthodox tradition, where his commemoration is a major day. The Carmelite Order takes him as their spiritual father, tracing their roots to monks who lived on Mount Carmel in imitation of his life.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Elijah entered Christian naming tradition through biblical reading and later became especially familiar in Protestant communities that favored Old Testament names after the Reformation. In the United States, Elijah has moved from an older biblical name into a mainstream favorite, helped by its strong sound and clear religious meaning.

Recent US use

Elijah in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#7
Peak rank
#4 in 2020
Recent trend
stable over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Phonetic neighbours

Names that sound similar to Elijah

  • Elisha · Same Eli- prefix and three-syllable rhythm; the final syllable is the only difference.
  • Isaiah · Three-syllable Hebrew prophet name sharing the soft -iah ending and prophetic register.

Pairings

Names paired with Elijah

  • Elishaprophetic successor

    Elijah throws his mantle over Elisha in 1 Kings 19; Elisha receives a double portion of Elijah's spirit at his ascension.

For families

For families looking at Elijah

For a Christian family, Elijah signals courage, conviction, and a name with an unmistakable biblical story. Nicknames like Eli soften the sound while keeping the Hebrew root visible.

Common questions

What does Elijah mean?

Elijah means my God is the LORD. It comes from Hebrew elements referring to God and the divine name YHWH.

Is Elijah a biblical name?

Yes. Elijah is a major prophet in 1 and 2 Kings and is also mentioned in the New Testament.

Is Elijah a Christian name?

Yes. Elijah has been used by Christians for centuries because of the prophet's role in the Bible and the name's clear statement of faith.

Sources

Sources for Elijah

  • The First Book of the Kings, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: scripture context; biblical figure.
  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning.
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: prophet veneration across traditions.
  • National baby names data, US Social Security Administration (2025 release)Supports: US popularity.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

JohnJohn the Baptist is identified by Jesus as the prophet who comes 'in the spirit and power of Elijah' (Luke 1:17).MosesMoses and Elijah appear together at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17) as the two great prophets of Israel's covenant.