Elijah Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Elijah is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “Yahweh is my God,” a theophoric name that embeds the divine name directly within it.
Meaning Yahweh is my God
Origin Hebrew
Pronunciation ee-LY-juh
Gender Boy
Related forms Eli (short form), Elias (Greek-influenced form)

Origin and history

Elijah is a theophoric name, meaning it directly incorporates a name for God within the name itself, in this case Yahweh. The name comes from the Old Testament, most notably the Hebrew prophet Elijah, whose story appears prominently in the books of 1 and 2 Kings.

Is Elijah a boy or girl name?

Elijah is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Nicknames for Elijah

  • Eli

Names similar to Elijah

  • Elias (a Greek-influenced form of the same underlying name)
  • Eli (both a nickname for Elijah and a separate, shorter Hebrew name in its own right)

Frequently asked questions

What does “theophoric” mean?

It describes a name that embeds a reference to a deity directly within it, in Elijah’s case, the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh, appears as part of the name’s structure itself.

Is Elijah the same name as Elias?

They share the same Hebrew root, with Elias developing as the Greek-influenced form used in some translations and languages.

Is Elijah currently a popular name?

Yes, it has been consistently among the most used boys’ names in English-speaking countries in recent years.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names.