Will my child share the name Elijah with classmates?

Unlikely. With around 1,659 UK babies named Elijah per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Elijah in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.

Is Elijah becoming more or less popular in the UK?

Elijah has been fairly steady, ranked #23 in 2025 against #30 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #23 in 2024.

What does the name Elijah mean?

The name Elijah has Hebrew origins and means "My God is Yahweh". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.

Who are some famous people named Elijah?

Notable people named Elijah include: Elijah Kipterege, Elijah Holloway and Elijah Dotson.

Is Elijah a popular baby name in the United States?

Elijah is very popular in the United States, ranked #7 in 2025. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.

👦 Boy's name ⭐ Popular UK #23

Elijah

🗳️ Add Elijah to a family shortlist

Elijah is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #23 in 2025. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.

Origin & Meaning

Hebrew — My God is Yahweh

⭐

UK Rank 2025

#23

US Rank #7

About the Name Elijah

Elijah is currently at its most popular point on record, sitting at UK #23. It has been building momentum steadily rather than spiking suddenly. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 10 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.

In terms of origin, Elijah is rooted in Hebrew, where it means "My God is Yahweh". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.

Elijah is a very popular name in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only Elijah on the register.

It ranks similarly in the US at #7, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.

⭐ Famous People Named Elijah

Elijah Kipterege — Elijah Chelimo Kipterege is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase.
Elijah Holloway — Elijah Holloway is a British actor, known for portraying the role of Harry Mitchell on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2024.
Elijah Dotson — Elijah Dotson is an American professional football running back for the Orlando Storm of the United Football League (UFL).

Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.