Elijah is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the elements "Eli," meaning "my God," and "jah," which means "he will." Together, these elements form the name Elijah, which translates to "My God is Yahweh." This name has a rich history in biblical literature. In the Old Testament, Elijah was a prophet who was known for his miracles and his fierce devotion to God. He lived during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and he challenged their worship of false gods. Elijah's name is also significant because it is one of the few names in the Bible that is used by both Jews and Christians as a personal name. Today, Elijah is still a popular name among people of various religious backgrounds.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Elijah has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. The first recorded birth with this name was in 1979, with only five babies given the name that year.
The trend steadily increased from 1991 onwards, with six births in that year, and peaking at a high of 75 births in 2008. This decade saw a consistent rise in popularity for the name Elijah, reaching its zenith during this period.
However, beginning in 2009, there was a gradual decrease in the number of babies named Elijah each year, with the figure dropping to 19 births in both 2020 and 2021. The most recent data available shows that there were eight births in 2022 and twelve in 2023.
In total, over the years from 1979 to 2023, there have been 1,126 babies named Elijah born in the United States. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, this name has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names.