Eliab is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew elements "El" meaning "God," and "Ya'ab" which means "father." Thus, Eliab translates to "My God is my Father."
The name Eliab appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel. He was one of Jesse's sons and David's older brother. When the prophet Samuel went to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king over Israel, he initially considered Eliab first due to his tall stature and good looks. However, God told Samuel that "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" and proceeded to choose David instead.
Despite not being chosen as king, Eliab held an important role in the story of King David. His name signifies a deep faith and trust in God, characteristics that are often admired even today.
In modern times, Eliab has been used as a given name but remains relatively uncommon compared to other names with similar meanings such as Elijah or Elisha. Nonetheless, it is a unique and meaningful option for parents seeking a name rooted in religious history and symbolism.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the number of babies named Eliab has been steadily increasing over time in the United States.
From 1989 to 1996, there were relatively few births with the name Eliab, ranging from 5 to 8 births per year. However, starting in 2000, we begin to see a significant increase in the number of births with this name, reaching a peak of 98 births in 2022.
Over the course of these statistics (from 1989 to 2023), there were a total of 835 babies named Eliab born in the United States. This shows that while it may not have been one of the most popular names historically, Eliab has certainly gained popularity in recent years.