Elijah

#7,133 for girls in 2025, 15 births · #7 for boys in 2025, 11,111 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
2020 · 13,238 births
Debut · boys
100 births
In top 100 · boys
31 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
380,611
since 1880

Elijah over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201981peak #4, 2020boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#7,13315#711,111
2024#5,02126#811,238
2023#5,96020#511,523
2022#4,37832#512,094
2021#4,71928#412,845
2020#4,35831#413,238
2019#5,79821#513,436
2018#4,23733#713,020
2017#4,81128#813,449
2016#4,99027#913,982
2015#4,85328#1113,710
2014#4,26934#1113,886
2013#4,33633#1113,829
2012#4,95728#1313,914
2011#4,35333#1314,001
2010#3,36048#1813,920
2009#4,10737#2112,846
2008#3,64544#2213,241
2007#3,91840#3012,424
2006#3,91938#2912,055
2005#3,73039#3111,612
2004#2,26477#3111,714
2003#3,18746#3710,665
2002#3,46139#4110,053
2001#3,25642#458,339
2000#4,64925#527,472
1999#3,44336#606,596
1998#2,69150#665,662
1997#3,54732#745,089
1996#3,23736#814,818
1995#3,22035#933,977
1994#4,52122#1332,621
1993#6,62213#1701,882
1992#4,68621#2031,523
1991#5,65916#2221,345
1990#7,30311#2431,139
1989#6,16013#257991
1988#8,3918#266886
1987#7,3539#288746
1986#6,15611#289718
1985#7,5638#299681
1984#10,4225#310631
1983#6,21210#296671
1982#6,8889#280739
1981#8,1287#277750
1980#10,3925#279754
1979#9,0106#290696
1978#7,6497#320548
1977#9,6525#350504
1976#6,0489#450301
1975—#491263
1974—#472287
1973—#537212
1972—#551209
1971—#587196
1970—#596184
1969—#659143
1968—#680122
1967—#644134
1966—#626140
1965—#672122
1964—#618161
1963—#640149
1962—#583179
1961—#562194
1960—#580180
1959—#575185
1958—#532209
1957—#522218
1956—#533197
1955—#477235
1954#5,7535#453254
1953—#455248
1952—#431263
1951—#451223
1950—#403282
1949—#415267
1948#5,2435#427244
1947—#399296
1946—#426222
1945—#387237
1944—#399227
1943—#416221
1942—#387245
1941—#374239
1940—#404201
1939—#371237
1938—#407195
1937#3,8006#382210
1936—#365221
1935—#374210
1934—#378209
1933—#386198
1932—#365231
1931—#400198
1930—#378226
1929#4,5705#367243
1928—#365255
1927—#336290
1926#3,8737#348276
1925—#347283
1924—#374261
1923—#335302
1922—#327311
1921—#378257
1920—#355277
1919—#327295
1918—#358264
1917—#348256
1916—#353232
1915—#339243
1914—#339187
1913—#335149
1912—#302142
1911—#26794
1910—#233101
1909—#23190
1908—#26564
1907—#23376
1906—#24265
1905—#21281
1904—#24260
1903—#23958
1902—#22166
1901—#18379
1900—#21086
1899—#20564
1898—#19776
1897—#20965
1896—#18687
1895—#19475
1894—#23554
1893—#18977
1892—#18485
1891—#20957
1890—#20464
1889—#20861
1888—#17188
1887—#16875
1886—#15293
1885—#16282
1884—#16385
1883—#13392
1882—#126111
1881—#17269
1880—#135100
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Elijah was already there! It came in at #135, and was given to 100 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1893–1895, when fewer than 78 boys a year got the name.

Where Elijah is popular in 1981

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedNHWashington: #242 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,118 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #129 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 840 boysNDMinnesota: #240 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,986 boysMNIllinois: #288 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 2,489 boysILWisconsin: #292 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,849 boysWIMichigan: #225 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 2,187 boysMINew York: #318 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 2,839 boysNYMassachusetts: #271 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,575 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedRIOregon: #146 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 956 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedSDIowa: #142 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,091 boysIAIndiana: #241 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,507 boysINOhio: #238 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 2,444 boysOHPennsylvania: #249 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 2,867 boysPANew Jersey: #308 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 3,033 boysNJConnecticut: #207 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,783 boysCTCalifornia: #316 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 2,511 boysCAUtah: #234 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,901 boysUTColorado: #310 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,979 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedNEMissouri: #188 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,592 boysMOKentucky: #203 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,690 boysKYWest Virginia: #139 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,077 boysWVVirginia: #298 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,880 boysVAMaryland: #257 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,418 boysMDDelaware: #126 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 759 boysDEArizona: #302 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,317 boysAZNew Mexico: #270 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,593 boysNMKansas: #205 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,651 boysKSArkansas: #295 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,547 boysARTennessee: #206 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,619 boysTNNorth Carolina: #411 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,729 boysNCSouth Carolina: #184 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,111 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Elijah, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #281 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,355 boysOKLouisiana: #282 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,929 boysLAMississippi: #244 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,604 boysMSAlabama: #310 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,633 boysALGeorgia: #266 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,917 boysGAHawaii: #186 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 853 boysHITexas: #381 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 3,130 boysTXFlorida: #212 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 1,369 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Delaware#126 · 1 in 759
  2. North Dakota#129 · 1 in 840
  3. West Virginia#139 · 1 in 1,077
  4. Iowa#142 · 1 in 1,091
  5. Oregon#146 · 1 in 956

Best ever in a state: #1 in Indiana, 2010.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#12651 in 759
North Dakota#12971 in 840
West Virginia#139121 in 1,077
Iowa#142201 in 1,091
Oregon#146211 in 956
South Carolina#184191 in 1,111
Hawaii#18681 in 853
Missouri#188231 in 1,592
Kentucky#203161 in 1,690
Kansas#205111 in 1,651
Tennessee#206201 in 1,619
Connecticut#207101 in 1,783
Florida#212461 in 1,369
Michigan#225301 in 2,187
Utah#234101 in 1,901
Ohio#238331 in 2,444
Minnesota#240111 in 2,986
Indiana#241161 in 2,507
Washington#242151 in 2,118
Mississippi#244121 in 1,604
Pennsylvania#249271 in 2,867
Maryland#257101 in 2,418
Georgia#266211 in 1,917
New Mexico#27071 in 1,593
Massachusetts#271101 in 3,575
Oklahoma#281101 in 2,355
Louisiana#282191 in 1,929
Illinois#288341 in 2,489
Wisconsin#29291 in 3,849
Arkansas#29561 in 2,547
Virginia#298121 in 2,880
Arizona#302101 in 2,317
New Jersey#308141 in 3,033
Alabama#310101 in 2,633
Colorado#31081 in 2,979
California#316801 in 2,511
New York#318401 in 2,839
Texas#381441 in 3,130
North Carolina#41181 in 4,729
Alaska———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Elijah
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 1 spot since 2024 (#8 → #7)
  • 3 spots since 2020 (#4 → #7)
  • 4 spots since 2015 (#11 → #7)
  • Biggest jump: 100 spots in 1977 (#450 → #350)
  • Biggest drop: 57 spots in 1963 (#583 → #640)
Rise & fade · boys
140 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 2020 at #4 (13,238 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 10 yrs
  • Top 10: 10 yrs · run 2016–2025
  • Top 100: 31 yrs · run 1995–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 130
  • Highest: 1 in 130 boys born in 2020 were named Elijah (0.77%)
  • Latest: 1 in 154 boys born in 2025 (0.65%)
Era · boys
The 2010s
  • 36.0% of all boys named Elijah (137,147) were born in this decade
  • Comeback: #126 (1882) → #680 (1968) → #4 (2020)
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s856#126 (1882)#159
1890s704#184 (1892)#201
1900s725#183 (1901)#228
1910s1,963#233 (1910)#320
1920s2,755#327 (1922)#353
1930s2,135#365 (1932)#381
1940s2,399#374 (1941)#403
1950s2,314#403 (1950)#483
1960s1,524#562 (1961)#626
1970s3,400#290 (1979)#464
1980s7,567#257 (1989)#284
1990s34,652#60 (1999)#135
2000s110,421#21 (2009)#34
2010s137,147#5 (2019)#11
2020s72,049#4 (2020)#6

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Elijah in 1981

girls
#8,128
7 births · 1 in 238,294 girls
boys
#277
750 births · 1 in 2,388 boys

Top girls' names in 1981

  1. #1Jennifer57,046
  2. #2Jessica42,531
  3. #3Amanda34,372
  4. #4Sarah28,175
  5. #5Melissa28,005
  6. #6Amy20,345
  7. #7Nicole20,310
  8. #8Stephanie20,212
  9. #9Elizabeth20,168
  10. #10Heather17,946
  11. #8,128Elijah7

Top boys' names in 1981

  1. #1Michael68,750
  2. #2Christopher50,221
  3. #3Matthew43,330
  4. #4Jason41,927
  5. #5David40,629
  6. #6Joshua39,024
  7. #7James38,283
  8. #8John34,868
  9. #9Robert34,395
  10. #10Daniel30,985
  11. #277Elijah750
More about 1981

girls

1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 238,294 of them was named Elijah, which outranked 33.4% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elijah
  1. #7,409Yuka8
  2. #7,409Zanetta8
  3. #7,409Zonia8
  4. #8,128Elijah7
  5. #8,128Aarika7
  6. #8,128Abbigale7
  7. #8,128Abbye7
  8. #9,110Aaisha6
  9. #9,110Abbra6
  10. #9,110Abel6

Tied with 981 names at #8,128; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,850Tashina#4,743 → #893
  2. ↑ 2,742Krystle#3,215 → #473
  3. ↑ 1,800Tierra#2,342 → #542
  4. ↑ 1,398Martine#2,189 → #791
  5. ↑ 999Nereida#1,981 → #982
Fallers
  1. ↓ 764Kylene#990 → #1,754
  2. ↓ 607Renada#708 → #1,315
  3. ↓ 560Ashanti#822 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 399Renata#336 → #735
  5. ↓ 395Tracee#959 → #1,354

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 2,388 of them was named Elijah, which outranked 96.2% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elijah
  1. #274Daryl770
  2. #275Morgan766
  3. #276Dean751
  4. #277Elijah750
  5. #278Preston744
  6. #279Roderick742
  7. #280Courtney736
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,321Marchello#2,162 → #841
  2. ↑ 1,104Skylar#2,058 → #954
  3. ↑ 816Kellen#1,432 → #616
  4. ↑ 499Marcello#1,291 → #792
  5. ↑ 456Tyrel#1,089 → #633
Fallers
  1. ↓ 306Kenyatta#871 → #1,177
  2. ↓ 284Seneca#718 → #1,002
  3. ↓ 247Kimberly#989 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 216Chadd#927 → #1,143
  5. ↓ 214Levar#911 → #1,125

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1981 →