Elijah
Boy name · #7 in 2025 · Uniqueness 38/100
Elijah is currently the #7 boy name in the United States — 11,111 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #11, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 162 boys born in 2025 was named Elijah.
The 145-year story
Elijah first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 100 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 14,001 boys were named Elijah — good for #13 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Elijah per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elijah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elijah in class?
Elijah scores 38 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Elijah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elijah is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elijahs were TX (1,455), CA (1,257), FL (868), GA (473), NC (426). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Elijah
Statistically, parents drawn to Elijah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lucas, Noah, Alijah, Josiah, and Isaiah.
LucasNoahAlijahJosiahIsaiahEliasEthanJulian
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elijah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11,111 | #7 |
| 2024 | 11,238 | #8 |
| 2023 | 11,523 | #5 |
| 2022 | 12,094 | #5 |
| 2021 | 12,845 | #4 |
| 2020 | 13,238 | #4 |
| 2019 | 13,436 | #5 |
| 2018 | 13,020 | #7 |
| 2017 | 13,449 | #8 |
| 2016 | 13,982 | #9 |
| 2015 | 13,710 | #11 |
| 2014 | 13,886 | #11 |
| 2013 | 13,829 | #11 |
| 2012 | 13,914 | #13 |
| 2011 | 14,001 | #13 |
| 2010 | 13,920 | #18 |
| 2009 | 12,846 | #21 |
| 2008 | 13,241 | #22 |
| 2007 | 12,424 | #30 |
| 2006 | 12,055 | #29 |
| 2005 | 11,612 | #31 |
| 2004 | 11,714 | #31 |
| 2003 | 10,665 | #37 |
| 2002 | 10,053 | #41 |
| 2001 | 8,339 | #45 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elijah a popular boy name?
Elijah ranked #7 among boys in 2025 with 11,111 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #11.
When was the name Elijah most popular?
Elijah peaked in 2011, when 14,001 American boys received the name (ranked #13 that year). Since 2011 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Elijah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 162 newborn American boys was named Elijah. It scores 38/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.