Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Elias
BoyGreek, Hebrew· “my God is Yahweh”
- Meaning
- my God is Yahweh
- Origin
- Greek, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- ih-LY-uhs
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #13
- US babies 2025
- 8,837
- Best rank
- #13 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Elias
Elias is a Greek and Hebrew name that means “my God is Yahweh”.
Elias is the Greek form of Elijah, from the Hebrew Eliyahu, meaning my God is Yahweh. Elijah is the prophet who challenges the priests of Baal and is carried to heaven in a whirlwind, and the New Testament in Greek calls him Elias, a form the King James Version keeps. The name has long been used in Scandinavia, Germany and Spanish-speaking countries, where it is pronounced eh-LEE-ahs. In the United States it has grown as a softer alternative to Elijah. It feels classic yet fresh, and Eli is a ready nickname.
Popularity over time
Elias has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #13, and its highest count, 8,837 babies. Use has grown 116% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #470 in 1920, #529 in 1950, #422 in 1980, #242 in 2000, #141 in 2010, and #13 in 2025. Of the 129,263 US boys named Elias since records began, 33% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 40,925 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Ezra, Luca, Hudson, Santiago, and Cooper.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Elias ranked highest in Arizona, Alaska, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #6 | 294 |
| Alaska | #7 | 33 |
| California | #8 | 1,342 |
| Texas | #8 | 1,321 |
| Nevada | #8 | 102 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Elias is usually pronounced ih-LY-uhs, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with E and ends in “-as”.
Middle names for Elias
A few middle names that flow with Elias: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Elias
Similar names
Tobias Boy
toh-BY-uhs
“God is good” · Greek
#283
Mathias Boy
muh-THY-uhs
“gift of God” · Greek
#312
Matthias Boy
muh-THY-uhs
“gift of God” · Greek
#372
Nicolas Boy
NIH-kuh-luhs
“victory of the people” · Greek
#177
Jonas Boy
JOH-nuhs
“dove” · Hebrew
#599
Phineas Boy
FIH-nee-uhs
“uncertain; possibly the Nubian” · Hebrew
#1,616
Lucas Boy
LOO-kuhs
“man from Lucania” · Latin
#10
Nicholas Boy
NIH-kuh-luhs
“victory of the people” · Greek
#112
Silas Boy
SY-luhs
“of the forest” · Latin
#71
Lazarus Boy
LAZ-uh-ruhs
“God has helped” · Hebrew
#1,143
Elijah Boy
ih-LY-juh
“my God is Yahweh” · Hebrew
#7
Gabriel Boy
GAY-bree-uhl
“God is my strength” · Hebrew
#37
Lists that include Elias
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elias mean?
Elias is a Greek and Hebrew name that means “my God is Yahweh”.
What is the origin of the name Elias?
Elias has Greek and Hebrew roots. Elias is the Greek form of Elijah, from the Hebrew Eliyahu, meaning my God is Yahweh.
Is Elias a popular name?
Yes. Elias ranked #13 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Elias a boy or girl name?
Elias is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Elias?
Elias is usually pronounced ih-LY-uhs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings