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Alijah

♂ Boy

Pronounced uh-LY-juh /əˈlaɪ.dʒə/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Elijah, from Hebrew 'Eliyahu' composed of 'eli' (my God) and 'Yahu' (a form of YHWH, the divine name), meaning 'my God is Yahweh' or 'the Lord is my God'High

In 30 seconds: Alijah is a modern spelling variant of Elijah, the powerful Hebrew prophet whose name means 'my God is Yahweh.' The A-opening gives it a slightly softer visual feel while preserving the name's deep biblical strength.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningVariant spelling of Elijah, from Hebrew 'Eliyahu' composed of 'eli' (my God) and 'Yahu' (a form of YHWH, the divine name), meaning 'my God is Yahweh' or 'the Lord is my God'
U.S. rank (2025)#469 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births651 boys (0.04% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,218

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119872025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Alijah is an alternate spelling of Elijah, from the Hebrew Eliyahu (אֵלִיָּהוּ), composed of eli (my God) and Yahu (a shortened form of YHWH, the divine name), meaning 'my God is Yahweh.' The prophet Elijah is one of the most revered figures in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

Elijah has been one of the top boys' names in the United States since the 1990s revival of biblical names. The Alijah spelling emerged as a variant that opens with A rather than E, giving it a slightly different feel. Both forms rank highly in American naming charts.

Did you know? In the Bible, the prophet Elijah performed some of the most dramatic miracles in the Old Testament — calling down fire from heaven, raising the dead, and being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire — making his name one of the most powerful in all of scripture.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Elijah — etymology for Elijah/AlijahU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ElijahEliyahuAlija

Nicknames

AliEliLijah

Famous Bearers

  • ★Elijah (biblical prophet)
    Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament, taken to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2)

If you like Alijah…

Elijah— the standard spelling of the same name
Isaiah— shares the biblical Hebrew prophet tradition and the flowing -iah ending
Azariah— another biblical Hebrew name with the same -iah theophoric structure
Josiah— shares the Old Testament prophet heritage and the three-syllable -iah ending

Frequently Asked

What does Alijah mean?

Alijah means 'my God is Yahweh,' composed of Hebrew 'eli' (my God) and 'Yahu' (a form of the divine name YHWH). It is a variant spelling of Elijah.

How do you pronounce Alijah?

Alijah is pronounced uh-LY-juh /əˈlaɪ.dʒə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Alijah different from Elijah?

They are alternate spellings with the same pronunciation. Alijah begins with A rather than E, giving it a slightly different visual feel.

Is Alijah a popular boys' name?

Alijah is less common than Elijah but has been growing as parents seek slight variations on the highly popular Elijah. Elijah itself ranks in the U.S. top 10.