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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ilya

Ilya

♂ Boy

Pronounced il-YAH /ɪlˈjɑ/High

Meaning: Russian form of Elijah — Hebrew Eliyyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — the great prophet of fireHigh

In 30 seconds: The fiery prophet, Russian-style: Ilya is the Slavic Elijah — 'my God is Yahweh'. Borne by the folk-hero knight Ilya Muromets and Tolstoy characters. Soft, soulful, and richly literary.
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Origin HighHebrew, Russian
MeaningRussian form of Elijah — Hebrew Eliyyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — the great prophet of fire
U.S. rank (2025)#3153 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births38 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 969

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819662025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ilya is the Russian form of Elijah — Hebrew Eliyyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — the great prophet who ascended in a fiery chariot. Borne by the folk-epic knight Ilya Muromets and many Russian writers and figures, it is a soulful Slavic classic.

In the U.S. it appears in Russian- and Jewish-heritage families. Uncommon, divinely rooted, and literary.

Did you know? Ilya Muromets, the greatest knight of Russian folk epic, lay paralyzed for thirty-three years before miraculously gaining heroic strength — a beloved legend tied to this prophet's name.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Ilya — etymology

Variations

IliyaElijahIlia

Nicknames

Ilyusha

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ilya Repin (1844-1930)
    Russian realist painter known for monumental historical and social canvases
  • ★Ilya Ehrenburg (1891-1967)
    Soviet Russian writer and journalist influential during World War II
  • ★Ilya Mechnikov (1845-1916)
    Russian zoologist and microbiologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
  • ★Ilya Bryzgalov (1980-)
    Russian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the NHL

If you like Ilya…

Elijah— the English form of the same name
Eli— the short form it shares a root with
Ilias— the Greek form of Elijah
Nikolai— a fellow soulful Russian name

Explore names like Ilya

By themehebrewbiblicalrussianprophet
By meaningGod / DivineFire

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ilya mean?

Ilya is the Russian form of Elijah, Hebrew for 'my God is Yahweh'.

How do you pronounce Ilya?

It's said il-YAH /ɪlˈjɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Ilya a boy or girl name?

Ilya is a boy's name.

How popular is Ilya?

Ilya is an uncommon name in the U.S.

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