Total births
1,236
Boys' name · since 1880
Elihu
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 1,236 babies named Elihu, peaking in 1928. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5452
- among boys today
- 1,236
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other boys
Elihu currently ranks #5452 among boys' names in America, with 1,236 babies recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Elihu recorded 1,236 times among boys since 1880, holding rank #5452 nationally today, ahead of 62% of boys, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #5452 among boys today
- 1,236 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
- 62% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Elihu is currently the #5452 boys' name in America, more common than 62% of boys - 1,236 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5452
- among boys today
- 1,236
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other boys
Elihu vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5452
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 62% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
14% of everyone ever named Elihu was born in this single decade.
1928
Single peak year
26 babies were named Elihu in 1928 - its busiest year on record.
How Elihu compares
1,236 Top 28% higher than 72% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Elihu's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Elihu | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,236 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 26 | 23 | 22,252 |
Elihu's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Elihu splits its recorded history at 1961: 52% of all births land in the more recent half, 48% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1883 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1928 peak of 26 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Elihu at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1928
Current rank
#5,452
Active since
1880
Elihu popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (1928)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Elihu by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Elihu's strongest decade.
178 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 14% of all-time use.
Elihu births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 27
1880s
27 births
- 1890s 11
1890s
11 births
- 1900s 7
1900s
7 births
- 1910s
1910s
154 births
- 1920s
1920s
178 births
- 1930s
1930s
92 births
- 1940s 71
1940s
71 births
- 1950s 56
1950s
56 births
- 1960s 30
1960s
30 births
- 1970s 41
1970s
41 births
- 1980s 57
1980s
57 births
- 1990s
1990s
101 births
- 2000s
2000s
158 births
- 2010s
2010s
157 births
- 2020s
2020s
96 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 178 births (14% of all-time use).
How Elihu compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Elihu's total volume
Elihu vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Elihu by state
Where Elihu concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 73 | 5.9% |
| #2 | California | | 29 | 2.3% |
| #3 | Texas | | 24 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Kentucky | | 11 | 0.9% |
New York share of Elihu's total US births 5.9%
Even split
73 of 1,236 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Elihu? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 1,236 babies named Elihu. Today it holds rank #5452 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1928, with 26 births.
When was Elihu most popular? ▼
Elihu was most popular in the 1920s decade with 178 total births. The single peak year was 1928.
Where is Elihu most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Elihu are New York (73 births), California (29 births), Texas (24 births).
How long has the name Elihu been used? ▼
Records for Elihu go back to 1880, giving 146 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Elihu? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Elijah, Eli, Elias, Elisha, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Elihu's data
- Elihu's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (178 total births) through the 2020s (96) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Elihus (73 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Elihu
Nearby Names Like Elihu
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Elihu
Elijah Boy
#8 380,611 births
Eli Boy
#92 153,495 births
Elias Boy
#25 129,263 births
Elisha Boy
#846 15,668 births
Elian Boy
#237 15,268 births
Compare Elihu side by side: Elihu vs Elijah Elihu vs Eli Elihu vs Elias
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Elihu
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Elihu: #5452 Boys' Name - 1,236 Births, Peak 1928." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/elihu. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Elihu draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.