Total births
1,169
Boys' name · since 1889
Elija
Elija has 1,169 recorded births since 1889 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2008 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6846
- among boys today
- 1,169
- born since 1889
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Elija currently ranks #6846 among boys' names in America, with 1,169 babies recorded since 1889.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Elija has been recorded 1,169 times among boys since 1889, currently ranked #6846 nationally and more common than 52% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1889 to 2025.
- #6846 among boys today
- 1,169 born since 1889
- 2000s peak decade
- 52% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Elija is currently the #6846 boys' name in America, more common than 52% of boys - 1,169 born since 1889, peaking in the 2000s.
- #6846
- among boys today
- 1,169
- born since 1889
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Elija vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6846
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 52% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Elija was born in this single decade.
2008
Single peak year
56 babies were named Elija in 2008 - its busiest year on record.
How Elija compares
1,169 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
Elija's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Elija | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,169 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 56 | 23 | 22,252 |
Elija's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Elija's SSA record in two at 1996 and the more recent half accounts for 80% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 20%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1889, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2008 peak of 56, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Elija at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2008
Current rank
#6,846
Active since
1889
Elija popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1889–2025
- Peak year (2008)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 137 years of records
Elija by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Elija's strongest decade.
414 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Elija births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1910s 42
1910s
42 births
- 1920s 34
1920s
34 births
- 1930s 10
1930s
10 births
- 1970s 7
1970s
7 births
- 1980s 68
1980s
68 births
- 1990s 142
1990s
142 births
- 2000s
2000s
414 births
- 2010s
2010s
328 births
- 2020s 119
2020s
119 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 414 births (35% of all-time use).
How Elija 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 Elija's total volume
Elija vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Elija by state
Where Elija concentrates geographically, total births since 1889
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 72 | 6.2% |
| #2 | Texas | | 36 | 3.1% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #4 | New York | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Elija's total US births 6.2%
Even split
72 of 1,169 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Elija? ▼
Since 1889, Social Security records show 1,169 babies named Elija. Today it holds rank #6846 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2008, with 56 births.
When was Elija most popular? ▼
Elija was most popular in the 2000s decade with 414 total births. The single peak year was 2008.
Where is Elija most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Elija are California (72 births), Texas (36 births), Pennsylvania (6 births).
How long has the name Elija been used? ▼
Records for Elija go back to 1889, giving 137 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Elija? ▼
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 Elija's data
- Elija's decade-level peak was the 2000s (414 total births); usage has since declined to 119 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Elijas (72 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Elija
Nearby Names Like Elija
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Elija
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 Elija side by side: Elija vs Elijah Elija vs Eli Elija vs Elias
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Elija
Lofton #6845
685 births · Peak 2018
Hale #6847
1,282 births · Peak 1917
Eston #6844
2,006 births · Peak 1915
Arron #6848
8,076 births · Peak 1989
Refugio #6843
3,984 births · Peak 1927
Glendon #6849
4,695 births · Peak 1975
Franklyn #6842
6,097 births · Peak 1933
Carlin #6850
2,626 births · Peak 1992
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1889–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Elija: #6846 Boys' Name - 1,169 Births, Peak 2008." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/elija. 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 Elija 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 July 2026.