boy's name
Alijah
uh-LY-juh (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 16,218
the United States
#469
2025 births
Alijah is a boy's name and a modern spelling of Elijah, the Hebrew name meaning "my God is Yahweh." The A spelling is a recent American creation, shaped by Elijah's fame and by sounds shared with names such as Aliyah.
- Alijah is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2021, when 792 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 4,985 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1987.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Alijah Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1980s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 798 |
| 2000s | 4,216 |
| 2010s | 6,315 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 4,341 |
What Alijah Means
Alijah means my God is Yahweh, through Elijah. It's a statement of faith, built from two Hebrew words for God, and it keeps that meaning despite the changed first letter.
Where Alijah Comes From
Hebrew Eliyahu joins el, God, with Yahu, a form of Yahweh, and the prophet Elijah made it famous in the Books of Kings. Greek and Latin produced Elias, and English Bibles gave Elijah. American use of the name grew strongly in recent decades, and spellings such as Alijah and Elija appeared as variations. NameDiscoveries and Fluffy Ducks both treat it as a variant. The A may reflect how the name sounds in casual American speech, and a resemblance to Ali may also play a part.
Alijah in Use
Respelling Bible names has a long history in American families, and the change here is small. Eli and Ali are easy short forms.
How Popular Is Alijah?
In 2025, Alijah was given to 665 babies in the United States, ranking #469 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Alijah Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Alijah
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Alijah Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Alijah over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Alijah
- English uh-LY-juh
2 nicknames for Alijah
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Alijah in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Elijah
Sibling Names for Alijah
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Alijah — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Alijah
What does the name Alijah mean?
My God is Yahweh, the same as Elijah.
Is Alijah the same as Elijah?
Yes. It's a modern spelling.
Is Alijah in the Bible?
The name in the Bible is Elijah, and Alijah is a later English spelling.
How popular is the name Alijah?
In 2025, Alijah was given to 665 babies in the United States, ranking #469 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Alijah a girl's or a boy's name?
Alijah is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Alijah?
Alijah has 3 syllables.
When was Alijah most popular?
Alijah peaked in 2021, when 792 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Alijah?
Alijah is usually shortened to Eli and Ali.
Is Alijah a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Alijah currently ranks #469 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.