Elias

The Lord is my God — a boy name of Greek / Scandinavian (form of Elijah) origin

GenderBoy
MeaningThe Lord is my God
Pronunciationee-LY-us

Popularity of Elias in the United States

#13Rank in 2025
8,837Births in 2025
#13 in 2025Peak Popularity
↑ Rising10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Elias

Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah ("Eliyahu"), meaning "the Lord is my God," referring to the great prophet of the Hebrew Bible who called down fire from heaven and was said to have ascended in a whirlwind. The name spread widely through Christian Europe, becoming especially common in Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands, before gaining renewed popularity in English-speaking countries as parents sought internationally familiar biblical names. It has become one of the fastest-rising boys' names in the U.S. over the past two decades.

Elias Around the World

Elias is used in 5 languages worldwide, with 18+ international variants.

Languages
GermanFinnishDutchSwedishNorwegian
Details

Female FormElia

International Variants
IlijaSlovene
IllésHungarian
ÉlieFrench
EljasFinnish
Ilya
Elija
Elijah
Elie
ElíasIcelandic
IljaDutch
IliasDutch
Eliáš
IlieRomanian
EliaszPolish
EliesCatalan
IlliaUkrainian
ElejasNorthern Sami
Élias

Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.

Nicknames for Elias

EliEls

Famous People Named Elias

  • Elias Pettersson — Swedish NHL forward for the Vancouver Canucks
  • Elias Lindholm — Swedish NHL forward
  • Elias Canetti — Nobel Prize-winning novelist and essayist

Similar Names to Elias

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Sibling Name Ideas for Elias

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Elias mean?

Elias is a boy name of Greek / Scandinavian (form of Elijah) origin meaning "The Lord is my God." Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah ("Eliyahu"), meaning "the Lord is my God," referring to the great prophet of the Hebrew Bible who called down fire from heaven and was said to have ascended in a whirlwind. The name spread widely through Christian Europe, becoming especially common in Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands, before gaining renewed popularity in English-speaking countries as parents sought internationally familiar biblical names.

How do you pronounce Elias?

Elias is pronounced ee-LY-us. Common variations include Elijah, Ellis, Elia.

Is Elias a boy name?

Yes, Elias is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Eli, Els.

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