Elias

Fact-checked by Rebekah Wahlberg

Written by Blake Bakkila

In this article

Elias name meaning and origin

What does Elias mean?

"Yahweh is God"

Elias name origins:

Greek and Hebrew

The name Elias is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Eliyahu (anglicized as Elijah). It derives from Hebrew roots meaning "Yahweh is God."

Other spellings include Ilyas (Persian), Elis (Swedish) and Eljas (Finnish), among others. Iliana is the feminine version of the name. Eli is a common nickname for Elias and other variants of the name.

Elias has ranked among the top 1,000 boys' names in the United States since 1900, but it's more popular today than it ever has been. It hit the top 100 in 2016 and is still on the rise, ranking No. 43 in 2022.

Sources:

Hanks P., et al. 2016. A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198610601.001.0001/acref-9780198610601-e-1013?rskey=ytYZZ2&result=2121Opens a new window

U.S. Social Security Administration. Undated. Popular Baby Names. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/Opens a new window

Popularity over time

Data not available

Elias in pop culture

Elias Acorn

Squirrel character in the Sonic the Hedgehog comics

Elias Ainsworth

Main character in the manga and anime series The Ancient Magus' Bride

Elias Grodin

Character in the 1986 film Platoon, played by Willem Dafoe

Elias Grover

Character in the 2006 film Clerks II, played by Trever Fehrman

Elias "Eli" Thompson

Character in the show Boardwalk Empire, played by Shea Whigham

Elias T. "Scarecrow" Walker

Character in the 2013 video game Call of Duty: Ghosts

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Famous people named Elias

Elias

Greek scholar who commentated on Aristotle and Porphyry's works

Elias Parish Alvars

English harpist and composer

Elias Larry Ayuso

Puerto Rican former professional basketball player

Elias Boudinot

Writer, newspaper editor, and leader of Cherokee Nation

Elias Disney

Canadian-American construction worker and entrepreneur who was the father of Roy and Walt Disney

Elias Hamalainen

Finnish singer who won the first season of Finnish X Factor in 2010

Elias Howe

American inventor of the sewing machine

Elias Katz

Finnish track and field athlete who won a gold and silver medal for steeplechase races at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris

Elias Khoury

Award-winning Lebanese novelist best known for his novel Gate of the Sun

Elias Pettersson

Swedish professional ice hockey player who plays for the Vancouver Canucks

Names similar to Elias

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Elias

Elias name meaning and origin

What does Elias mean?

Elias name origins:

Popularity over time

Elias in pop culture

Famous people named Elias

Names similar to Elias

like Elias? What about:

Common sibling names

Sisters

Brothers

Baby name lists including Elias

Popular baby names from around the world

Baby Names A-Z

Baby Name Generator

Learn more about a name