Fun Facts About the Name Ilai
- 253 babies named Ilai: U.S. records list 253 babies given the name Ilai from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ilai Mean?
Ilai is a Hebrew masculine name, written עִילַי in Hebrew. Its meaning is not settled. The most common suggestion connects it to the Hebrew root ʿ-l-h (עלה), "to go up, ascend" - the root behind aliyah - which would give a sense such as "exalted" or "high." A related proposal takes it from ʿal (עַל), "above, upon." Others have treated the ending as a shortened form containing the divine element El (אֵל), "God," though that reading is harder to support from the spelling. Because the name survives in only one biblical passage, none of these explanations can be confirmed, and it is best described as uncertain. The similar-looking Tamil element iḷai, "young, tender" (as in the name Ilaiyaraaja), is a separate word with a separate origin and is not related to the Hebrew name.
Ilai Name History & Origins
Ilai appears in the Hebrew Bible in a single list of King David's fighting men. 1 Chronicles 11:29 names "Ilai the Ahohite" among those who supported David's rise to power. The parallel list in 2 Samuel 23:28 gives "Zalmon the Ahohite" in a comparable position, and whether the two passages refer to the same man is uncertain, since the lists differ in several names. The name is not used again in the biblical text.
After the biblical period the name fell out of ordinary use and is not prominent in rabbinic literature. It was taken up again in modern Hebrew, where it is given to boys. That revival belongs to the wider return of biblical names in Hebrew-speaking society; it does not depend on the original meaning of the name having been recovered, since that meaning remains a matter of guesswork.
How Popular is the Name Ilai?
Ilai has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #3,077 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,448 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #4,606 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #3,077 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2022 | #3,490 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2021 | #7,283 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #9,947 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #11,292 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #7,310 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #10,107 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #5,400 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #6,467 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #9,101 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #11,321 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #9,066 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #10,070 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,561 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #8,551 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #8,454 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #9,495 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ilai Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Ilai's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ilai's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.