Fun Facts About the Name Ilija
- 177 babies named Ilija: U.S. records list 177 babies given the name Ilija from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ilija Mean?
Ilija is a South Slavic masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu (אֵלִיָּהוּ), commonly translated "My God is Yahweh." The Hebrew name is a sentence name: ʾēlî means "my God," and Yāhû is a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. The name reached South Slavic through the Greek biblical form Ēlias (Ἠλίας) and its Latin equivalent Elias; Ilija is the South Slavic form of that same name. Its literal sense is a statement about the God of Israel, not a general word for "God."
Ilija Name History & Origins
The name's development follows the biblical figure Elijah, a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. The Greek form Ēlias (Ἠλίας) appears in the New Testament and passed into Latin as Elias, which then entered Christian naming traditions in Europe. As Christianity took hold among South Slavic peoples, forms based on this Greek-Latin tradition entered local use; Ilija became established in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, and Macedonian. Bulgarian has the related form Iliya, and Russian has Ilya.
Elijah is commemorated in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars on July 20, with the Orthodox date falling on August 2 in churches that use the Julian calendar. In Bulgarian and Macedonian tradition the feast is called Ilinden.
How Popular is the Name Ilija?
Ilija 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 2024. Its best rank was #5,231 in 1971.
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 | #12,736 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #6,587 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #9,226 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #10,203 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #8,424 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #9,023 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #11,286 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,066 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #11,213 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #10,035 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #8,420 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #7,176 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #12,983 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #8,562 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #8,456 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #12,751 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #12,109 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #10,463 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,551 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #7,931 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #9,726 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #9,140 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #8,713 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #6,710 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #5,231 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Ilija 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.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Ilija's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ilija's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.