Fun Facts About the Name Ilish
- 9 babies named Ilish: U.S. records list 9 babies given the name Ilish from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ilish Mean?
Ilish is a Yiddish diminutive of the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), meaning "God is my oath." Elisheva is the Hebrew name behind Elizabeth and combines אֵל (el, "God") with שֶׁבַע (sheva, "oath" or "seven"). The spelling Ilish is a shortened, affectionate form rather than a direct Hebrew construction. A separate Talmudic name Ilish is sometimes connected with Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע), meaning "God is salvation," but that is a different derivation and should not be confused with the Elisheva name.
Ilish Name History & Origins
Ilish belongs to the Ashkenazi Jewish naming tradition, where diminutives of Hebrew names were common. Elisheva was used in Jewish communities, and forms such as Ilish served as everyday or affectionate versions of the name. The similar Irish name Eilish is an anglicized form of Eilís, the Irish form of Elizabeth, and belongs to a separate tradition despite the shared ultimate root in Elisheva. The Talmud also mentions a Babylonian sage named Ilish, which may be a separate male name. The Bengali word ilish, meaning hilsa fish, is unrelated.
How Popular is the Name Ilish?
Ilish 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 1993. Its best rank was #8,996 in 1993.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #8,996 | 9 | 0.0005% |
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 Ilish 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.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Ilish's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ilish's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.