Fun Facts About the Name Illya
- 404 babies named Illya: U.S. records list 404 babies given the name Illya from 1880 through 2025. Even 39 girls received the name Illya - about 1 girl for every 9 boys.
What Does the Name Illya Mean?
Illya is a Latin-script spelling of an East Slavic form of Elijah, a Hebrew name meaning 'My God is Yahweh.' The Hebrew original is אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu), built from eli, 'my God,' and a shortened form of the divine name YHWH. The East Slavic forms include Russian Илья (Ilya), Ukrainian Ілля, and Belarusian Ілья. Illya is a transliteration of this same name, not a separate etymology.
Illya Name History & Origins
Elijah is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible, placed in the northern kingdom of Israel in the ninth century BCE. His stories in 1 Kings and 2 Kings include the contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and his being taken up in a whirlwind. The Hebrew name entered Greek as Ἠλίας (Elias), the form used in the Septuagint and the New Testament, and from Greek it passed into Latin as Elias.
Slavic-speaking peoples received the name through Christian Greek and Church Slavonic tradition. It became Илья in Russian, Ілля in Ukrainian, and Ілья in Belarusian. Illya is one of several Latin-alphabet renderings of these forms; English also uses Ilya, Ilia, and Illia. The name is not originally Slavic, and it entered Slavic naming through Christian transmission. The prophet Elijah is venerated in Eastern Orthodox and other Christian traditions; his feast is observed on July 20 in Western calendars and on August 2 Gregorian in churches that keep the Julian calendar.
How Popular is the Name Illya?
Illya recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1966. Its best rank was #829 in 1966.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,454 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #7,420 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,412 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #4,046 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #6,895 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #12,967 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,799 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #12,789 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #11,260 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,256 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #11,449 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #8,194 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #8,155 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #8,637 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #7,351 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #7,735 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #6,725 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,443 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #3,841 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #5,058 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,872 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #2,644 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1972 | #2,195 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #3,487 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #2,164 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #1,622 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #1,920 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #975 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1966 | #829 | 78 | 0.0044% |
| 1965 | #1,304 | 35 | 0.0019% |
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.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with I
Short Boy Names That Start with I
How the Name Illya 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.
✦ Illya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Illya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.