Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Elya isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1983. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Elya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 659
- 404 boys · 255 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 38 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #4,288 for boys · #9,031 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,288 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 15.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 28 in 2019. It also appeared in 11 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (19). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 692 as a first name in 2020; 180 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elya’s family of names
Elya is a Roman-alphabet rendering of Эля.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Elya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aiman
45% boys · 55% girls
Yuriah
49% boys · 51% girls
Amaree
“having great strength; a builder” · “one who will be forever beautiful”
52% boys · 48% girls
Prestyn
“from the priest's town”
61% boys · 39% girls
Armani
“one who is desired; a goal”
56% boys · 44% girls
Covey
“a brood of birds”
64% boys · 36% girls
Azariah
“one who is helped by God”
52% boys · 48% girls
Amari
“having great strength; a builder”
66% boys · 34% girls