Rising since 2003, #4,987 for girls today.
Popularity of Elayah since 2002
Babies named Elayah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 30 |
| 2010s | 185 |
| 2020s | 187 |
Meaning & origin
Elayah is a modern American invention, first appearing on the U.S. naming charts in 2002. It remains quite rare: as of 2025, it ranked 4,987th nationally, meaning roughly 1 in every 61,818 newborn girls received the name. Its peak popularity occurred in 2023, though it has been rising steadily since 2003. The name is most common in California, the only top state for Elayah. As a contemporary respelling, Elayah has no historical or linguistic roots, and its charm lies in its melodic sound and modern feel, fitting a trend of soft, vowel-heavy names ending in -ah.
Elayah is a modern American coinage, first recorded in 2002. It likely arose as a respelling or elaboration of names like Alayah or Elaya, which themselves are modern formations blending popular elements (such as Ella or Layla) with the fashionable -ah suffix. The name has no historical lineage or etymological root in any language.
Where Elayah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ela, Laya
Sibling names for Elayah
Names that share Elayah's style, for a brother or sister.
