Rising since 2017, #5,861 for boys today.
Popularity of Elhadj since 1997
Babies named Elhadj per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 76 |
| 2010s | 64 |
| 2020s | 66 |
Meaning & origin
Elhadj is a West African respelling of the Arabic honorific Al-Hajj, meaning 'the pilgrim,' a title conferred on Muslims who have completed the Hajj. First recorded in U.S. data in 1997, the name has seen consistent but low usage, ranking 5,861st in 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 113,872 newborns. Its trajectory has been rising since 2017, peaking in 2025, reflecting modest but growing recognition among communities with roots in Guinea, Mali, and Senegal. Though not recorded in any top state, its steady climb suggests increasing cultural visibility.
Elhadj is a variant of the Arabic honorific Al-Hajj (الحاج), meaning 'the pilgrim' or 'one who has completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.' It is commonly used as a given name or title in West African Muslim communities, particularly in Guinea, Mali, and Senegal, where it reflects religious devotion and social status. The name entered U.S. records in 1997, largely among immigrant families.
“Elhadj” around the world
Where Elhadj lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hadj
Variants: Alhaji, Al-Hajj, El-Hajj, Hadj
Sibling names for Elhadj
Names that share Elhadj's style, for a brother or sister.
