Rising since 1986, #3,128 for boys today.
Popularity of Ilya since 1961
Babies named Ilya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 16 |
| 1970s | 0 | 20 |
| 1980s | 7 | 11 |
| 1990s | 6 | 109 |
| 2000s | 23 | 247 |
| 2010s | 94 | 360 |
| 2020s | 121 | 207 |
Meaning & origin
The name Ilya, while not among the most popular in the U.S., has maintained a steady presence since its first recorded use in 1966. Its rank of 3128 in 2025 reflects an incidence of 1 in 44949 births, indicating it is still relatively rare. The name reached its peak popularity in 2018 and has been on a rising trajectory since 1986, suggesting growing appeal, particularly in states like California and Texas. As a cross-cultural variant of biblical Elijah, Ilya carries a sense of tradition while remaining distinctive in English-speaking countries.
Ilya is the Russian form of the Hebrew name Eliyahu (Elijah), meaning 'my God is Yahweh'. The name was borne by the biblical prophet Elijah and spread through Orthodox Christianity into Slavic languages. In modern usage, it also appears as a cross-cultural variant in Spanish and Eastern European contexts.
Where Ilya is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ilya” around the world
Where Ilya lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ilyusha, Ilya, Ily
Sibling names for Ilya
Names that share Ilya's style, for a brother or sister.
