The baby name Ilija is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ee-LEE-yah (IPA: /iˈlija/).
Ilija is Hebrew in Origin.
The baby name Ilija is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ee-LEE-yah (IPA: /iˈlija/).
Ilija is Hebrew in Origin.
Ilija is the South Slavic form of the biblical name Elijah, ultimately from Hebrew ’Eliyahu, meaning “Yahweh is my God.” It appears across the Balkans - Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia - with the Cyrillic spelling Илија. The name entered Slavic use with Christianization and spread through both Orthodox and Catholic communities.
Reverence for the Old Testament prophet, especially in Eastern Orthodoxy where St. Elijah (Sveti Ilija) is linked to thunder and summer storms, sustained its popularity; North Macedonia marks Ilinden (St. Elijah’s Day) on 2 August. Variants include Ilya (Russian), Iliya (Bulgarian), Ilia (Georgian), Ilias (Greek), Elias/Elías (Latin/Scandinavian/Spanish), Elia (Italian), Elija (Slovene), and English Elijah; related feminine forms include Ilijana and Eliana. Common diminutives in South Slavic languages are Ile and Iljo. The name carries a sense of steadfast faith and an elemental, traditional character.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS | Boys | 0 | #40 | 273 | 2,277 |
| RS | 0 | #56 | 32 | 923 | |
| HR | Boys | 0 | #74 | 687 | 3,997 |
| SI | 0 | #80 | 1 | 1,612 | |
| KZ | 0 | #94 | 1 | 1,452 | |
| QA | 0 | #106 | 1 | 7,011 | |
| Switzerland | Boys | 2024 | #118 | 20 | 1,769 |
| RS | Girls | 0 | #134 | 4 | 1,651 |
| GR | 0 | #135 | 1 | 3,911 | |
| HR | 0 | #137 | 43 | 2,081 | |
| HU | Boys | 0 | #174 | 1 | 3,954 |
| MT | Boys | 0 | #176 | 4 | 4,064 |
| Sweden | Boys | 2022 | #177 | 6 | 1,509 |
| SI | Boys | 0 | #186 | 24 | 3,402 |
| AE | 0 | #187 | 1 | 10,220 | |
| RU | 0 | #194 | 1 | 3,641 | |
| DK | 0 | #205 | 2 | 5,198 | |
| BG | Boys | 0 | #218 | 3 | 3,850 |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #220 | 1 | 4,970 |
| AL | Girls | 0 | #227 | 1 | 4,141 |
| IR | 0 | #231 | 1 | 4,221 | |
| GR | Boys | 0 | #271 | 3 | 6,912 |
| Austria | Boys | 0 | #278 | 175 | 2,180 |
| HR | Girls | 0 | #289 | 6 | 3,687 |
| AL | Boys | 0 | #299 | 5 | 5,122 |
| Canada | Boys | 2023 | #300 | 10 | 2,601 |
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #300 | 6 | 6,530 |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #326 | 7 | 7,401 |
| MU | Boys | 0 | #369 | 1 | 8,477 |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #381 | 1 | 7,951 |
| France | Boys | 2018 | #387 | 3 | 2,908 |
| Germany | 0 | #428 | 10 | 2,542 | |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #492 | 14 | 12,621 |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #561 | 1 | 10,655 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #563 | 3 | 10,162 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #624 | 2 | 10,983 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #654 | 1 | 13,121 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #672 | 11 | 3,552 |
| LB | 0 | #690 | 1 | 13,263 | |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #700 | 1 | 13,390 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #742 | 2 | 18,093 |
| Germany | Boys | 0 | #749 | 204 | 5,697 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #805 | 2 | 18,755 |
| TN | 0 | #865 | 1 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #880 | 13 | 7,044 |
| NL | Boys | 0 | #925 | 27 | 5,873 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #1,001 | 1 | 16,906 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,142 | 2 | 22,615 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,271 | 2 | 25,619 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,363 | 109 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,691 | 1 | 28,008 |
Ilija is popular in 39 countries — most recent births per country:
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