NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Elih

A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly from Hebrew.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Elih is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Elih popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 6 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2015 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Elih. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Elih ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 6 boys were registered as Elih.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elih as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4810

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2015

6 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Elih mean?

The name Elih is an ancient one with roots that can be traced back to the Mesopotamian region of the Middle East. It is believed to have originated from the Akkadian language, which was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia around the 3rd millennium BC. The name Elih is thought to be derived from the Akkadian word "elu," meaning "high" or "exalted."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elih can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia that dates back to around 2100 BC. In this epic, Elih is mentioned as a minor character, though the specific details of their role are not well-documented.

Throughout ancient history, the name Elih appeared in various texts and records from the region. It was particularly popular among the Babylonians, who were known to have used variations of the name such as "Elihu" and "Elijah."

One notable figure in history who bore the name Elih was Elih of Arpachiya, a Hurrian ruler who lived in the 14th century BC. He was known for his military conquests and for establishing a powerful kingdom in the region of modern-day northern Iraq and Syria.

Another historical figure with the name Elih was Elih ben Ammi, a Jewish scholar who lived in Babylon in the 6th century BC. He is credited with being one of the earliest translators of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, a language that was widely spoken in the region at the time.

In the realm of religious texts, the name Elih is mentioned in the Book of Job from the Hebrew Bible. In this text, Elih is one of Job's friends who attempts to counsel him during his time of suffering.

During the medieval period, the name Elih saw some use among various Christian communities in the Middle East. One notable figure from this time was Elih of Edessa, a Syrian bishop and theologian who lived in the 6th century AD. He was known for his writings on theology and for his contributions to the development of Syriac literature.

Another historical figure named Elih was Elih al-Dimashqi, an Arab scholar and philosopher who lived in Damascus in the 9th century AD. He was known for his writings on philosophy, logic, and theology, and was considered one of the leading intellectuals of his time.

While the name Elih has its roots in ancient Mesopotamia, it has been used across various cultures and religions throughout history, appearing in texts and records from the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Elih over time

The chart below shows babies named Elih registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Elih, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Elih
02356201520152016

Decades

Elih by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elih was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #3907 9 2

Related

Names similar to Elih

FAQ

Elih: questions and answers

How popular is the name Elih in the UK right now?

In 2016, Elih was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Elih most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 6 babies registered as Elih in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Elih?

A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly from Hebrew.

How many people are called Elih in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Elih across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.