UK boy's name
Elimelech
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my king".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Elimelech is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Elimelech popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 9 births.
This profile covers 52 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1998 to 2023. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 52 living people in the UK are called Elimelech. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Elimelech ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 9 boys were registered as Elimelech.
- • About 52 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elimelech as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
9 births
Estimated living
52
2026
Meaning
What does Elimelech mean?
The name Elimelech is of Hebrew origin, derived from the combination of two words: "el" meaning "God" and "melech" meaning "king." It roughly translates to "My God is King" or "God is my King." This name first appeared in the biblical text of the Book of Ruth, which is believed to have been written sometime between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE.
The Book of Ruth mentions Elimelech as a man from Bethlehem who, along with his wife Naomi and their two sons, migrated to the land of Moab due to famine in Judah. Elimelech's name is symbolic of his faith and trust in God, even during times of hardship and adversity. This biblical reference is one of the earliest known recordings of the name Elimelech.
Throughout history, the name Elimelech has been used, albeit infrequently, by people of Jewish and Christian faiths, particularly those with ties to the biblical tradition. One notable figure bearing this name was Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717-1787), a renowned Hasidic rabbi and spiritual leader in Poland. He was known for his teachings on joy, humility, and the importance of serving God with a pure heart.
Another individual with the name Elimelech was Elimelech ben Judah (12th century), a French rabbi and commentator on the Talmud. His work, known as the "Sefer Ra'avan," was highly influential in the study of Jewish law and tradition during the Middle Ages.
In the 19th century, Elimelech Shapiro (1824-1886) was a prominent Hasidic Rebbe and leader of the Grodzisk dynasty in Poland. He was known for his wisdom, compassion, and dedication to the teachings of the Hasidic movement.
Another notable figure was Elimelech Gavriel Taubenfeld (1856-1937), a Polish-born rabbi and scholar who served as the chief rabbi of Lviv (now in Ukraine) in the early 20th century. He was renowned for his expertise in Jewish law and his efforts to promote religious education among the Jewish community.
While the name Elimelech has a rich historical significance, particularly in the Jewish and Christian traditions, its usage has been relatively uncommon throughout history. However, it remains a cherished name among those who value its biblical roots and the profound meaning it carries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Elimelech over time
The chart below shows babies named Elimelech registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Elimelech, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elimelech by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elimelech 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4890 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3286 | 28 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3154 | 12 | 3 |
| 1990s | #1821 | 6 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Elimelech
- Ethan 77,394
- Edward 53,212
- Elliot 23,450
- Elijah 22,369
- Ellis 19,358
- Elliott 16,964
- Evan 14,535
- Ezra 11,838
- Ewan 10,685
- Eli 8,126
- Elias 7,049
- Eric 6,654
FAQ
Elimelech: questions and answers
How popular is the name Elimelech in the UK right now?
In 2023, Elimelech was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Elimelech most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 9 babies registered as Elimelech in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Elimelech?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my king".
How many people are called Elimelech in the UK?
A total of 52 babies have been registered as Elimelech across the 11 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.