NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Elyas

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "sublime".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Elyas is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Elyas popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #674, with 55 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 60 births.

This profile covers 636 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 92% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 638 living people in the UK are called Elyas. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Elyas ranked #674 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 55 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 60 boys were registered as Elyas.
  • Elyas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.
  • About 638 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elyas as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#674

2024

Births in 2024

55

Latest year

Peak year

2023

60 births

Estimated living

638

2026

Meaning

What does Elyas mean?

The name Elyas has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic root word "aly," which means "high" or "exalted." The name carries connotations of nobility, elevation, and distinction.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Elyas can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. It is mentioned as the name of a prophet, often identified with the biblical figure of Elijah. This connection to religious scriptures has contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Arabic-speaking communities.

In the 12th century, Elyas al-Muhaddith, a renowned Andalusian scholar and hadith collector, was born in Córdoba, Spain (1135 - 1204 CE). His works on Islamic jurisprudence and hadith compilation were highly influential during his time and continue to be studied by Islamic scholars today.

Another notable figure bearing the name Elyas was Elyas Nahawandi, a 9th-century Persian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of algebra and is credited with introducing the concept of algebraic equations to the Islamic world.

In the literary realm, Elyas Khuri, a renowned Lebanese novelist and playwright, left a lasting impact on modern Arabic literature. Born in 1910 and passing away in 1997, his works explored themes of identity, social justice, and the human condition.

Elyas Mian, an influential Pakistani politician and diplomat, played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement. Born in 1890 and serving until his death in 1962, he held various positions, including President of the Muslim League and Ambassador to France.

Throughout history, the name Elyas has been borne by scholars, artists, politicians, and religious figures, reflecting its enduring appeal and significance across diverse cultures and regions where Arabic influence has been present.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Elyas over time

The chart below shows babies named Elyas registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Elyas, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 55 births in 2024, compared with 60 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Elyas
015304560199920112024

Decades

Elyas by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elyas 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 #710 245 5
2010s #1044 288 10
2000s #1859 98 10
1990s #2097 5 1

Geography

Where Elyas is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Elyas. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Elyas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Elyas in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#720 in 2021

2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Elyas

  • Elyas Miller Zaabar

    basketball player

    Tunisian basketball player (born 2007)

    2007-

Related

Names similar to Elyas

FAQ

Elyas: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Elyas was ranked #674 for boys in England and Wales, with 55 births registered.

When was Elyas most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 60 babies registered as Elyas in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Elyas?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "sublime".

How many people are called Elyas in the UK?

A total of 636 babies have been registered as Elyas across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.

Where is Elyas most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Elyas ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #720 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.