UK boy's name
Illyas
A masculine Arabic name meaning "a strength of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Illyas is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Illyas popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2012 to 2022. 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 100% 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 Illyas. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Illyas ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Illyas.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Illyas as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Illyas mean?
The name Illyas is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "Ilyas" which means "strength of the Lord" or "Jehovah is God." It traces its roots back to the ancient Middle East and has been used by various cultures and religions in the region for centuries.
Illyas is the Arabic form of the biblical name Elijah, which appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. Elijah was a prominent prophet in the 9th century BC who played a significant role in the history of ancient Israel. He was known for his miracles and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Illyas can be found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In the Quran, Illyas is referred to as a prophet and is revered by Muslims as a righteous man of God.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Illyas. One of the most famous was Illyas ibn Mudar al-Kinani (c. 660-700 AD), a renowned Arab poet and philosopher during the Umayyad Caliphate. His poetry and writings had a significant influence on the development of Arabic literature.
Another prominent figure was Illyas ibn Musa al-Qummi (c. 765-825 AD), a Persian Islamic scholar and hadith collector. He was known for his expertise in the sciences of hadith and jurisprudence and was highly respected in the Islamic world.
In the 12th century, Illyas ibn Yusuf al-Andalusi (c. 1163-1226 AD) was a famous Andalusian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and is credited with introducing several mathematical concepts to Europe.
During the Ottoman Empire, Illyas ibn Isa al-Hanafi (c. 1490-1552 AD) was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist. He served as the Shaykh al-Islam, the highest religious authority in the Ottoman Empire, and played a crucial role in shaping the religious and legal landscape of the empire.
More recently, Illyas Bazna (1904-1963) was a renowned Lebanese poet and writer who was a major figure in the literary renaissance of the Arab world in the 20th century. His works explored themes of love, nationalism, and social justice and had a significant impact on modern Arabic literature.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Illyas, a name with deep roots and rich cultural significance in the Arab and Islamic world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Illyas over time
The chart below shows babies named Illyas registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Illyas, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Illyas by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Illyas 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 | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Illyas
- Isaac 49,129
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
FAQ
Illyas: questions and answers
How popular is the name Illyas in the UK right now?
In 2022, Illyas was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Illyas most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Illyas in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Illyas?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "a strength of God".
How many people are called Illyas in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Illyas across the 3 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.