Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1928

Elihu

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,216
Rank 2025
#6,216
among boys · ↓714 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
14
named Elihu
How common
1 in 122,005
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1928
26 babies
All-time total
1,236
#4,485 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Elihu popularity over time

1,236 babies have been named Elihu since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1881Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 27 3 – #541
1890s 11 1 -59% #979
1900s 7 1 -36% #1,077
1910s 154 15 +2100% #1,292
1920s 178 18 +16% #1,461
1930s 92 9 -48% #2,129
1940s 71 7 -23% #2,242
1950s 56 6 -21% #2,321
1960s 30 3 -46% #3,178
1970s 41 4 +37% #3,194
1980s 57 6 +39% #3,705
1990s 101 10 +77% #4,037
2000s 158 16 +56% #4,348
2010s 157 16 -1% #4,511
2020s (to 2025) 96 16 +2% #5,090

The story of Elihu

Elihu is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,216 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 1,236 American babies have been named Elihu. Its peak came in 1928, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Elihu stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Elihu?

The median living Elihu is about 22 years old; half are between 10 and 40. An estimated 700 people named Elihu are alive in the United States today.

median 22 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Elihu year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 14 #6,216
2024 17 #5,502
2023 17 #5,522
2022 14 #6,236
2021 16 #5,615
2020 18 #5,090
2019 20 #4,844
2018 18 #5,158
2017 15 #5,874
2016 22 #4,511
2015 16 #5,580
2014 15 #5,810
2013 14 #6,003
2012 8 #9,100
2011 13 #6,344
2010 16 #5,556
2009 22 #4,475
2008 19 #4,948
2007 14 #6,005
2006 18 #4,921
2005 17 #4,889
2004 15 #5,325
2003 16 #4,882
2002 8 #7,870
2001 18 #4,348
2000 11 #6,034
1995 9 #6,063
1990 14 #4,037
1985 5 #6,850
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 6 #4,394
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 7 #3,285
1950 7 #3,121
1945 – –
1940 10 #2,374
1935 5 #3,819
1930 11 #2,491
1925 15 #2,117
1920 15 #2,162
1915 22 #1,471
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 7 #1,077
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 6 #848

Famous people named Elihu

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Elihu Root Elihu Root American politician, statesman, and Nobel Laureate (1845–1937) 19th century
  2. 2 Elihu Yale Elihu Yale British colonial administrator and namesake of Yale College 1649–1721 · 17th century
  3. 3 Elihu B. Washburne Elihu B. Washburne American politician (1816–1887) 19th century
  4. 4 Elihu Thomson Elihu Thomson English-American engineer and inventor (1853–1937) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Elihu, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Elihu?

The median living Elihu is about 22 years old. Half of all living Elihus are between 10 and 40 years old.

How many people named Elihu are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Elihu are alive in the United States, based on 1,236 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Elihu in 2025?

Elihu ranked #6,216 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Elihu?

1,236 babies have been named Elihu in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Elihu most popular?

Elihu peaked in 1928, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Elihu a boy or girl name?

Elihu is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Elihu rising or falling?

Elihu is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Elihu?

Well-known people named Elihu include Elihu Root (politician), Elihu Yale (politician), Elihu B. Washburne (politician).

Names like Elihu

Names that sound and feel close to Elihu: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Elihu with similar names → More names starting with E →