Ilie is a Romanian masculine given name and a surname, cognate with the biblical name Elijah. It is the Romanian form of Elias, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Elijah, meaning "my God is Yahweh."Etymology and Biblical RootsThe name traces its roots to the Hebrew אֱלִיָּהוּ (ʾEliyyahu), composed of the elements אֵל (ʾel), meaning "God," and יָהּ (yah), a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew name for God. In the Old Testament, Elijah was a prophet active in the 9th century BC, who challenged King Ahab and Queen Jezebel over their worship of the Canaanite god Ba'al. According to the biblical account in the Books of Kings, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and his story continued to influence later religious traditions, including his appearance alongside Moses during the transfiguration of Jesus in the New Testament.Cultural and Religious SignificanceIlie is commonly associated with the feast day of Saint Elijah (now called Sfântul Ilie in Romanian), which is celebrated on July 20 in the Eastern Orthodox calendar. The name is also popular in folklore, with songs like the well-known Romanian folk tune "Ilie... În Poieniță" (Ilie... in the Meadow) contributing to its cultural resonance.Notable BearersIlie has been borne by various Romanian public figures, including:Ilie Bolojan, who briefly served as acting President of Romania in 2025; Ilie Baicu; footballer Ilie Balaci; linguist Ilie Bărbulescu; and folk singer Ilie Udâr. In democratic Romania, the name has also been used by fictional characters, such as Ilie Moromete from "Moromeții," a novel by Marin Preda.Distribution and VariantsAs a given name, Ilie is predominantly used in Romania and Moldova. Its spelling and many variants across different languages and cultures reflect the widespread influence of the Elijah story: from Elias in Swedish, Ilyas in Urdu and Turkish, to Ilia in Russian and Illia in Ukrainian. The Romanian surname Iliescu is a common patronymic derivative.Key FactsMeaning: "My God is Yahweh"Origin: Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and LatinType: Given name and surnameUsage: Romania, Moldova, and Romanian diaspora