Elias is a male first name, derived from the Greek version of the Hebrew name Elia, which means “Jahve is my God.” In the Old Testament, Elia was a prophet, with his story chronicled in the First and Second Books of Kings.
As of the end of 2019, in Finland, 32,087 men and fewer than 40 women have been named Elias.
Previously in Finland, Elias’s name day was celebrated on April 17th. However, in 1929, it was moved to April 9th in honor of Elias Lönnrot, who was born on that day. This date also marks the death anniversary of Mikael Agricola, now observed as a flag-raising day in Finland.