Ilich

Ilich is a masculine name that can function as a given name or, in Slavic traditions, as a patronymic derived from the given name Ilya (Elijah). In many languages, the patronymic form is created by adding a suffix to the father’s name, yielding variants such as Ilyich, Ilich, or Il’ich. The root name ultimately traces back to Elijah, a Hebrew name meaning “My God is Yahweh.”

In practice, Ilich is most often encountered as a patronymic in Russian and other Slavic naming cultures, where it indicates “son of Ilya.” It is less commonly used as an independent given name in those contexts. A well-known historical bearer associated with the pattern is Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, where Ilyich is his patronymic, reflecting his father’s name Ilya.

Outside of Slavic contexts, Ilich appears as a given name in some Latin American and other environments. Notably, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, born in 1949 in Venezuela, is a prominent figure who is widely known by the alias Carlos the Jackal; in his case, Ilich is his first name.

Etymologically, the name links to the Hebrew Elijah and is related to various forms across languages, such as Il’ya, Ilya, Elias, and Elijah. While Ilich remains relatively uncommon as an independent given name outside specific instances, it is recognized in historical and biographical contexts mainly through its patronymic use or as the given name of a few individuals.