Ilja

Ilja is a masculine given name used in several European languages, including Russian, Dutch, German, Estonian, and Finnish. It is a variant form of Elijah, derived from the Hebrew Eliyahu, meaning "My God is Yahweh."

In Slavic languages the common form is Ilya (Илья). Ilja appears as a transliteration in German and Dutch contexts and in some non-Slavic languages, reflecting different orthographic conventions for the same name.

Pronunciation varies by language, typically approximating "IL-yah" or "EEL-yah," with stress often on the first syllable in many contexts.

Ilya Muromets, known as Ilja Muromets in some transliterations, is a legendary bogatyr in East Slavic folklore and a central figure in the byliny, the traditional epic tales of medieval Russia.

As a given name, Ilja is used for contemporary figures in sports, the arts, and academia, reflecting its cross-cultural presence across Europe.