Elyas

Elyas is a form in the Elias and Elijah name family, ultimately from a Hebrew name meaning “my God is Yahweh.” It appears in several language traditions, so its history is broader than a recent English respelling. The y is a feature of this written version rather than a change in the underlying religious meaning.

Elias is the nearest spelling comparison, while Elijah makes the English biblical connection especially visible. Pronunciation can vary across the communities that use these forms, particularly the middle vowel and stress. Families choosing Elyas to honor a relative can preserve that exact spelling and spoken form while explaining its relationship with the better-known alternatives.