Sunan "Iliya" yawanci suna ne na maza kuma ya samo asali daga Ibrananci. A cikin Ibrananci, an rubuta sunan a matsayin אֱלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu), wanda ke nufin “Allahna Ubangiji ne” ko kuma “Yahweh ne Allahna”. A cikin Littafi Mai Tsarki, Iliya annabi ne da aka amince da shi a matsayin ɗaya daga cikin manyan mutane a cikin Littafi Mai-Tsarki na Ibrananci kuma Yahudawa da Kirista duka suna ɗaukansu sosai.