Meaning & Origin
Elimelech is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'my God is king' — from the Hebrew Eli (my God) and melech (king). In the Book of Ruth, Elimelech is the husband of Naomi who traveled from Bethlehem to Moab during a famine, connecting this name to one of the Bible's most beloved narratives.
Elimelech is one of the rarer biblical names — substantial in scripture but rarely used in the modern world outside of Orthodox Jewish communities. For parents deeply immersed in Hebrew scripture, it offers a genuinely meaningful choice with a story of journey, loss, and ultimately redemption woven into its very context.