Yellija was a village in the territory of the Iravan uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Ellar (Kotayk, Abovyan) district, and present-day Kotayk province. The village was marked on the five-verst map of the Caucasus and as “Yelija” in Armenian sources.

The village was inhabited by 31 Azerbaijanis in 1897. In the early 20th century the Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands. The village was abolished in 1925. At present, it lies in ruins.

The toponym was coined by adding the ending “-ja” to the word “yelli” meaning “a windy place”.