An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent; a lithium salt; a first compound represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a second compound represented by Chemical Formula 2, wherein an amount of the first compound is about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt % and an amount of the second compound is about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt %. In Chemical Formulae 1 and 2, the substituents are the same as defined in the detailed description.