The nameEli
Eli is a biblical boy's name, the name of the priest who raised the prophet Samuel. It is also a short form of Elijah or Elias.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Eli comes from the Hebrew Eli, "ascended, high".
Origin
Hebrew. In the First Book of Samuel, Eli is the high priest of Shiloh.
History
Eli has been in the American top 100 since 2008 and reached 43rd place in 2012 and 2013. Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, and the quarterback Eli Manning made it well known.
Famous people named Eli
- Eli Whitney, inventor
- Eli Manning, American football player
- Eli Wallach, actor
Popularity of the name Eli
Eli in the United States
Eli was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 70,184 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Eli. Its rise began around 1993, and it peaked in 2012. Half of all babies named Eli in the United States were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 4,578 births a year on average, against 6,541 in the five years before.
Eli in the United Kingdom
Eli was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 5,522 births over the decade, 57% of all recorded babies named Eli. Its rise began around 2004, and it peaked in 2017. Half of all babies named Eli in the United Kingdom were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 506 births a year on average, against 665 in the five years before.
Eli in Ireland
Eli in France
Eli in Belgium
Eli in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Eli
Names from the same generation as Eli, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Eli? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Eli with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Eli side by side with the name of your choice.
Eli in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eli mean?
Eli comes from the Hebrew Eli, "ascended, high".
What is the origin of the name Eli?
Hebrew. In the First Book of Samuel, Eli is the high priest of Shiloh.
Is Eli a girl's or a boy's name?
Eli is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Eli?
In 2024, Eli was the 92nd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 3,723 births.
What are the variants of the name Eli?
Variants and related names of Eli include Élie.
What are good sibling names for Eli?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Eva, Zoey, Leah and Serenity for a sister, Josiah, Kayden, Micah and Jeremiah for a brother.
Who are famous people named Eli?
Eli Whitney, inventor; Eli Manning, American football player; Eli Wallach, actor.