How to say it
e · LI
/ˈi.laɪ/
Masculine
Eli
Ascended, my God
What it means
Hebrew ʿEli, 'ascended' or 'high.' Sometimes a standalone name; sometimes a short for Elijah, Elias, Elliot, or Elisha. The biblical Eli was the priest who raised Samuel.
Eli comes from the Hebrew ʿEli ('ascended' or 'high'). The biblical Eli was the high priest at Shiloh who raised the young Samuel; his story in 1 Samuel is one of judgment and mentorship. As a modern given name, Eli is often a standalone but also serves as a short for Elijah, Elias, Elliot, Elisha, or Elliott. The surge from the 2000s onward is part of the broader biblical revival. Manning the NFL quarterback (Eli, brother of Peyton) gave it sports anchor. It's been in the US top 100 since 2008.
Popularity over time
peaked at #43 in 2012, currently #104 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Eli is often given as a standalone but works as a short for half a dozen longer Hebrew names. Worth deciding which intent at the birth certificate.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Eli (Bible) High priest at Shiloh who raised the young Samuel
- Eli Manning NFL quarterback, two-time Super Bowl MVP with the New York Giants
- Eli Whitney American inventor of the cotton gin, 1793
Spelling variants
- Ely
- Elih
Names with the same feeling
See Eli from another angle
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