Eli
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Eli is a Hebrew name meaning “ascended”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for boys, with 99.77% male usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Eli
Eli is a name of Hebrew origin, traditionally appearing in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is derived from the root meaning 'ascended', 'uplifted', or 'my God'. In Biblical history, Eli is documented as a high priest at Shiloh who served as a mentor to the prophet Samuel. Its historical endurance is largely due to its continuous use within Jewish and later Christian communities as a name signifying religious devotion.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Eli
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Eli is overwhelmingly used as a name for boys. Approximately 99.77% of recorded bearers are male. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Eli
Eli is among the Top 67 Trending Boys’ name in the United Kingdom for 2026
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Eli is listed under Popular Boy Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 607 births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 2.3K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 685 births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 296 births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Eli ranked #66 on the Popular Boys’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #54 in 2024 — a drop of 12 places. A widely recognized choice, Eli has maintained a steady Top-100 presence.
Historically, its best recorded position was #39 in 2017. Its lowest recorded position was #1,071 in 1964. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -18 places (from #48 to #66).
Name StyleMethodology
Eli is classified as Timeless Boy Names because it appears across 100% of recorded years, averages 1,558 births per year over its full timeline, and still averages 5,313 births per year recently.Characteristics of the Name Eli
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Boy Names
- Length
- 3 letters — Short Boy Names
- Starts with
- E — Boy Names Starting with E
- Ends with
- i — Boy Names Ending in “i”
Name AestheticMethodology
Eli consists of two syllables with a front-loaded stress, conveying a sense of concise authority. Its historical presence as Eli the High Priest in the Old Testament establishes a Strong & Powerful traditional foundation. The combination of its crisp phonetic profile and spiritual history reinforces a Strong & Powerful aesthetic.
Middle Names For Eli
Middle names used with EliMethodology
Eli is most frequently used with these boy middle names: Eli Thomas · Eli James · Eli Joseph · Eli Samuel · Eli JacobView all 260 boy middle names.
- Total 477 middle names used with Eli
- 65 girl middle names used with Eli
- 143 unisex middle names used with Eli
Middle name suggestions for EliMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Eli is most frequently associated with boy middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 6 letters, and a starting sound of “j”.
Examples: Eli Joseph · Eli Junior · Eli Gerald · Eli Justin · Eli Julius. View all 175 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Eli
Biblical ReferencesMethodology
As one of the Biblical Boy Names, Eli appears 33 times throughout the Bible. Selected verses include:
- Old Testament - I Samuel (1SA 1:3):
Now this man went up from his town every year to give worship and to make offerings to the Lord of armies in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
- Old Testament - I Kings (1KI 2:27):
So Solomon let Abiathar be priest no longer, so that he might make the word of the Lord come true which he said about the sons of Eli in Shiloh.
Names Similar to Eli
Sound Like Eli Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Eloy · Elio · Ely · View all 22 names
Spelled Like Eli Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Elio · Elie · Eloi · View all 12 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Ethan · Ian · Easton · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Eli Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Levi · Kai · Guy · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Robert · Michael · William · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Eli”
Dictionary Meaning of "Eli"Methodology
alternative form of ali (“character; disposition; behaviour”)
More Info
How to Spell Eli in ASL
- E
- l
- i
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