Fun Facts About the Name Eli
- More than 154 thousand babies named Eli: U.S. records list 154,425 babies given the name Eli from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,017 girls received the name Eli - about 1 girl for every 151 boys.
What Does the Name Eli Mean?
Eli is a Hebrew name, commonly explained as "ascended" or "height," from the Hebrew root ʿalah (עָלָה), "to go up." The biblical name is written עֵלִי and vocalized ʿĒlî.
A second explanation reads the name as ʾEl (אֵל, "God") plus the first-person ending -i, giving "my God." Both readings use the same written consonants, and the question is not settled: reference works usually keep the "ascended" derivation, while "my God" appears frequently in popular name lists.
In English, Eli also serves as a short form of longer biblical names that begin with the same divine element, above all Elijah (אֱלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlîyāhû, "my God is Yahweh") and, less often, Elisha ("my God is salvation") or Elias. In that use the meaning belongs to the longer name; the Hebrew name ʿĒlî is a distinct name that simply looks the same in English spelling.
Eli Name History & Origins
Eli is the name of the priest and judge at Shiloh in the Hebrew Bible (1 Samuel 1 - 4). He raises the boy Samuel, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas serve as priests beside him. The narrative says he judged Israel for forty years and died when he heard that the Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant. Through this figure the name entered Jewish tradition.
The Greek form Ἠλί (Ēli) appears in the Gospel of Luke in the ancestry of Jesus, where Joseph is called the son of Heli (Luke 3:23).
In English-speaking countries Eli was one of the Old Testament names adopted by Protestants, and in the 18th and 19th centuries it was also widely used as a short form of Elijah, a prophet's name held in honor in both Jewish and Christian tradition. In everyday records the two uses, the biblical priest and the shortened Elijah, are often impossible to separate.
Eli is a common given name in modern Israel, and in English it continues to be used on its own and as a short form of Elijah, Elias, and Elisha.
How Popular is the Name Eli?
Eli recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2012. Eli entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2008.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,099 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #3,515 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2023 | #4,675 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #3,720 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 2021 | #4,648 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 2020 | #4,576 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 2019 | #4,273 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #3,872 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2017 | #5,556 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2016 | #4,368 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2015 | #5,023 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #5,850 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #4,096 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2012 | #4,634 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2011 | #3,862 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2010 | #4,642 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #4,843 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2008 | #6,631 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2007 | #6,636 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #5,980 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #6,621 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #3,513 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #6,976 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #6,219 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #5,424 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #10,139 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #6,278 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #5,430 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #7,417 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #9,850 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,756 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #6,423 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #6,372 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #7,173 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #6,714 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #9,521 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #8,234 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #6,785 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #10,228 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #11,461 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,591 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #8,416 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #5,547 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #6,491 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #10,872 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #6,946 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #8,851 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #7,761 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #4,967 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #9,156 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #6,867 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #8,635 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #6,635 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1921 | #5,332 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1920 | #4,095 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #4,065 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #104 | 3,418 | 0.2001% |
| 2024 | #92 | 3,723 | 0.2170% |
| 2023 | #79 | 4,106 | 0.2403% |
| 2022 | #69 | 4,702 | 0.2696% |
| 2021 | #64 | 4,910 | 0.2809% |
| 2020 | #60 | 5,278 | 0.3060% |
| 2019 | #62 | 5,535 | 0.3086% |
| 2018 | #57 | 6,091 | 0.3355% |
| 2017 | #54 | 6,636 | 0.3586% |
| 2016 | #50 | 7,129 | 0.3758% |
| 2015 | #53 | 7,158 | 0.3735% |
| 2014 | #49 | 7,508 | 0.3910% |
| 2013 | #43 | 7,949 | 0.4203% |
| 2012 | #43 | 8,076 | 0.4258% |
| 2011 | #58 | 7,219 | 0.3801% |
| 2010 | #65 | 6,570 | 0.3425% |
| 2009 | #90 | 4,921 | 0.2481% |
| 2008 | #99 | 4,521 | 0.2216% |
| 2007 | #129 | 3,250 | 0.1566% |
| 2006 | #136 | 2,994 | 0.1457% |
| 2005 | #152 | 2,697 | 0.1350% |
| 2004 | #156 | 2,550 | 0.1285% |
| 2003 | #190 | 1,993 | 0.1009% |
| 2002 | #194 | 1,953 | 0.1006% |
| 2001 | #213 | 1,644 | 0.0846% |
| 2000 | #228 | 1,496 | 0.0762% |
| 1999 | #276 | 1,068 | 0.0556% |
| 1998 | #283 | 1,016 | 0.0532% |
| 1997 | #309 | 866 | 0.0459% |
| 1996 | #298 | 891 | 0.0470% |
| 1995 | #306 | 862 | 0.0453% |
| 1994 | #302 | 893 | 0.0462% |
| 1993 | #309 | 877 | 0.0447% |
| 1992 | #340 | 708 | 0.0354% |
| 1991 | #341 | 712 | 0.0352% |
| 1990 | #359 | 667 | 0.0325% |
| 1989 | #362 | 624 | 0.0312% |
| 1988 | #372 | 543 | 0.0284% |
| 1987 | #353 | 550 | 0.0295% |
| 1986 | #341 | 563 | 0.0306% |
| 1985 | #342 | 558 | 0.0302% |
| 1984 | #359 | 507 | 0.0281% |
| 1983 | #350 | 518 | 0.0289% |
| 1982 | #357 | 503 | 0.0277% |
| 1981 | #337 | 550 | 0.0307% |
| 1980 | #342 | 539 | 0.0302% |
| 1979 | #353 | 498 | 0.0289% |
| 1978 | #365 | 441 | 0.0269% |
| 1977 | #361 | 476 | 0.0290% |
| 1976 | #397 | 381 | 0.0243% |
| 1975 | #426 | 338 | 0.0216% |
| 1974 | #401 | 373 | 0.0237% |
| 1973 | #425 | 339 | 0.0217% |
| 1972 | #484 | 264 | 0.0163% |
| 1971 | #493 | 268 | 0.0152% |
| 1970 | #530 | 232 | 0.0125% |
| 1969 | #697 | 129 | 0.0072% |
| 1968 | #642 | 139 | 0.0080% |
| 1967 | #666 | 126 | 0.0072% |
| 1966 | #686 | 117 | 0.0066% |
| 1965 | #689 | 117 | 0.0063% |
| 1964 | #705 | 121 | 0.0061% |
| 1963 | #662 | 139 | 0.0068% |
| 1962 | #655 | 140 | 0.0068% |
| 1961 | #649 | 146 | 0.0069% |
| 1960 | #639 | 149 | 0.0070% |
| 1959 | #640 | 146 | 0.0068% |
| 1958 | #693 | 117 | 0.0055% |
| 1957 | #673 | 129 | 0.0060% |
| 1956 | #611 | 153 | 0.0072% |
| 1955 | #671 | 119 | 0.0058% |
| 1954 | #633 | 135 | 0.0066% |
| 1953 | #637 | 126 | 0.0064% |
| 1952 | #592 | 140 | 0.0072% |
| 1951 | #582 | 142 | 0.0075% |
| 1950 | #575 | 139 | 0.0078% |
| 1949 | #607 | 125 | 0.0070% |
| 1948 | #569 | 137 | 0.0078% |
| 1947 | #567 | 143 | 0.0078% |
| 1946 | #599 | 116 | 0.0071% |
| 1945 | #536 | 125 | 0.0093% |
| 1944 | #545 | 124 | 0.0091% |
| 1943 | #586 | 118 | 0.0083% |
| 1942 | #538 | 130 | 0.0094% |
| 1941 | #522 | 130 | 0.0106% |
| 1940 | #492 | 140 | 0.0121% |
| 1939 | #547 | 110 | 0.0099% |
| 1938 | #536 | 119 | 0.0107% |
| 1937 | #470 | 144 | 0.0135% |
| 1936 | #444 | 161 | 0.0155% |
| 1935 | #419 | 175 | 0.0168% |
| 1934 | #422 | 176 | 0.0170% |
| 1933 | #439 | 157 | 0.0158% |
| 1932 | #411 | 186 | 0.0178% |
| 1931 | #432 | 174 | 0.0167% |
| 1930 | #430 | 190 | 0.0173% |
| 1929 | #418 | 198 | 0.0184% |
| 1928 | #411 | 215 | 0.0194% |
| 1927 | #400 | 224 | 0.0199% |
| 1926 | #357 | 266 | 0.0240% |
| 1925 | #341 | 291 | 0.0261% |
| 1924 | #380 | 247 | 0.0218% |
| 1923 | #369 | 260 | 0.0237% |
| 1922 | #359 | 275 | 0.0253% |
| 1921 | #347 | 291 | 0.0264% |
| 1920 | #376 | 253 | 0.0238% |
| 1919 | #373 | 241 | 0.0246% |
| 1918 | #338 | 286 | 0.0282% |
| 1917 | #355 | 246 | 0.0266% |
| 1916 | #319 | 271 | 0.0304% |
| 1915 | #317 | 269 | 0.0317% |
| 1914 | #315 | 208 | 0.0318% |
| 1913 | #308 | 167 | 0.0326% |
| 1912 | #285 | 159 | 0.0370% |
| 1911 | #296 | 81 | 0.0358% |
| 1910 | #312 | 63 | 0.0324% |
| 1909 | #294 | 60 | 0.0366% |
| 1908 | #293 | 55 | 0.0356% |
| 1907 | #303 | 50 | 0.0341% |
| 1906 | #312 | 44 | 0.0330% |
| 1905 | #308 | 43 | 0.0325% |
| 1904 | #296 | 43 | 0.0336% |
| 1903 | #269 | 47 | 0.0394% |
| 1902 | #260 | 51 | 0.0416% |
| 1901 | #255 | 45 | 0.0423% |
| 1900 | #316 | 45 | 0.0299% |
| 1899 | #281 | 38 | 0.0358% |
| 1898 | #264 | 46 | 0.0375% |
| 1897 | #291 | 39 | 0.0346% |
| 1896 | #279 | 43 | 0.0360% |
| 1895 | #239 | 55 | 0.0469% |
| 1894 | #220 | 60 | 0.0518% |
| 1893 | #236 | 53 | 0.0472% |
| 1892 | #227 | 60 | 0.0492% |
| 1891 | #231 | 49 | 0.0484% |
| 1890 | #239 | 49 | 0.0441% |
| 1889 | #212 | 60 | 0.0543% |
| 1888 | #200 | 75 | 0.0621% |
| 1887 | #223 | 51 | 0.0503% |
| 1886 | #202 | 66 | 0.0596% |
| 1885 | #214 | 56 | 0.0519% |
| 1884 | #200 | 67 | 0.0585% |
| 1883 | #156 | 82 | 0.0784% |
| 1882 | #146 | 94 | 0.0827% |
| 1881 | #121 | 97 | 0.0963% |
| 1880 | #177 | 73 | 0.0661% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Eli Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Eli's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eli's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.