Fun Facts About the Name Eloi
- 75 babies named Eloi: U.S. records list 75 babies given the name Eloi from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Eloi Mean?
Eloi is the French form of the Latin name Eligius, which comes from the Latin verb eligere, "to choose" or "to elect." The literal sense is "chosen" or "elect." The same Latin source produced the Spanish and Italian Eligio and the Portuguese Elói, all of them forms of one name rather than separate inventions.
A second, unrelated Eloi appears in the Gospel of Mark (15:34), where Jesus cries "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani," usually translated "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" That word stands for Aramaic elahi, "my God," built on the same Semitic element as Hebrew El. It is a cry of address, not a personal name, and it is not the source of the French name, even though the two are spelled identically in English. The parallel verse in Matthew 27:46 gives the Hebrew wording "Eli, Eli."
Eloi Name History & Origins
The Latin name Eligius is tied chiefly to Saint Eligius (about 588 - 660), a skilled goldsmith from Limoges who became bishop of Noyon and Tournai in northern Gaul. He was remembered for founding monasteries and churches and for charitable work among the poor, and he became the patron saint of goldsmiths and other metalworkers, as well as of horses. His feast day is December 1, and churches dedicated to him are found widely in France and Belgium under the French form of his name, Saint-Éloi.
From that devotion the name passed into ordinary French use as Éloi, written with an acute accent on the first vowel. The accent is a French spelling convention; in English the name is usually written without it. The name's use has remained mainly French and, through French settlement, Canadian, while the closely related Spanish and Italian Eligio and Portuguese Elói follow their own language traditions.
The biblical Eloi has a separate history in English. It entered the language through translations of Mark's Gospel and is familiar from the Passion narrative, where it is kept in its Aramaic form rather than translated. Because the two look the same in English spelling, the Gospel word and the French given name are sometimes confused, but they come from different languages and different roots.
How Popular is the Name Eloi?
Eloi has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #7,830 in 2025.
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 | #7,830 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #7,889 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #9,153 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #12,892 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #10,021 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #12,594 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #9,063 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #12,616 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #12,850 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #12,908 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #9,410 | 7 | 0.0004% |
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 Eloi 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.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Eloi's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eloi's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.