Boy name · Hebrew
Eli
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: ascended, upliftedEli is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "ascended, uplifted". It is used in English and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- Ascended, uplifted
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #104 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Eli
As a boy's name, Eli comes from Hebrew and means "ascended, uplifted". It is used in English and Hebrew.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Eli on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Eli on 4 lists.
“Ascension; Hebrew. Priest who raised Samuel”
From Boy middle names, biblical middle names for boys
“Priest at Shiloh who raised young Samuel”
From Priest names, biblical priest names
“Ascension; Hebrew, the priest who raised young Samuel”
From Cute boy names, short and cute boy names
“Ascended, uplifted; Hebrew. A priest and teacher of Samuel”
From Old man names, old fashioned Bible names for boys
How popular is Eli?
- US rank in 2025
- #104
- 3,418 babies, 2,001 per million boys
- Best rank
- #43 in 2012
- 8,079 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 153,495
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 658 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 431 per million |
| 1900s | 356 per million |
| 1910s | 298 per million |
| 1920s | 229 per million |
| 1930s | 151 per million |
| 1940s | 87 per million |
| 1950s | 67 per million |
| 1960s | 69 per million |
| 1970s | 219 per million |
| 1980s | 296 per million |
| 1990s | 440 per million |
| 2000s | 1,405 per million |
| 2010s | 3,717 per million |
| 2020s | 2,525 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50 | #54 | #57 | #62 | #60 | #64 | #69 | #79 | #92 | #104 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Eli
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- EliaMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- ÉlieMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- ÉloiChosen (Latin, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- ErikEternal ruler (Old Norse, boy)
- ElianVariant of names beginning with Eli, such as Elijah (Hebrew, boy)
- EllisMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, unisex)
- EmilRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
- EfeOlder brother, brave (Turkish, boy)
Middle names for Eli
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Eli: common questions
What does the name Eli mean?
Eli comes from Hebrew and means "ascended, uplifted".
Is Eli a boy or girl name?
Eli is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 35 girls and 3,418 boys in the US were named Eli, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Eli come from?
Eli comes from Hebrew and means "ascended, uplifted". Today it is used in English and Hebrew.
How popular is the name Eli?
Eli ranked #104 in the US in 2025, with 3,418 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Eli?
Names spelled like Eli include Elia, Élie, Éloi, Elias and Erik.
What middle names go with Eli?
Middle names that flow well with Eli include Ambrose, Anderson, Augustine, Cooper and Dennis. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.