Meaning and Origin of: Eli

Boy name origins & meanings

• Greek : Light, variation of Eleanor
• Hebrew : High

What does Eli mean and stand for?

The name Eli is of Hebrew origin and means "ascended, uplifted, high". The name derives from the Hebrew ’aly, meaning “high.”

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

• Jewish : from a short form of Elia.

Famous people with this first name

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, Eli has been consistently popular, jumping from 229 in 2000 to 49 in 2014 before falling slightly to the 62 in 2019. Once a nickname for Elijah, Eli, though not as popular, has made a name for itself in its own right.

However, it is the 12th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Eli was at its peak popularity in November 2017.

Eli is a name from the Old Testament; he was the high priest and last judge of Israel and trained the prophet Samuel. The name was once used as a nickname for Eliza, Elijah and others. CNN anchor Campbell Brown and SNL alum Rachel Dratch chose Eli for their sons. It has also been a character name in Freaks and Geeks and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Where is it Popular?

Eli was searched for most often in the following states:

Nicknames for Eli

• E

Pairs well with these middle names