MallowbyNames

Eli

EE-lye · Ascended, uplifted, or my God

2025 rank (boys)
#104
Babies named in 2025
3,418
Peak popularity
2012
2025 frequency
1 in 500 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Declining since 2013

Declining since 2013, #104 for boys today.

Popularity of Eli since 1880

Babies named Eli per year in U.S. Social Security records.

2.7k5.4k8.1k1880192019602000Most births 2012Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s721
1890s492
1900s483
1910s1,991
1920s2,520
1930s1,592
1940s1,288
1950s1,346
1960s1,323
1970s3,610
1980s5,455
1990s8,562
2000s28,043
2010s69,900
2020s26,169

Meaning & origin

Eli is a compact biblical name that has been in consistent use in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security data. It reached its peak popularity in 2012, when it ranked highest among U.S. baby names. Since 2013, however, its trajectory has been falling, though it remains a familiar choice. In 2025, the name ranked 104th, with approximately 1 in 500 boys receiving the name. Eli is particularly favored in states like Maine, Alaska, and West Virginia, reflecting a stronger regional appeal in more rural and northern areas. Its brevity and strong biblical roots contribute to its enduring appeal as a standalone name or a short form of Elijah or Elias.

Eli is a Hebrew name derived from the word 'alah, meaning 'to ascend' or 'to go up.' It appears in the Bible as a high priest and judge of Israel, and as an abbreviation of Elijah or Elias. The name has been used by English speakers since the Protestant Reformation, particularly among Puritans, and has maintained steady popularity in the United States.

Where Eli is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Eli” around the world

Where Eli lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    120

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    23

    babies in 2025

  • New Zealand

    #47

    in 2025

  • Quebec

    #45

    in 2025

  • Australia (NSW)

    #89

    in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: E

Variants: Ely, Elie

Sibling names for Eli

Names that share Eli's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Noah, Levi, Mia, Emma, Ava, Lila, Miriam, Nia, Talia, Aerial, Alea, Aleen, Aleia, Alita, Aliza, Ami, Anaya, Areli, Avaya, Aviva, Ayala, Bela, Cami, Chava, Chaya, Dalia, Dinah, Elana, Emeri, Ester, Ila, Ivey, Kami, Kesha, Kia, Kiah, Laya, Malaya, Mari, Mika, Miki, Mina, Mira, Mona, My, Naya, Nya, Raya, Rhema, Rivka, Sama, Sariyah, Shani, Shira, Shoshana, Suri, Tehya, Tia, Vada, Vina, Yara, Zara, Adhara, Ahuva, Aira, Alizah, Amaiya, Amarah, Amerie, Anai, Ani, Ara, Ariela, Avia, Avigail, Ayra, Bina, Calia, Chi, Devorah, Dyani, Elani, Ezri, Hadassa, Inara, Isley, Izzy, Jani, Kalaya, Kasha, Keilah, Kena, Keya, Kezia, Kyah, La, Lala, Layah, Liora, Loria, Malea, Maliya, Marah, Mea, Meira, Mena, Myia, Myka, Naia, Nailea, Naiya, Naja, Nava, Neomi, Neta, Niah, Nisa, Nyra, Raniya, Rayah, Rea, Riva, Saray, Sari, Sariya, Sayra, Sela, Shaindy, Shifra, Siana, Tala, Tali, Taniya, Terah, Tesa, Tova, Yocheved, Zada, Zari, Zina, Ziva, Aaira, Aalyah, Abria, Adama, Aeva, Aija, Aina, Aisa, Aiva, Aiyla, Alenna, Alla, Aloni, Alorah, Alyzah, Ama, Amela, Analeia, Anara, Anari, Anely, Annia, Anyia, Arella, Ariam, Ariell, Ariza, Ary, Aryam, Asani, Ashira, Ashya, Aveyah, Aviella, Aviyah, Ayiana, Ayzal, Ayzel, Batya, Caiya, Cala, Celie, Cira, Corah, Daliah, Dema, Dinorah, Elanna, Elika, Elis, Eliya, Elka, Emorie, Eri, Esra, Esty, Evalee, Evi, Evia, Gal, Galia, Glee, Hadasa, Hila, Idy, Ikea, Ilena, Ilia, Irha, Ivee, Iza, Jarah, Juni, Kana, Kendi, Khloie, Kilah, Kiri, Kiyara, Kyia, Laiyah, Lalah, Lama, Lanya, Lari, Layana, Leelah, Leeya, Leeyah, Liat, Lielle, Lynea, Madai, Maraya, Matia, Mayar, Mazel, Meela, Meia, Meila, Melana, Melea, Mera, Meron, Mesha, Meya, Mianna, Mikaya, Milca, Mili, Minha, Mirah, Miraya, Mirel, Miri, Miryam, Miyanna, Mylia, Mysha, Naira, Nariya, Natania, Natanya, Nea, Neah, Nely, Neyla, Nomi, Nyana, Nyia, Olean, Orli, Orly, Penina, Raeya, Raia, Ramiya, Rema, Renia, Resa, Riah, Riyah, Saachi, Sadi, Seena, Selia, Simi, Soriya, Suni, Talea, Tani, Tiya, Toba, Tzipporah, Tzivia, Yaire, Yeni, Yer, Yides, Zaidee, Zalia, Zania, Ziara, Aairah, Aasia, Adalay, Adalei, Addi, Adiya, Ahlia, Ailed, Akera, Aleni, Amali, Amea, Anaaya, Anavi, Anira, Anissia, Aritzel, Ashara, Atira, Aulora, Ausha, Aviela, Avya, Ayde, Aylissa, Ayona, Aysa, Bani, Basha, Belem, Camiah, Catia, Chanika, Devra, Dia, Ebelin, Eevie, Elaya, Elky, Ellarie, Ellina, Eloyce, Emaya, Eria, Hadar, Hania, Hava, Hena, Icelyn, Idali, Imaya, Iyani, Jady, Jalea, Janaia, Janova, Jemia, Jhade, Jouri, Judieth, Kaari, Kacia, Kamira, Kamyrah, Kaomi, Katori, Kayani, Kayomi, Kayori, Keia, Keyari, Khamila, Klaira, Klea, Kyrielle, Layani, Leba, Lekia, Lenni, Leyda, Leza, Libi, Lisia, Liya, Lylla, Madia, Makira, Malaiah, Malkia, Malya, Manna, Meily, Meli, Melora, Mialani, Mirriam, Miyani, Monea, Naarah, Nai, Naysa, Ndia, Neeka, Nema, Neya, Niaomi, Nili, Nira, Novi, Nysa, Nysha, Oriyah, Pachia, Ramah, Ramaya, Rameen, Ramia, Rashi, Rin, Roniya, Sairah, Samika, Sanayah, Sema, Senai, Seri, Sharai, Shasha, Sheina, Shoshanah, Shoshannah, Shyana, Simya, Sireen, Siyana, Synai, Tamirah, Telia, Teliyah, Temima, Tenia, Teyah, Thena, Thia, Tinna, Tirza, Tomia, Tovah, Tria, Tuleen, Venia, Yaeli, Yaffa, Yailyn, Yalena, Yanel, Yani, Yarah, Yarelly, Yaremi, Yeira, Yitzel, Ytzel, Zalani, Zarielle, Zelina, Zenaya, Zeya, Zivah, Zoi, Zyann, Allani, Arilla, Ayris, Ayssa, Camy, Edit, Gali, Jadi, Javaeh, Ketura, Lakina, Manelyk, Meiah, Miata, Miela, Miraal, Nasly, Salia, Surie, Aala, Abiah, Adalai, Adinah, Adiva, Ahavah, Ahni, Ahriyah, Airah, Airess, Alinea, Alle, Allea, Alsha, Amary, Amei, Ameka, Anab, Anahia, Analei, Anda, Aneri, Anikah, Anyi, Aquinnah, Araeya, Araiah, Araly, Ariday, Arra, Asherah, Asmi, Atalya, Ayen, Ayliana, Ayriel, Ayzia, Bassheva, Beila, Beza, Calah, Carmi, Chanah, Chasya, Chayah, Dailah, Daliya, Dalya, Danayah, Deah, Deleah, Denya, Devory, Deya, Deyani, Dianely, Dvora, Elantra, Elany, Emunah, Gavrielle, Haila, Hallel, Hara, Helem, Henya, Hilinai, Hydia, Ia, Iasha, Idara, Ilany, Ilee, Illana, Imona, Iria, Iriel, Ivi, Jahnai, Jahni, Jaiyah, Jemya, Jerah, Jiyana, Joda, Juelle, Kaiyla, Kalaia, Kamina, Kashi, Katiya, Kayia, Keah, Kearia, Kehlanie, Keomi, Keta, Khila, Kiaria, Kili, Kiyani, Kyelle, Lalena, Lamara, Lany, Laria, Layaan, Leilahni, Lenia, Liyat, Loda, Maicy, Malay, Mally, Maneh, Mati, Meilah, Mellina, Metha, Mida, Miria, Myan, Myani, Naasia, Nalea, Nalla, Namine, Nashia, Navil, Naw, Nayleah, Neesa, Neira, Neka, Neleh, Nera, Neveen, Nikeria, Nikyah, Niyomi, Niza, Noheli, Orah, Ovi, Piya, Reha, Reia, Ruhama, Saharra, Saila, Samai, Sarit, Sayana, Seniya, Seyla, Shalva, Sheera, Sherah, Sheva, Shirah, Shiri, Sila, Sithara, Smaya, Sonnia, Sya, Tabia, Talli, Tanai, Tenea, Teriyah, Tija, Tima, Tinaya, Tirsa, Toleen, Veya, Yafa, Yanai, Yesha, Zadia, Zaidy, Zanae, Zanai, Zeyna, Zoa, Zoua, Zyona

Brothers: Noah, Levi, Isaac, Ezra, Caleb, Abel, Noe, Abram, Avi, Ayan, Brycen, Deacon, Dov, Eber, Finis, Izrael, Jed, Mikah, Misael, Mordechai, Omer, Ori, Rubin, Zayn, Adi, Aharon, Ahron, Aj, Akiva, Alon, Amarii, Amiel, Amon, Anay, Aram, Arik, Boaz, Edan, Emari, Enoc, Esdras, Hillel, Isom, Jairus, Javan, Jeb, Jerimiah, Josias, Kobi, Lev, Naftali, Nahum, Natan, Ren, Shalom, Tal, Uri, Uziel, Webb, Yancey, Yoel, Zaine, Zeb, Zev, Adlai, Aki, Amarian, Amier, Arien, Arnez, Arye, Asaph, Avante, Azir, Betzalel, Calem, Chai, Danel, Derion, Elex, Elim, Elimelech, Emet, Evian, Exodus, Ivo, Jabez, Ji, Joab, Joash, Jonael, Kalab, Keno, Lakai, Manasseh, Manu, Mikai, Naaman, Nachman, Naftoli, Naftuli, Namon, Noriel, Pinchas, Raffi, Rafi, Reo, Reuel, Reyan, Ronit, Shimshon, Shraga, Toma, Tomer, Yafet, Yeshaya, Yishai, Yonah, Zadok, Zakhari, Zakhi, Zayde, Ziaire, Zvi, Abdon, Aizik, Alem, Allon, Amish, Amyr, Anival, Arel, Ariv, Avir, Aysen, Beni, Cauy, Dhilan, Duvid, Eban, Edahi, Edis, Ein, Elai, Elior, Elya, Etai, Etan, Eulice, Ezel, Gedalya, Ilai, Imir, Iyan, Izen, Jahaan, Jehiel, Joram, Kanon, Keian, Kirin, Lavi, Machai, Manoah, Meilech, Merek, Netanel, Nissim, Nyair, Omere, Owin, Ramar, Reuven, Rishon, Ryaan, Shlome, Sony, Tion, Vadhir, Yuriel, Zayon, Zayven, Albi, Asar, Aaro, Adar, Adir, Aleph, Alyaan, Arieh, Ariez, Asser, Avish, Aviyon, Chananya, Chanoch, Danon, Destan, Dinari, Edras, Ejay, Elber, Eljay, Elo, Elohim, Elroi, Euro, Gatsby, Hanniel, Ido, Idus, Imer, Imri, Isaul, Izzak, Jaan, Jaja, Jefte, Jekhi, Karo, Kashe, Katai, Kayan, Keimon, Kenay, Kiam, Leny, Leor, Meba, Micai, Mikhai, Mylik, Nagi, Nahun, Noar, Noeh, Nussen, Nyan, Oli, Ory, Ovadia, Pinches, Poe, Ruven, Shakai, Suvan, Tovia, Yeudiel, Yoniel, Yorel, Yunay, Zahki, Zakye, Zamire, Zayir, Zelig, Zevi

Names like Eli

Names whose popularity has moved with Eli's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

E is for Eli, our favorite little boy.

E is for Eli…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Eli's letter becomes Eli's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Eli's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Eli mean?
Eli is a Hebrew name meaning 'ascended, uplifted' or 'my God,' depending on its origin.
How popular is the name Eli?
Eli ranked 104th among U.S. baby names in 2025, with roughly 1 in every 500 boys given the name.
Is Eli a boy's name or a girl's name?
Eli is almost exclusively used for boys.