Holding steady, #4,172 for girls today.
Popularity of Esli since 1987
Babies named Esli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
| 1990s | 100 | 42 |
| 2000s | 173 | 50 |
| 2010s | 110 | 12 |
| 2020s | 86 | 41 |
Meaning & origin
Esli is a rare and modern unisex name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1990. Its peak year so far is 2025, when it ranked 4172nd nationally with an occurrence rate of approximately 1 in 47,273 births. The name has shown stable but very low usage over the past few decades, appearing most frequently in California and Texas. Esli's origins are unclear; it may be a creative spelling or a derivative of similar-sounding names rather than a name with deep historical roots. Its concise, gentle sound fits a contemporary preference for short, vowel-ending names. Without a traditional etymology, Esli offers parents a blank slate for personal meaning.
Esli is likely a modern invented name, possibly formed from the popular suffix -li or as a variation of names like Esley or Esmé. It has appeared in U.S. records since 1990, but its roots are not traceable to any established naming tradition.
Where Esli is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ez, Lee
Variants: Ezli
Sibling names for Esli
Names that share Esli's style, for a brother or sister.
