Eli

Eli is an independent boy's name of biblical Hebrew origin. Its translation is "the Highest," "the Upper," or "the Exalted." The name comes from the ancient Hebrew 'ălé (עלי), which means "high" and "exalted" (here, Ajin is used instead of Alef, excluding a derivation from God).

What does the name Eli mean?

Eli is a biblically Hebrew boy's name interpreted as "the Highest," "the Upper," or "the Exalted." Its roots lie in the ancient Hebrew 'ălé (עלי), which means "high" and "exalted" (using Ajin instead of Alef, thus excluding a connection to God). The spelling 'Elî represents a Kurdish variant of the Arabic name Ali, meaning "the Exalted." Additionally, Eli can also appear as a girl's name, but with a different meaning. In this case, it is used as a short form of Elisabeth in Spanish, Danish, and Norwegian contexts or as a pet form of Elin or Elena (see Helena). In the Old Testament, Eli is found as a priest of the Israelites. The Icelandic variant of the name is Elí. Other forms include Eeli and Elay.

Where does the name Eli come from?

The name Eli has both masculine and feminine roots and originates from both Akkadian and ancient Hebrew. The meaning is "the Highest."

How do you pronounce Eli?

Eli is a two-syllable name with a vowel-stressed pronunciation. It is usually pronounced as "E-li" [ˈeːli] or [ˈɛli]. The name begins with a clear E sound that conveys a certain openness. The second syllable ends with a distinct I sound. The simple vowel sequence gives it lightness. Eli radiates modernity and friendliness – a name in a reduced form with a gentle aura.

When is the name day of Eli?

The name day for Eli is celebrated on March 24 and July 20.

Popularity

In Germany, Eli enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 744th in the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2013 when it ranked 514th. Over the last ten years, Eli has been given as a first name approximately 780 times, placing it at 646th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 666th.

Nicknames & pet names

El

Similar first names

Famous people

• Alvin Eli Amason (painter from the USA)
• Eli Abarbanel (Israeli football player)
• Eli Amir (Israeli writer)
• Eli Broad (* 1933), American art patron
• Eli Cates (baseball player from America)
• Eli Cohen (football manager from Israel)
• Eli Eduardo de Gortari (Mexican philosopher)
• Eli Fara (Albanian singer)
• Eli Fischer-Jorgensen (linguist)
• Eli Gerstner (musician from the USA)
• Eli Giannini (Australian architect)
• Eli Goodman (American actor)
• Eli Grba (American baseball player)
• Eli Harold (American football player)
• Eli Harvey (American sculptor)
• Eli Herring (American football player from the USA)
• Eli Hudson (character in the series Scream)
• Eli James (American musician)
• Eli Lancman (Israeli art historian)
• Eli Landa (Norwegian model)