Eli
Eli is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Ascended, high, or my God.
Origin and history
Eli is a classic biblical name of Hebrew origin meaning 'ascended' or 'my God'. Historically used as a standalone name or short form for Elijah, Elisha, or Elihu, it has enjoyed steady popularity in the United States, ranking among the top 100 boys' names in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
153,495 babies in the United States have been named Eli since 1880. It ranks #226 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #75.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.3 %)
- TX (9.3 %)
- NY (6.8 %)
- OH (4.4 %)
- PA (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 721 |
| 1890-1900 | 492 |
| 1900-1910 | 483 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,991 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,520 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,592 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,288 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,346 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,323 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,610 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,455 |
| 1990-2000 | 8,562 |
| 2000-2010 | 28,043 |
| 2010-2019 | 69,900 |
| 2020-2029 | 26,169 |
Famous people named Eli
- Eli Manning: Athlete, Football Player
- Eli Whitney: Inventor, Engineer
- Eli Wallach: Actor
Fun facts
- In the Hebrew Bible, Eli was the High Priest of Shiloh who raised the prophet Samuel.
- Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, significantly impacting American history and agriculture.
- Eli has reached its highest popularity levels in U.S. recorded history during the early 21st century.