The first name Eli
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “ascent”.
Pronounced /ˈilaɪ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Eli means “ascent” in Hebrew.
From Hebrew עֵלִי (“ascent”); cognate to the Arabic-derived Ali.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 373 boys were named Eli, making it the 137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 619 births (#105).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Eli with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Eli at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 3,418 boys born in the United States were named Eli, the 104th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2012, when 8,079 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Eli in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Eli in Esperanto, German, Indonesian, Italian and Portuguese too.
Famous people named Eli
52 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Eli WallachAmerican actor (1915–2014)
- Eli WhitneyAmerican inventor (1765-1825)
- Eli RothAmerican filmmaker and actor, born 1972
- Eli ManningAmerican football player (born 1981)
- Eli Junior KroupiFrench footballer (born 2006)
- Eli LillyAmerican pharmacist, Union Army officer, businessman, philanthropist, 1838–1898
- Eli MarienthalAmerican actor, born 1986
- Eli BroadAmerican businessperson and philanthropist (1933–2021)
- Eli DershwitzAmerican fencer, born 1995
- Eli YablonovitchAmerican physicist, born 1946
- Eli GoreeCanadian actor, born 2000
- Eli BlanchardCanadian lacrosse player (1881–1941)
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Eli mean?
- Eli means “ascent” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Eli?
- From Hebrew עֵלִי (“ascent”); cognate to the Arabic-derived Ali.
- How popular is the name Eli?
- In 2025, 373 boys born in England and Wales were named Eli, ranking 137th. Its peak was 2016, with 619 births.
- Is Eli a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 154,512 US babies named Eli since 1880 were boys.
- When was Eli most popular?
- 2012 in the United States, when 8,079 babies were named Eli, its highest rank at 43rd.
- How do you pronounce Eli?
- Eli is /ˈilaɪ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Eli also a surname?
- Yes. Eli is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.