What Does the Name Eli Mean?
Eli is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “ascended, high / my God.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Eli |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | ascended, high / my God |
| Variants | Elijah, Elias, Ely, Eliyahu |
| Popularity | A US Top 50 boys' name in recent years. |
The meaning and origin of Eli
The name Eli means “ascended, high / my God” and has Hebrew origins. Eli derives from the Hebrew Eli, meaning "ascended" or "high," the name of a high priest in the Books of Samuel; it can also be a short form of names like Elijah or Elisha. It has risen sharply in modern American usage.
Variants and related names
Eli is related to several other names you may recognize: Elijah, Elias, Ely, Eliyahu. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Eli?
A US Top 50 boys' name in recent years.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eli mean?+
The name Eli means “ascended, high / my God” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Eli?+
Eli originates from Hebrew.
Is Eli a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Eli has trended in the US over time.
Eli by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press