The story behind Eli
From Hebrew עֵלִי (“ascent”); cognate to the Arabic-derived Ali.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Italian entry
From Latin Hēlī, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עלי.
Portuguese entry
Borrowed from Latin Heli, from Hebrew עֵלִי.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈilaɪ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Italian: /ˈɛ.li/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /eˈli/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ɛˈli/
Popularity
Eli ranked #4099 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Eli
Evi
Variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ari
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish: Lew,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Avi
From Hebrew אבי (Ávi, “father”), chiefly as a diminutive of אַבְרָהָם (Avrahám, “Abraham, lit. father of a multitude or exalted father”) and אַבְנֵר (Avnér, “Abner, lit. father…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Levi
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (lēwî), of uncertain origin. Doublet of Lewi. From Hebrew לֵוִי. From Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (Lēwī)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Uri
From Hebrew אוּרִי (úri, “light”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eloi
From French Éloi, from Medieval Latin Eligius, chiefly after Saint Eligius, from Latin ēligere (“to pick, to choose from”) + -ius (“-y: forming adjectives and names”).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Eli
Arie
Borrowed from Hebrew אַרְיֵה (aryé, “lion”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Cain
From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Eli
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adah
From Hebrew עָדָה (adá, “Adah”, literally “ornament, dawn”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection