The name Eli is a girl's name meaning "ascended, uplifted, high".

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Eli is more often considered a Biblical classic for boys, with the name ranking in the Top 100 alongside Biblical choices for boys, like Elias, Elijah and Levi. Despite this, nearly 50 girls in the US were still called Eli last years. While some parents might have been following in the footsteps of those naming their daughters James, it could also be a spelling twist on familiar Ellie, or a short form of the Scandinavian names, Elisabet and Elin.  Either way, with its similarity to Ellis, Ari, Elizabeth, Evie, Ivy, Riley, and Eden, there could be scope for Eli to be seen as a  gender neutral option. 

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The name Eli peaked for girls at #3513 in 2004. The name is most popular in California, Texas, and New York. Eli is also used for boys, ranking #104 in 2025.

The name Eli is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "ascended, uplifted, high".

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With its sharp, succinct sounds and cool, laidback style, Eli is a popular choice among parents today. Compact and punchy, it is a Biblical name with plenty of charm. 
Derived from the Hebrew ’aly, the name Eli means "high" or "ascended." In the Old Testament, Eli was a high priest of the Israelites, who trained and gave guidance to the prophet Samuel. 
While the Biblical Eli suffered an unhappy end due to his sons’ misdeeds, his name hasn’t shared the same fate. Used since the 17th century, Eli has never been out of the US Top 1000. It has featured in the Top 100 for the last decade, and is currently popular in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands too. 
Eli is also used as a shortened form of Elijah, Elias, Eliezer, or even Elliot and in some Scandinavian countries, is it used as a feminine name, most often as a nickname for Elisabet or Elin. With its unisex potential and its longer forms ranking highly, Eli might feel more popular than it actually is. 
Notable namesakes include Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, Eli Long, a Civil War general, and Eli Roth, a film director, screenwriter, and actor. Enjoyed by the general public and celebrities alike, Eli has been chosen by CNN anchor Campbell Brown, SNL alum Rachel Dratch, and actor Kevin Weisman. 
Spirited but solid, no-fuss Eli is given to over 4000 boys each year, so you wouldn’t be alone in loving the name. If you don’t want your baby to have share however, you could consider other Biblical E names such as Eben, Elim, Enosh, or Eran, or perhaps other 3 letter gems, like Ira, Ari, Jem, Nye, or Ivo.

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The name Eli is currently ranked #104 in U.S. births. and peaked for boys at #43 in 2013. The name is most popular in North Dakota, Louisiana, and Louisiana. Eli is occasionally used for girls in 2025.

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Year	US rank	Births	Per million
2014	—	0	0
2015	—	0	0
2016	#4,368	33	18.6
2017	—	0	0
2018	#3,872	38	22.3
2019	#4,273	33	19.7
2020	#4,576	29	17.9
2021	#4,648	29	17.7
2022	#3,720	41	25
2023	#4,675	29	18.1
2024	#3,515	44	27.2
2025	#4,099	35	21.8

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