Eli is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #133 in 2023 with 407 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2016 with 619 births ranking #105. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 1,212.9%. In 2023, approximately 1 in every 680 boys born was named Eli. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Eli is a compact Hebrew biblical name with more than one layer of meaning in tradition, including ideas of height and divine connection. Its simplicity has made it one of the strongest short biblical names in modern use.
The name appears directly in the Bible and also works as a short form for names like Elijah and Elias. That dual role has helped it become both ancient and very contemporary at once.