The first given-name etymology derives biblical Eli from Hebrew עֵלִי with this gloss. Separate English short-form uses of Elijah and Elisha have their own fuller-name histories; they are not assigned the same literal meaning. Biblical biography is separate from the gloss.
Origin
Hebrew biblical name; also an English short form of Elijah or Elisha.
The exact entry separates the biblical Hebrew name from clippings of male given names. It does not select one route for every modern bearer or infer religious identity.
English pronunciation
/ˈilaɪ/
Directly recorded English pronunciation of the exact given-name spelling. The exact English entry records this reading alongside biblical given-name use and short-form uses. Hebrew and other source-language readings are not inferred. The plain-text guide is approximate; a bearer’s preferred reading can differ. No audio reused.
Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.
Published name usage
Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.
Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
Place
Year
Recorded usage
Published births
Rank
Notes
Canada
2015
Girls
5
3286
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Canada
2025
Boys
370 · preliminary
75
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France
2025
Girls
5 (rounded to 5)
4342
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
France
2025
Boys
115 (rounded to 5)
413
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2024
Girls
4
4843
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2025
Boys
373
137
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Northern Ireland
2025
Boys
26
90
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland
2025
Boys
22
190
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Ireland
2025
Boys
23
207
Names below three occurrences are unpublished. Accent recording changed in 2018; comparisons across that boundary may not describe the same spelling coverage. Counts refer to registrations in the year. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States
2025
Girls
35
4067
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
United States
2025
Boys
3,418
104
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.
Sources & notes
Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.
Language of use: English
Checked against cited source
The exact English entry explicitly documents given-name use; this is distinct from linguistic origin, nationality and ancestry. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Meaning: Ascent in the biblical name route.
Checked against cited source
The first given-name etymology derives biblical Eli from Hebrew עֵלִי with this gloss. Separate English short-form uses of Elijah and Elisha have their own fuller-name histories; they are not assigned the same literal meaning. Biblical biography is separate from the gloss. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Short form of: Elijah
Checked against cited source
The exact Eli entry explicitly lists a clipping of this male given name. This short-form relationship is separate from independent biblical Eli; the fuller name’s meaning is not transferred. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Short form of: Elisha
Checked against cited source
The exact Eli entry explicitly lists a clipping of this male given name. This short-form relationship is separate from independent biblical Eli; the fuller name’s meaning is not transferred. This concerns the male name, not the separate Alicia-related feminine tradition. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin: Hebrew biblical name; also an English short form of Elijah or Elisha.
Checked against cited source
The exact entry separates the biblical Hebrew name from clippings of male given names. It does not select one route for every modern bearer or infer religious identity. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
English pronunciation: /ˈilaɪ/
Checked against cited source
Directly recorded English pronunciation of the exact given-name spelling. The exact English entry records this reading alongside biblical given-name use and short-form uses. Hebrew and other source-language readings are not inferred. The plain-text guide is approximate; a bearer’s preferred reading can differ. No audio reused. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Supporting evidence: Wiktionary: Eli’s biblical and short-form routes
Checked against cited source
The exact entry distinguishes a Hebrew biblical given name, a Yale-related common noun and male-name clippings. Only the given-name routes are summarized; the existing English pronunciation remains unchanged. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Syllables: 2 (this documented English reading)
Checked against cited source
Count applies to the cited English reading(s) only, not to every language or personal reading. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
License: Statistics Canada Open Licence
Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
Credit: Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
License: CC BY 4.0
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: joined the published count and rank indicators and matched unambiguous existing spellings. Source values retained.
Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.