Eli is a Hebrew name that means "my God." It is derived from the Hebrew word 'El,' which means "God." The name Eli has been used throughout history in various cultures and languages, but it remains most commonly associated with Judaism.
The name Eli first appears in the Bible, where it is the name of several characters. One of the most well-known is Eli, the High Priest who took care of young Samuel, eventually becoming a prophet. This story can be found in the Book of Samuel in the Old Testament. The name Eli has also been used as a shortened form of Elias or Elijah.
In recent years, Eli has become increasingly popular as a given name for boys in English-speaking countries. It is often chosen because of its strong and meaningful Hebrew origin, and it has been used by celebrities such as Eli Manning, a famous American football quarterback, and Eli Roth, an actor and film director.
Overall, the name Eli carries a deep and significant meaning rooted in its Hebrew origins while also being accessible and approachable due to its widespread use across different cultures and languages.
The name Eli has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century in the United States. Between 1916 and 2023, there have been a total of 932 births registered with the name Eli.
In the early years of the dataset, from 1916 to 1986, the number of births with the name Eli varied between 5 and 11 per year. However, starting from 1987, there was a notable rise in its popularity, with more than 10 births each year until 2003.
The year 2004 marked a significant turning point for the name Eli's popularity. There were 42 births that year, making it the highest number of Eli births recorded in the dataset so far. This trend continued throughout the early 2000s and into the 2010s.
From 2006 onwards, the number of Eli births each year has consistently been above 20, with peaks in 2011 (39 births), 2018 (38 births), and most recently, 2022 (41 births). This demonstrates a sustained increase in the popularity of the name Eli over time.
In conclusion, while the number of Eli births varied throughout much of the 20th century, the name has seen a significant rise in popularity since the late 1980s. This trend continues into the 21st century, with Eli being one of the more popular names in recent years.