Eli
/ˈiːlaɪ/noun
A masculine given name, especially the biblical name of a priest and judge of Israel in the Book of Samuel.
Did you know?The Hebrew element אֵל (ʾEl), meaning “God,” appears in many biblical names, including Daniel, Gabriel, Michael, and Israel.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ʔil-
“God or deity; an ancient Semitic divine title”
2nd Millennium BCE
Northwest Semitic
ʾIl
“God, especially a high or chief deity”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
אֵל (ʾEl)
“God; a divine title”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
אֵלִי (ʾEli)
“My God; also used as the personal name Eli”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἠλί (Ēlí)
“Eli, the biblical personal name in Greek scripture”
Modern English
English
Eli
“A masculine given name derived from the biblical figure Eli”