Eli
Eli comes from the Hebrew "Eli," meaning ascended, uplifted, or "high." In the Hebrew Bible, Eli was the high priest who mentored the young Samuel — the boy who heard God's voice in the night. Eli is also a common prefix in Hebrew names (Elijah, Elisha, Eliezer). Eli has been in the US top 1000 most years since 1880, with a dramatic surge in the 2010s. It entered the top 50 in 2016 and continues to climb. Eli Whitney (1765-1825), the American inventor of the cotton gin (1793) and pioneer of interchangeable parts, is the most famous American bearer. Eli (the character Eli in the 2010 film "The Book of Eli") gave the name a contemporary charge. I find Eli has a brisk, slightly biblical quality — the single syllable is direct, and the "E" opening is open. The "l" ending gives it softness. Eli is one of the most successful short biblical revivals of the 21st century. Eli is a male name of Hebrew origin that means "Ascended, uplifted". Brisk, biblical, and modern. The name sounds direct. Elis tend to be capable. US top 50 since 2016. Rising. Well-known people named Eli include Eli Whitney (inventor), Eli (biblical priest), Eli (Hebrew name), Eli (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Eli include Ely (variant), Elie (French), Eliyahu (Hebrew full), Elia (Italian).