Eli

Though it can be a nickname for longer names like Elias and Elijah (and far less frequently-used names like Elihu, Eliezer, and Elisha), Eli is a short-and-sweet name all on its own. With roots in Hebrew and a meaning of "ascended" or "high", Eli is a Biblical name found in the Old Testament. In the Bible, Eli was a high priest who provided training and guidance to the prophet Samuel. We also find a different pronunciation used in Hebrew — EH-lee — and when the name is pronounced that way instead of EE-ly, it means "my God."

Eli has appeared in the top 1000 most popular baby boy names since the late 1800s. In 2012, Eli experienced its highest use so far, reaching #43 on the U.S. Social Security administration's baby name popularity charts. It has since declined a bit, but thanks to the trend of short and simple baby names, it's still firmly within the top 75.

Some notable Elis throughout history include Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin; actor Eli Wallach; football quarterback Eli Manning; and the Eli Young Band. There are also characters named Eli in several TV shows, including 'Boy Meets World', 'Veronica Mars', and 'The Good Wife'.

Eli in quotes:

"Eli, you're the only one who can save us." - Dr. Abby Arcane to Eli Morrow, in the TV show 'Swamp Thing'

"Eli, my son, the Lord has called you. He has chosen you to be a prophet to his people." - Eli to Samuel, in the Book of Samuel