Best 100 Middle Names For Eli in 2023
The name Eli came over with the colonization of America and has maintained a position on the Top 1000 list for over 120 years. This biblical name has become a favorite of parents and it’s easy to see why.
If you’re considering naming your son Eli, we’ve compiled a list of the best middle names for Eli below.
Meaning of the Name Eli
Eli has two different meanings that both originate from the Hebrew Bible.
Eli comes from the biblical word עֵלִי meaning “ascent” or “ascension.”
Eli is also an abbreviation or nickname for Hebrew names such as Elijah, Elisha, Eliezer, etc. All these names contain the element אלי meaning “my God.”
Origin | Hebrew |
Pronunciation | ee-lie |
Best Middle Names for Eli
Whether you’re looking for a biblical middle name to match or something more modern, we’ve put together our favorites here.
- Eli Alastair
- Eli Alexander
- Eli Anderson
- Eli Archer
- Eli Asher
- Eli Atticus
- Eli Austin
- Eli Beckett
- Eli Benjamin
- Eli Bennett
- Eli Bradley
- Eli Brooks
- Eli Caleb
- Eli Cameron
- Eli Carl
- Eli Carson
- Eli Carter
- Eli Charles
- Eli Chase
- Eli Christopher
- Eli Clark
- Eli Clay
- Eli Cole
- Eli Conner
- Eli Conrad
- Eli David
- Eli Dean
- Eli Declan
- Eli Dexter
- Eli Dominic
- Eli Donovan
- Eli Douglas
- Eli Edward
- Eli Emmett
- Eli Everett
- Eli Finnigan
- Eli Flynn
- Eli Frederick
- Eli Gabriel
- Eli Garrett
- Eli Gideon
- Eli Grant
- Eli Grayson
- Eli Gregory
- Eli Harrison
- Eli Heath
- Eli Henry
- Eli Hudson
- Eli Hunter
- Eli Jackson
- Eli Jacob
- Eli James
- Eli Jameson
- Eli Jason
- Eli Jasper
- Eli Joel
- Eli Jonathan
- Eli Jordan
- Eli Joseph
- Eli Jude
- Eli Kevin
- Eli Lawrence
- Eli Leonardo
- Eli Louis
- Eli Lucas
- Eli Malcolm
- Eli Marcus
- Eli Mason
- Eli Matthew
- Eli Maxwell
- Eli Michael
- Eli Miles
- Eli Morgan
- Eli Nathaniel
- Eli Parker
- Eli Phillip
- Eli Phineas
- Eli Preston
- Eli Richard
- Eli Robert
- Eli Ronan
- Eli Sawyer
- Eli Sebastian
- Eli Simon
- Eli Solomon
- Eli Soren
- Eli Tanner
- Eli Taylor
- Eli Theodore
- Eli Thomas
- Eli Tobias
- Eli Tristan
- Eli Victor
- Eli Vincent
- Eli Walter
- Eli Wesley
- Eli William
- Eli Xavier
- Eli Zachary
- Eli Zane
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How To Pick a Middle Name
Do You Need A Middle Name?
In short, no. You do not need to give your child a middle name. You can choose to only give your child a first name and last name. There are no laws or requirements in regard to middle names.
However, according to research in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using middle initials in your name increases people’s perception of your intelligence.
Providing your child with a middle name will help differentiate them from others who share their same name. It also gives them a second option. Some children choose to go by their middle names instead of their first names as they grow older.
We all know how important it is to find the perfect name for our children. But did you know that in some cultures, middle names can be used as a way to give your child an additional identity? A new connection with their family history or heritage.
Here we will explore the things you should consider when giving your children a middle name!
Family Names
A child’s middle name is a great way to honor a beloved family member. It could be someone who has passed or a living family member who means a lot to the parents. Middle names don’t need to be gender-specific, so this could be a good place to include male or female family members.
Some parents like to include family surnames, such as the mother’s maiden name, as a middle name. This allows both sides of the family to pass down their name to the child. Any name that is meaningful to the family can make a nice middle name.
Flow and Initials
Probably the most important thing parents think of when choosing their child’s name is how it all sounds together. The first, middle, and last name should flow nicely together.
Many popular middle names are short, one or two syllable names because they pair well with most first names.
If family members speak another language or have an accent, take into consideration how everyone will be pronouncing the names when determining how they fit together
Monograms are popular in Southern culture, but it is still helpful to consider your child’s initials regardless of where you live.
Monograms for women are typically in the order of first name initial, large last name initial, and then middle name initial.
For men, the initials are usually in order of first, middle, and then last name. Avoid spelling out unfortunate words with the initials.
Middle names and their initials can also be used for nicknames. For example, Mary Elizabeth can be shortened to Mary Beth. Or, Elizabeth Zoe can be shortened to the initials E. Z. As a nickname.
If you just can’t narrow it down to a first name and a middle name, you can always include multiple middle names. In the United States, most people only have one middle name, but it is common around the world to have two or more.
It is recommended not to add too many middle names though. Most paperwork only leaves a spot for a single middle name or initial and multiple names can lead to confusion.
Special Meanings
A child’s middle name is a great way to pay homage to anything that holds special meaning to the parents. Some inspiration for names includes:
- Influential people in your life
- Characters from books, movies, or television
- Locations that hold memories
- Languages that are important to the family
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First Name for Middle Name Eli
If you’re considering Eli as a middle name, we’ve compiled together some great first name options here.
- Abraham Eli
- Adrien Eli
- Alexander Eli
- Anderson Eli
- Andrew Eli
- Benjamin Eli
- Bennett Eli
- Callahan Eli
- Carter Eli
- Chandler Eli
- Christopher Eli
- David Eli
- Dominic Eli
- Donovan Eli
- Edward Eli
- Emmett Eli
- Everett Eli
- Francis Eli
- Gideon Eli
- Graham Eli
- Harrison Eli
- Henry Eli
- Jacob Eli
- James Eli
- Jameson Eli
- Jaxon Eli
- Jeremiah Eli
- Jonathan Eli
- Joshua Eli
- Judas Eli
- Kyle Eli
- Landon Eli
- Langston Eli
- Lawrence Eli
- Leger Eli
- Lennox Eli
- Matthew Eli
- Micah Eli
- Michael Eli
- Nicholas Eli
- Noah Eli
- Nolan Eli
- Norman Eli
- Orion Eli
- Parker Eli
- Paxton Eli
- Peyton Eli
- Philip Eli
- Phoenix Eli
- Raymond Eli
- Richard Eli
- Robert Eli
- Ronan Eli
- Samuel Eli
- Sawyer Eli
- Sebastian Eli
- Solomon Eli
- Thomas Eli
- Timothy Eli
- Travis Eli
- Vaughn Eli
- Victor Eli
- Vincent Eli
- Weston Eli
- Zachary Eli
Nicknames for Eli
- E
- El
- Lee
- Li
Variations of Eli
- Eeli
- Elie
- Ely
- Heli
Names Similar to Eli
- Abel
- Aiden
- Asher
- Beau
- Benjamin
- Bodhi
- Caiden
- Caleb
- Clyde
- Damon
- David
- Elias
- Elijah
- Elliot
- Ethan
- Ezra
- Finn
- Gage
- Graham
- Henri
- Isaac
- Isaiah
- Jacob
- Jonah
- Keagan
- Kellen
- Korbin
- Leo
- Levi
- Liam
- Micah
- Milo
- Noah
- Oliver
- Owen
- Palmer
- Payson
- Remy
- River
- Samuel
- Silas
- Soren
- Tobias
- William
- Wyatt
Sibling Boy Names that go with Eli
- Eli and Asher
- Eli and Beckett
- Eli and Cameron
- Eli and Dean
- Eli and Emmett
- Eli and Ethan
- Eli and Everett
- Eli and Flynn
- Eli and Gabriel
- Eli and Henry
- Eli and Isaac
- Eli and Isaiah
- Eli and Liam
- Eli and Louis
- Eli and Micah
- Eli and Nathaniel
- Eli and Nolan
- Eli and Owen
- Eli and Ronan
- Eli and Silas
- Eli and Simon
- Eli and Spencer
- Eli and Tobias
- Eli and Wesley
- Eli and Zachary
Sibling Girl Names that go with Eli
- Eli and Alexandra
- Eli and Alice
- Eli and Ava
- Eli and Beatrice
- Eli and Clara
- Eli and Dahlia
- Eli and Daisy
- Eli and Emma
- Eli and Esther
- Eli and Gemma
- Eli and Hazel
- Eli and Indie
- Eli and Ivy
- Eli and June
- Eli and Lucy
- Eli and Lydia
- Eli and Molly
- Eli and Naomi
- Eli and Olivia
- Eli and Phoebe
- Eli and Ruby
- Eli and Sadie
- Eli and Slyvie
- Eli and Sophie
- Eli and Zoe
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History of the Name Eli
In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament, Eli is a high priest of the Israelites. Eli gave Samuel guidance when God spoke to him. Due to the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.
El is also the name of a Semitic deity that is used in the Bible as a name for the god of Israelites. The suffix for the genitive form “mine” is -i.
Eli is used as a short form for Hebrew names such as Elijah, Elisa, Elliot, Eliezer, etc., and for feminine names like Elizabeth and Eliana. Eli and Elin are also short forms of the feminine name Helena used in Scandinavia.
Eli became a common English Christian given name after the Protestant Reformation. The Puritans took the name with them to the American colonies.
In the United States, Eli was a popular name in the late 19th century. According to the Social Security Database, the name slowly began to decline on the charts in the early 1900s. Eli reached its lowest point on the popular chart in 1964 when it ranked as the 705th most popular boy’s name.
Eli began to climb back up the charts in 1965. By 2008 it had jumped into a top 100 boy’s name position. Thus far, 2012 and 2013 have been the best years for the name Eli ranking in the 43rd spot.
A contributor to the name’s popularity came from American football quarterback Eli Manning. Selected during the 2004 NFL Draft he has been recognized as a two time super bowl MVP. His first Super Bowl championship win was in 2007, just before the name Eli became a top 100 boy’s name in 2008.
As of 2021, Eli ranks as the 64th most popular boy’s name in the United States.
The alternative spelling version, Elie, appeared on the baby naming charts from 1900 to 1901, 1903, 1905-1906, 1908, and finally in 1911 before completely falling off the charts.
Another alternative spelling version, Ely, only appeared once on the baby naming charts in 1901 ranking in the 983rd spot.
Famous People with the Name Eli
Eli Derschwitz | U.S. Olympic saber fencer |
Eli Gorenstein | Israeli voice actor for the films The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid to name a few |
Eli Lilly | American soldier, pharmaceutical chemist, and industrialist, founder of Eli Lilly and Company |
Eli Long | General in the Union Army in the American Civil War |
Eli Manning | American football player and 2 time super bowl MVP |
Eli Roth | American film director who directed the films Cabin Fever and Hostel |
Eli Terry | Inventor and clockmaker who introduced mass production to the art of clockmaking |
Eli Wallach | American film, television and stage actor in the films The Misfits, The Godfather Part III, and Wall Street: Money never Sleeps to name a few |
Eli Whitney | American inventor of the cotton gin |
Elihu “Eli” Yale | Benefactor of Yale University, also known as “Eli Yale” |
Fictional Characters Named Eli
Eli | a character on the television series Freaks and Geeks |
Eli | a character on the television series Xena: Warrior Princess |
Eli Dingle | a character on the British soap opera Emmerdale |
Eli Gold | a character on the television series The Good Wife |
Eli Loker | a character on the television series Lie to Me |
Eli Mills | a character from the film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom |
Eli Stone | a character on the television show Eli Stone |
Elias “Eli” Thompson | a character on the television series Boardwalk Empire |
Eli Wallace | a character on the serial drama Stargate Universe |
Eli Vanto | a character in the Star Wars franchise Thrawn novels |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name Eli short for?
Eli is a shortened version of many names such as Elijah, Elias, Elliot, Eliah, Ellis, Eliezer, Eliseo, Eliam, Ellison, Elio, Elizabeth and Eliana. Eli is also a short form of the feminine Scandinavia name Helena.
Is Eli a biblical name?
Yes. Eli appears in the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament as a high priest of the Israelites. There is also a form of Eli as El which is the name of a Semitic deity used in the Bible as a name for the god of Israelites.
Is Eli a popular name?
Eli has been a given name in the United States since the days of colonization. It began to climb up the charts in the mid-1960s and reached a top 100 boy’s name ranking in 2008. Eli currently ranks as the 60th most popular boy’s name in America.
Final Thoughts on Middle Names for Eli
If you’re looking for a charming biblical name that has a familiar feel, Eli might be the perfect name for you. This sweet name would be a great compliment for your baby boy.
We hope our list of middle names has been useful in your search for the best baby name!
MORE MIDDLE NAME IDEAS
Now that you’ve seen all the middle name ideas for Eli, you might want to check out some middle name ideas for these similar names!
- Middle Names for Elias
- Middle Names for Ezra
- Middle Names for Finn
- Middle Names for Micah
- Middle Names for Noah
- Middle Names for Oliver
If you’re looking for more middle name ideas, you can find all our lists in our Middle Names section.
For more baby name ideas and inspiration head over to our Baby Names section.
Krissy lives in California with her family of three that make up “The Hadicks.” With a passion for research and helping others, The Hadicks was developed as a resource for other parents and parents-to-be!