Eli
Boy name · #104 in 2025 · Uniqueness 53/100
Eli is currently the #104 boy name in the United States — 3,418 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #53, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 527 boys born in 2025 was named Eli.
Babies named Eli per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Eli first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 73 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 8,079 boys were named Eli — good for #43 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Eli against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Eli in class?
Eli scores 53 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Eli is most common
Geography matters for names, and Eli is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elis were TX (363), CA (340), NY (248), FL (221), PA (138). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Eli
Statistically, parents drawn to Eli tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jace, Easton, Kai, Jude, and Jaxon.
JaceEastonKaiJudeJaxonRyderParkerColton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Eli | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,418 | #104 |
| 2024 | 3,742 | #92 |
| 2023 | 4,111 | #79 |
| 2022 | 4,704 | #69 |
| 2021 | 4,913 | #64 |
| 2020 | 5,281 | #60 |
| 2019 | 5,539 | #62 |
| 2018 | 6,094 | #57 |
| 2017 | 6,637 | #54 |
| 2016 | 7,132 | #50 |
| 2015 | 7,163 | #53 |
| 2014 | 7,513 | #49 |
| 2013 | 7,952 | #43 |
| 2012 | 8,079 | #43 |
| 2011 | 7,220 | #58 |
| 2010 | 6,571 | #65 |
| 2009 | 4,923 | #90 |
| 2008 | 4,526 | #99 |
| 2007 | 3,253 | #129 |
| 2006 | 2,997 | #136 |
| 2005 | 2,699 | #152 |
| 2004 | 2,557 | #156 |
| 2003 | 1,995 | #190 |
| 2002 | 1,953 | #193 |
| 2001 | 1,644 | #213 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eli a popular boy name?
Eli ranked #104 among boys in 2025 with 3,418 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #53.
When was the name Eli most popular?
Eli peaked in 2012, when 8,079 American boys received the name (ranked #43 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Eli?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 527 newborn American boys was named Eli. It scores 53/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.