Eli

Eli is a Hebrew name traditionally meaning “high” or “ascended.” It is a complete biblical name: in the Hebrew Bible, Eli is the priest who guides the young Samuel. That identity is separate from Eli’s use as a short form of longer names such as Elijah or Elias.

This distinction helps when choosing a formal name. A child can simply be Eli, or a family can choose a longer name with a different meaning and use Eli day to day. The usual English pronunciation is EE-ly, with two syllables despite its three letters. Inventor Eli Whitney is a familiar historical bearer. Ely is an alternative spelling, but Eli preserves the customary English spelling of the biblical name and avoids some of the different associations of Ely.