Elijah is top pick on our name list right now. We plan on calling him Eli all the time; if it were up to me I would just name him Eli but DH wants Elijah as a more formal name.
Eli 100% IS a stand alone name. There is no "it can be/it can't be." It IS. It's sometimes used as a NN for longer names that contain "Eli" in them, but Eli itself has its own etymology. Biblically speaking, he's a completely different person from Elijah. From Behind the Name:
Means "ascension" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is the high priest of Israel and the teacher of Samuel. In England, Eli has been used as a Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation.
Thanks everyone! I have never met an Eli before. I did not realize it was so popular! Still love it though!
If you love it, use it.
FYI---here's where it ranks with the SSA on popularity
Popularity of the male name Eli
Year of birth
Rank
2012
44
2011
58
2010
65
2009
90
2008
99
2007
130
2006
136
2005
152
2004
160
2003
191
2002
197
2001
214
2000
235
Note: Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth. Name data are from Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.
Eli and Elijah have very different "feels" to me so go with what vibe you like. I also like Elliot with nn Eli but that could be more of a stretch...Elias is a cool suggestion too.
I prefer a longer name - Elijah, Elias, Elisha. But Eli is a nice name. He might get a lot of, "is your full name Elijah?" but that's a pretty simple answer. I know a Connie and a Cathy who both get a lot of "is your full name ___." Nope.
Re: Eli?
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I like Eli and prefer it to Elijah. I think it stands on its own.
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
Eli can be a nn for Elijah, but it's actually a name on its own.
https://www.behindthename.com/names/search.php?nmd=n&terms=eli
Eli 100% IS a stand alone name. There is no "it can be/it can't be." It IS. It's sometimes used as a NN for longer names that contain "Eli" in them, but Eli itself has its own etymology. Biblically speaking, he's a completely different person from Elijah. From Behind the Name:
N '13 November Siggy Challenge- Baby Pictures
If you love it, use it.
FYI---here's where it ranks with the SSA on popularity
BFP #2 11/6/13 - EDD 7/14/14 - blighted ovum discovered @ 7w - natural m/c @ 10w3d
BFP #3 5/25/14 - EDD 2/1/15 - Hoping this is our 2nd little owl
A/S findings: Baby is a girl! EIF found on heart
but maternit21 came back neg for chromosome disorders!!
40/112