Given name
Esli
“reserved”·“approximation of Yah”
Esli is used as a given name.
Original GreekΕσλι
Meaning & origin
What it means
As a biblical name, Esli is thought to mean “reserved” or “approximation of Yah.”
From biblical name research
Where it comes from
Esli is a biblical name, probably from Greek.
From biblical name research
How it developed
Possibly from the Hebrew verb 'asal (אצל), “to approximate, and possibly.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1987. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Esli appears in Luke 3:25.
From biblical name research
Esli through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 619
- 150 boys · 469 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 34 babies
- 2025
- 34
- #4,210 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +145%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 34 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,210 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 76.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 720 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Esli’s family of names
Esli may belong to the same name family as ESSLI. This is a tentative spelling connection.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Esli, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Solaris
“of the sun”
50% boys · 50% girls
Shiloh
“one who is peaceful; abundant” · “he who was sent”
42% boys · 58% girls
Oracle
“one who provides divine messages”
41% boys · 59% girls
Yuriah
49% boys · 51% girls
Rumi
40% boys · 60% girls
Aiman
45% boys · 55% girls
Bellamy
“a handsome friend”
49% boys · 51% girls
Sevyn
“the seventh-born child” · “refers to the number; the seventh-born child”
37% boys · 63% girls