Find out how popular the first name Elai has been for the last 22 years (from 2002 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Elai by gender

Based on the last 22 years of data, Elai is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Elai.

The history of the first name Elai

The name Elai has its roots in ancient Hebrew, originating from the biblical Hebrew name Eli, which means "my God" or "lofty one." This name was particularly popular among Jewish communities in the Middle East and Europe during ancient and medieval times.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Elai can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is mentioned as the name of a priest who served in the sanctuary at Shiloh during the time of the Judges. The book of 1 Samuel also mentions Eli, a high priest and judge of Israel, who raised the young prophet Samuel.

In the realm of religious texts, the name Elai is also found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions several individuals with this name, including Elai ben Delai, a renowned scholar and sage who lived in the 3rd century CE.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Elai. One of the earliest recorded was Elai ben Berachel, a Jewish scholar and poet who lived in the 11th century CE in Spain. He was known for his contributions to the field of Hebrew poetry and linguistics.

Another prominent figure was Elai ben Isaac, a 13th-century Jewish philosopher and poet from Provence, France. He was a prolific writer and contributed to the development of Jewish thought and literature during the Middle Ages.

In the realm of religious leadership, Elai ben Shemaiah was a prominent Jewish leader and scholar who lived in the 2nd century BCE. He was a member of the Great Assembly, a council of Jewish sages responsible for preserving and interpreting Jewish law and tradition.

Moving to more recent times, Elai Katz (1896-1979) was a prominent Israeli educator and writer. He was one of the founders of the religious Zionist movement and played a significant role in the establishment of religious educational institutions in Israel.

Another notable figure was Elai Inbal (1936-2020), an Israeli composer and conductor. He was renowned for his compositions for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and vocal works, and he served as the principal conductor of several prominent Israeli orchestras.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elai, please contact us.

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