Ili as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ili

What is the meaning of the name Ili ?

The baby name Ili is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced EE-lee (/ˈiːli/),IH-lee (/ˈɪli/).

Ili is Hawaiian, Hebrew, Polynesian, Slavic in Origin.

Ili is a compact, cross‑linguistic diminutive used as both a given name and nickname. In Slavic, Greek, and Romanian contexts, it shortens Ilia/Ilija/Ilya/Ilias/Ilie - local forms of the Biblical prophet Elijah (Hebrew Eliyahu), whose theophoric meaning is “my God is YHWH.” Through these routes, Ili inherits a long devotional history in Eastern Christian calendars and across Russian and Balkan naming traditions.

Another pathway stems from Ileana/Iliana, ultimately tied to Greek Helene, yielding the sense “torch” or “light.” Contemporary records show occasional standalone use from the late 20th century onward, favored for its sleek, vowel-led shape and easy international sound. Variants and related forms include Eli, Elie, Ilia, Ilya, Ilija, Ilias, Ilie, Ilian, Iliana, and Ileana; diminutive spellings such as Illy also appear. Overall, Ili functions as a unisex choice whose meaning depends on whether it derives from Elijah or from the Helen/Elena family.