From my studies, the name "
Eli" is masculine and of Hebrew origin. It is the name of a priest in the Hebrew scriptures (i.e., Old Testament, book of
Samuel). "
Eli" in Hebrew is translated "my god." You can also refer to the New Testament story of
Jesus on the cross, where, in
Matthew 27:46,
Jesus cries out: "
Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani?," which means (in related Aramaic, the form of the language spoken in
Jesus' day): "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". I find it rather impossible to believe that a name derived from "my God" is today supposed to mean "evil."