The crossword solutions for the term 'Lilly or Whitney' are ELI. ELI is a unisex name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'ASCENDED' or 'HIGH'. It is also a shortened form of Elijah, which means 'Yahweh is God'. The name is most commonly associated with ELI Whitney, an American inventor who is best known for inventing the cotton gin. Lilly is a feminine name of English origin, meaning 'lily flower'. It is also a shortened form of Elizabeth, which means 'God is my oath'.