From Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-lɪ̃, see there for other Niger-Congo cognates. Within Yoruboid, cognate with Ifè mɛ́ɛrɛ̃, Igala ẹ̀lẹ̀, Itsekiri mẹ́ẹrẹn, and Olukumi mẹ́rẹ̀n. Proposed to be a distant doublet of erin, as they both are believed to be from the same root as Proto-Volta-Congo *-ni from earlier Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-nani.