unisex name · in the US
Ellis
EL-iss (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 83,774
the United States
#243
2025 births
Ellis is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "the Lord is my God." It is the medieval English form of Elijah, which became a surname and then returned to first-name use — and in Wales it also renders the separate name Elisedd.
- Ellis is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 1,832 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 1,810 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Ellis Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 748 |
| 1890s | 921 |
| 1900s | 1,144 |
| 1910s | 4,565 |
| 1920s | 6,302 |
| 1930s | 4,611 |
| 1940s | 4,741 |
| 1950s | 4,076 |
| 1960s | 2,658 |
| 1970s | 1,693 |
| 1980s | 1,586 |
| 1990s | 2,083 |
| 2000s | 3,110 |
| 2010s | 9,865 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 9,628 |
What Ellis Means
Ellis means the Lord is my God, inherited from Elijah. The Hebrew Eliyahu is a statement of allegiance, made at a time when which god one served was a live question.
Where Ellis Comes From
Ellis descends from Elias, the Greek and medieval Latin form of the Hebrew Eliyahu — eli, my God, and yahu, the divine name. Medieval English speakers wore Elias down to Elis, which became a hereditary surname and later returned as a given name. In Wales the name has a separate root: Elisedd, from elus meaning kind or benevolent, borne by ninth-century princes of Powys and commemorated on the Pillar of Eliseg. The two converged in spelling, which is why sources give both the Lord is my God and kind.
Ellis in Use
Birth records record Ellis for both sexes and shows it peaking in 2025 — still climbing — at 92 in England and Wales. It first appears in birth records in 1880. Its use for girls has grown faster than for boys in recent years, following Ellie and Elsie rather than the male surname tradition.
How Popular Is Ellis?
In 2025, Ellis was given to 1,832 babies in the United States, ranking #243 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Ellis Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Ellis
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Ellis Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Ellis over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Ellis is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 27% girls · 15,242 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 4% girls · 6,992 babies
- Canada Both 22% girls · 1,386 babies
- Scotland Both 29% girls · 752 babies
- Ireland Both 22% girls · 164 babies
- Northern Ireland Both 12% girls · 107 babies
- France Both 14% girls · 105 babies
How to Say Ellis
- English EL-iss /ˈɛlɪs/
1 nickname for Ellis
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Ellis in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Ellis
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Ellis — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Ellis
What does the name Ellis mean?
Ellis means "the Lord is my God," from the Hebrew Eliyahu by way of Elias.
Is Ellis a Welsh name?
Partly. A separate Welsh name, Elisedd, meaning kind, converged with the Hebrew-derived Ellis in spelling.
Is Ellis a boy's or a girl's name?
Both. It is recorded as unisex, and its use for girls has grown faster in recent years.
How popular is the name Ellis?
In 2025, Ellis was given to 1,832 babies in the United States, ranking #243 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Ellis?
Ellis has 2 syllables.
When was Ellis most popular?
Ellis peaked in 2025, when 1,832 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Ellis?
Ellis is usually shortened to El.
Is Ellis a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Ellis currently ranks #92 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.