unisex name · in the US
Ellison
EL-ih-sun (English)
- Origin English
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 9,233
Ellison is a unisex name in the United States, with 3 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 63% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 326 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Ellison is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 2021, when 424 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 10,170 babies in the United States is given this name.
- Ellison started out as a boys' name and is now given almost entirely to girls.
- First appears in US birth records in 1881.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Ellison 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 | 19 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 39 |
| 1910s | 172 |
| 1920s | 216 |
| 1930s | 160 |
| 1940s | 187 |
| 1950s | 154 |
| 1960s | 144 |
| 1970s | 155 |
| 1980s | 219 |
| 1990s | 375 |
| 2000s | 1,337 |
| 2010s | 3,412 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,069 |
How Popular Is Ellison?
In 2025, Ellison was given to 326 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Ellison 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 Ellison
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Ellison Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Ellison over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Ellison 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 75% girls · 3,607 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 5% girls · 171 babies
- Canada Both 60% girls · 91 babies
How to Say Ellison
- English EL-ih-sun
Sibling Names for Ellison
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Ellison — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Ellison
How popular is the name Ellison?
In 2025, Ellison was given to 326 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Ellison a girl's or a boy's name?
Ellison is used for both girls and boys. About 63% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Ellison?
Ellison has 3 syllables.
When was Ellison most popular?
Ellison peaked in 2021, when 424 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Ellison a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Ellison currently ranks #1,066 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.
Was Ellison originally a boys' or girls' name?
Ellison was given mostly to boys in the earliest US birth records and is now given almost entirely to girls.