unisex name · in the US
Ely
ay-LEE (French)
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 3
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 7,973
France
#736
2025 births
Ely is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 19% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 65 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in 2009, when 175 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 51,007 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Ely 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 | 42 |
| 1890s | 43 |
| 1900s | 34 |
| 1910s | 192 |
| 1920s | 170 |
| 1930s | 90 |
| 1940s | 84 |
| 1950s | 84 |
| 1960s | 74 |
| 1970s | 235 |
| 1980s | 364 |
| 1990s | 559 |
| 2000s | 1,397 |
| 2010s | 1,307 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 412 |
How Popular Is Ely?
In 2025, Ely was given to 65 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Ely 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.
How Ely Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Ély | Ély is a rare spelling of Ely, written with an acute accent and recorded about 170 times, mostly in France. | 170 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Ely
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Ely Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Ely over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Ely 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.
- France Both 32% girls · 930 babies
- United States Both 29% girls · 832 babies
- Canada Both 18% girls · 333 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 61 babies
How to Say Ely
- French ay-LEE
Sibling Names for Ely
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Ely — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Ely
How popular is the name Ely?
In 2025, Ely was given to 65 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Ely a girl's or a boy's name?
Ely is used for both girls and boys. About 19% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Ely?
Ely has 2 syllables.
When was Ely most popular?
Ely peaked in 2009, when 175 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Ely a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Ely currently ranks #736 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.