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Ellie

♀ Girl

Pronounced EL-ee /ˈɛl.i/High

Meaning: Bright shining one; sun ray; from Greek HeleneHigh

In 30 seconds: A bright, friendly diminutive used for Eleanor, Elizabeth, Elena, and others, Ellie carries the shared meanings of those names — primarily 'bright shining one' — and has become hugely popular in its own right.
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Origin HighGreek, Hebrew
MeaningBright shining one; sun ray; from Greek Helene
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 59,206

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ellie functions as a pet form of several longer names, most commonly Eleanor (from Old French/Occitan), Ellen (from Greek Helene, meaning 'bright' or 'sun ray'), and Elizabeth (from Hebrew Elisheba, 'my God is an oath'). In each case, Ellie inherits the meaning of its parent name.

Long a friendly nickname, Ellie began to be registered as an independent given name in significant numbers from the 1990s, particularly in Britain. In the United States it entered the top 100 in the early 2010s and has climbed rapidly, entering the top 20 by the 2020s.

Did you know? Ellie is most often a nickname for Eleanor, Ellen, or Elizabeth, but has stood independently in the top 10 or top 20 in the UK and Australia since the 1990s, and is rapidly climbing in the United States.

Variations

ElliElleeEli

Nicknames

El

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ellie Goulding (1986–)
    British singer-songwriter and multiple award winner.

If you like Ellie…

Ella— closely related short form with the same -la/-lie ending warmth
Lily— shares the sweet, two-syllable soft appeal
Chloe— equally breezy, soft modern classic in the top 20
Grace— shares the simple, warm, one-breath classic quality
Nora— another gentle two-syllable vintage-revival name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ellie mean?

Ellie is most commonly a short form of Eleanor or Elizabeth, inheriting meanings like 'bright shining one' (from Greek Helene) or 'my God is an oath' (from Hebrew Elisheba).

How do you pronounce Ellie?

Ellie is said EL-ee /ˈɛl.i/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Ellie a boy or girl name?

Ellie is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Ellie?

Ellie has entered the U.S. top 20 girls' names as of the early 2020s, having long been a top-10 name in the United Kingdom and Australia.