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Ellis

♂ Boy

Pronounced EL-is /ˈɛlɪs/High

Meaning: My God is the Lord; Jehovah is my GodHigh

In 30 seconds: A sleek Welsh form of Elijah meaning 'my God is the Lord.' Ellis has the gentle confidence of a classic without its baggage — at once literary, surname-cool, and quietly distinguished.
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Origin HighWelsh, Hebrew
MeaningMy God is the Lord; Jehovah is my God
U.S. rank (2025)#243 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,417 boys (0.08% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 50,405

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

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

History & Origin

Ellis is the anglicised Welsh form of Elias, which is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew Elijah (אֵלִיָּהוּ), meaning 'my God is Yahweh' or 'Jehovah is my God.' The name was popular in medieval Wales, where Welsh forms of biblical names were widely adopted after Christianisation.

As a surname, Ellis was widespread in Britain and became a common given name in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 21st century it has gained fresh appeal as a smooth, literary-feeling choice — uncluttered and contemporary — ranking in the U.S. top 200 for boys.

Did you know? Ellis Island, the famous U.S. immigration station in New York Harbor, was named after merchant Samuel Ellis, who owned the island in the 1770s — giving the name an enduring association with the American immigrant experience.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Ellis — etymology and Welsh historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

EliasElijahElis

Nicknames

ElEli

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ellis Island (1892–1954)
    Historic U.S. immigration station in New York Harbor, through which over 12 million immigrants passed.

If you like Ellis…

Elliot— shares the same -el biblical root and the same polished, literary feel
Emery— smooth two-syllable surname name in the same modern-classic register
Arlo— short literary name with the same understated cool
Felix— two-syllable classical name with the same gentle strength and intellectual charm

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ellis mean?

Ellis is a Welsh form of Elias, meaning 'my God is Yahweh' or 'Jehovah is my God,' from the Hebrew Elijah.

How do you pronounce Ellis?

It is said EL-is /ˈɛlɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ellis a boy or girl name?

Ellis is used predominantly as a boys' name but is also given to girls.

How popular is Ellis?

Ellis ranked in the U.S. top 200 for boys in the mid-2020s and continues to rise.