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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ellery

Ellery

♀ Girl

Pronounced EL-er-ee /ˈɛl.ər.iː/Low

Meaning: Cheerful, joyful; possibly from elder tree or from HilaryLow

In 30 seconds: Ellery is a charming gender-neutral name with English roots, possibly related to the alder tree or derived from Hilary meaning cheerful. Known as the name of the fictional detective Ellery Queen, it has a clever, literary quality.
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Origin LowEnglish, Latin
MeaningCheerful, joyful; possibly from elder tree or from Hilary
U.S. rank (2025)#1208 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births188 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,744

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519592025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ellery is an English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or from the name Hilary (meaning cheerful). As a given name it has been used in New England since the colonial period. The pen name Ellery Queen, created in 1929, brought the name into popular culture.

Ellery has grown as a given name in recent years, particularly for girls, fitting the trend of literary, surname-style unisex names. Its three syllables and bright -ery ending give it a distinctive, appealing sound.

Did you know? Ellery Queen is both the pen name of the two American cousins who created a famous detective character AND the name of that fictional detective himself — a metafictional name simultaneously author and character.
Overall data confidence 60%
Behind the Name: Ellery

Variations

EllerieElleryEllerey

Nicknames

EllieElEll

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ellery Queen (fictional) (fictional)
    Fictional American detective created in 1929 by cousins Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee

If you like Ellery…

Emery— Same -ery ending unisex name
Audrey— Three-syllable name with same vintage feel
Hadley— Same two-syllable variant of same suffix family
Ellory— a fellow English choice
Emmery— another English name

Explore names like Ellery

By themeenglishunisexvintagethree-syllableliterarycheerful
By meaningJoy

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Ellery mean?

Ellery possibly means cheerful, related to Hilary, or refers to the alder or elder tree. Its exact etymology is debated.

Is Ellery a boy or girl name?

Ellery is a gender-neutral name used for both girls and boys in the United States.

How do you pronounce Ellery?

Ellery is pronounced EL-er-ee, with three syllables.

Who is Ellery Queen?

Ellery Queen is the name of both a famous fictional American detective and the pen name of the two cousins who created the character in 1929.

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