Ellis

♀ Girl

Pronounced EL-is /ˈɛl.ɪs/High

Meaning: Welsh form of Elijah / Eliseus; from Hebrew Eliyahu meaning 'my God is Yahweh'High

In 30 seconds: A Welsh form of Elijah, meaning 'my God is Yahweh,' long used as a surname in England and Wales. It has joined the growing list of surname names trending for girls, with a crisp, literary feel.

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Origin HighWelsh, English

MeaningWelsh form of Elijah / Eliseus; from Hebrew Eliyahu meaning 'my God is Yahweh'

U.S. rank (2025)#682 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births415 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 7,328

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Ellis is the Welsh and English surname form of the medieval given name Eliseus or Elias (the Latin/Greek form of the Hebrew Eliyahu, meaning 'my God is Yahweh'). It was common as a given name in medieval Wales and England and became a hereditary surname by the 15th century.

As a first name for girls, Ellis began appearing in the U.S. from the 2010s onward, carried by the wave of Welsh and English surname names. By 2024 it ranked #697 for girls — valued for its soft sound, single syllable feel (despite technically being two syllables), and strong association with Ellis Island.

Did you know? Ellis Island — the famous immigration gateway in New York Harbor — takes its name from Samuel Ellis, an 18th-century merchant who owned the island, giving the name a profound American resonance.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Ellis — Welsh etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Elis

Nicknames

ElEllie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ellis…

Elliot— El- surname name in the same space with a similar Welsh/English feel

Eloise— El- name with the same vintage gentle character

Hollis— crisp two-syllable surname name popular for girls

Maisie— two-syllable vintage name with a similar gentle sound

Alice— classic two-syllable name sharing the same clean vowel-open feel

Explore names like Ellis

By themehebrew unisex surname-style literary welsh

By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ellis mean?

Ellis is a Welsh and English surname form of Elijah, meaning 'my God is Yahweh,' from Hebrew Eliyahu.

How do you pronounce Ellis?

It's said EL-is — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ellis a boy or girl name?

Ellis is used for both sexes but has trended increasingly for girls in recent years.

How popular is Ellis?

Ellis ranked #697 for U.S. girls in 2024.