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Ellison

♀ Girl

Pronounced EL-ih-sun /ˈɛl.ɪ.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Elias; an English patronymic surname from the biblical name Elias (Elijah: my God is Yahweh)High

In 30 seconds: An English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Elias,' rooted in the Hebrew Elijah. It has crossed to girls' charts in the 2010s alongside other -son surname names like Addison, Emerson, and Ellison.

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Origin HighEnglish, Hebrew

MeaningSon of Elias; an English patronymic surname from the biblical name Elias (Elijah: my God is Yahweh)

U.S. rank (2025)#1067 → Stable

2025 U.S. births228 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,693

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

Ellison is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Ellis' or 'son of Elias,' both forms of the Hebrew Elijah (my God is Yahweh). It follows the Old English pattern of -son patronymics (Johnson: son of John; Ellison: son of Elias).

Ellison appeared on U.S. girls' charts from the 2010s, sitting alongside Addison, Emerson, and Anderson as a -son surname name. It ranked #1067 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Ralph Ellison (1913–1994), author of Invisible Man (1952), is the most famous American literary bearer of this name — his novel's title became a defining phrase for African American experience in the 20th century.

Overall data confidence 89%

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

Variations

EllysonAllison

Nicknames

EllieElSonny

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ellison…

Addison— three-syllable -son surname name that went firmly girl-coded

Emerson— three-syllable literary -son surname on the same girl-name arc

Allison— three-syllable El- name with the same sound and feel

Harrison— English patronymic -son surname used as a given name

Elliot— El- surname name making the same female transition

Explore names like Ellison

By themeenglish hebrew unisex surname-style literary -son-ending

By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ellison mean?

Ellison means 'son of Elias,' an English patronymic surname rooted in the Hebrew name Elijah (my God is Yahweh).

How do you pronounce Ellison?

It's said EL-ih-sun — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ellison a boy or girl name?

Ellison is primarily a male surname but has been trending for girls since around 2015.

How popular is Ellison?

Ellison ranked #1067 for U.S. girls in 2024.