Ellie
Ellie is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Bright, shining one; or God is my oath.
Origin and history
Ellie is traditionally a diminutive of names like Eleanor, Ellen, or Elizabeth, but it is also used as an independent given name. While overwhelmingly common for females, it has a long, quiet history of minor usage for males in the United States. It ultimately derives from roots meaning 'bright, shining one' or 'God is my oath' depending on the underlying name.
Popularity in the United States
1,180 babies in the United States have been named Ellie since 1880. It ranks #3515 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1895.
States where it is most popular
- SC (27.5 %)
- AL (26.4 %)
- GA (16.3 %)
- MS (15.2 %)
- TX (8.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 40 |
| 1890-1900 | 63 |
| 1900-1910 | 80 |
| 1910-1920 | 193 |
| 1920-1930 | 214 |
| 1930-1940 | 159 |
| 1940-1950 | 139 |
| 1950-1960 | 80 |
| 1960-1970 | 47 |
| 1970-1980 | 18 |
| 1980-1990 | 15 |
| 1990-2000 | 5 |
| 2000-2010 | 36 |
| 2010-2019 | 59 |
| 2020-2029 | 32 |
Fun facts
- Originally a pet form for names like Eleanor or Alice, Ellie became popular as a standalone given name in the late 20th century.
- Although primarily used for females, U.S. birth records show continuous, low-level usage for males since the late 19th century.