Ellis
Ellis is a girl's name of Welsh origin.
Meaning
Benevolent or kind; localized variant of Elijah/Elias.
Origin and history
Ellis is derived from the Welsh name Elisedd, meaning benevolent or kind, and has also been influenced by the English surname derived from Elias. Historically used primarily as a masculine name, it has gained steady popularity in the United States as a unisex choice, particularly for girls in recent years. Its soft, classic sound fits well alongside other modern surname-turned-first-name trends.
Popularity in the United States
7,328 babies in the United States have been named Ellis since 1880. It ranks #1968 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #660.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.9 %)
- CA (9.7 %)
- NC (5.9 %)
- GA (5.6 %)
- SC (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 20 |
| 1890-1900 | 35 |
| 1900-1910 | 44 |
| 1910-1920 | 132 |
| 1920-1930 | 177 |
| 1930-1940 | 129 |
| 1940-1950 | 124 |
| 1950-1960 | 106 |
| 1960-1970 | 62 |
| 1970-1980 | 29 |
| 1980-1990 | 72 |
| 1990-2000 | 287 |
| 2000-2010 | 755 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,767 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,589 |
Famous people named Ellis
- Ellis Ross: Actress
Fun facts
- The name stems from the medieval Welsh personal name Elisedd, derived from the word for benevolent.
- While historically masculine, more than a third of all U.S. female births recorded with the name Ellis since 1880 occurred after 2020.