Ely
Ely is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Ascended, high, or my God.
Origin and history
Ely is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, often derived as a variant spelling of Eli, meaning 'ascended' or 'my God'. It also functions as a short form for longer names like Elijah or Elisha. In the United States, it remains a relatively rare but steady choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
4,471 babies in the United States have been named Ely since 1880. It ranks #1856 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1657.
States where it is most popular
- CA (27.7 %)
- TX (23.7 %)
- NY (22.1 %)
- FL (5.4 %)
- MO (3.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 42 |
| 1890-1900 | 43 |
| 1900-1910 | 34 |
| 1910-1920 | 187 |
| 1920-1930 | 170 |
| 1930-1940 | 90 |
| 1940-1950 | 84 |
| 1950-1960 | 84 |
| 1960-1970 | 74 |
| 1970-1980 | 224 |
| 1980-1990 | 352 |
| 1990-2000 | 484 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,254 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,079 |
| 2020-2029 | 270 |
Famous people named Ely
- Ely Culbertson: Bridge player, Author
- Ely Samuel Parker: Military officer, Civil engineer
Fun facts
- Ely serves as a modern or surname-derived spelling variant of the classic biblical name Eli.
- Ely is also the name of a historic cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, derived from Old English for 'eel island'.