Declining since 2010, #2,641 for boys today.
Popularity of Ely since 1880
Babies named Ely per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2009, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ely's real moment was 1882.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 42 |
| 1890s | 0 | 43 |
| 1900s | 0 | 34 |
| 1910s | 5 | 187 |
| 1920s | 0 | 170 |
| 1930s | 0 | 90 |
| 1940s | 0 | 84 |
| 1950s | 0 | 84 |
| 1960s | 0 | 74 |
| 1970s | 11 | 224 |
| 1980s | 12 | 352 |
| 1990s | 75 | 484 |
| 2000s | 143 | 1,254 |
| 2010s | 228 | 1,079 |
| 2020s | 142 | 270 |
Meaning & origin
Ely is a concise and straightforward name with a sound that feels both modern and historical. It has never been a common choice, ranking 2,641st in 2022, but it has been in consistent use since at least 1880. The name saw its highest usage in 1882, and its popularity has generally declined since 2010. In recent years, it has been most common in Pennsylvania and Texas. Ely's simplicity and openness to multiple origins make it appealing to parents seeking a short, versatile name.
Ely may be a variant of the biblical name Eli, which in Hebrew means "ascension" or "my God." It is also used as a diminutive of Elias or Elijah. The name has been in use in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century, though it has never been highly common.
Where Ely is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ely” around the world
Where Ely lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Quebec
20
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Eli
Sibling names for Ely
Names that share Ely's style, for a brother or sister.
