Elly Girl

Popularity: #819 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EL-ee /ˈɛli/

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: God is my light; English: noble

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Elly is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, meaning "my God is Yahweh." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, first appearing in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the prophet Elijah. The Greek form of the name, Elias, was adopted in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

From Greek, the name transitioned into Latin as Elias, and subsequently into Old French as Élie, before finally making its way into English as Elijah. The diminutive form Elly likely emerged as a variant of these names, particularly as a feminine form in English-speaking contexts.

Historically, Elijah is a significant biblical figure, known for his role as a prophet in the 9th century BCE during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. His story is recounted in the Books of Kings, where he is depicted as a champion of monotheism against the worship of Baal.

The name Elijah gained further prominence through the Christian tradition, particularly in the New Testament, where John the Baptist is often associated with Elijah. The name's enduring presence in religious texts, including the King James Bible published in 1611, has contributed to its historical significance.

Culturally, the name Elly and its variants have been associated with themes of faith and divine connection, reflecting the original meaning tied to God. The name's resonance in various cultures is also evident in its use across different languages and traditions, often symbolizing strength and spiritual leadership.

In some contexts, Elly may also be seen as a diminutive of Eleanor or Elizabeth, further enriching its cultural tapestry. Overall, Elly embodies a blend of historical depth and spiritual significance, rooted in its ancient origins.

Famous people named Elly

In this section, you will find notable people named Elly. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Elly who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Elly who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Elly Ameling is a soprano best known for her performances in opera and concert settings.

Elly Jackson is a singer-songwriter best known as one half of the musical duo La Roux.

Elly Griffiths is an author best known for her Ruth Galloway mystery series.

Fictional characters named Elly

The following list of fictional characters named Elly is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Elly is a fictional character from the video game series Xenogears. She is a key protagonist who plays a crucial role in the game's complex narrative and themes of identity and conflict.

Elly is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Elfen Lied. She is a Diclonius who struggles with her violent powers and the isolation they bring, serving as a central figure in the story's exploration of humanity and suffering.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elly, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elly. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Elly was first seen in the United States in 1921.

Elly has ranked as high as #2252 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Elly has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Elly is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Elly was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Elly.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 129 0 129
2024 117 0 117
2023 113 0 113
2022 136 0 136
2021 117 0 117
2020 140 0 140
2019 139 0 139
2018 135 0 135
2017 146 0 146
2016 167 0 167
2015 154 0 154
2014 174 0 174
2013 176 0 176
2012 168 0 168
2011 157 0 157
2010 191 0 191
2009 143 5 138
2008 122 0 122
2007 133 0 133
2006 130 0 130
2005 114 0 114
2004 122 0 122
2003 100 0 100
2002 101 0 101
2001 76 0 76
2000 62 0 62
1999 86 0 86
1998 33 0 33
1997 37 0 37
1996 36 0 36
1995 29 0 29
1994 31 0 31
1993 39 0 39
1992 32 0 32
1991 29 0 29
1990 28 0 28
1989 36 0 36
1988 18 0 18
1987 19 0 19
1986 25 0 25
1985 20 0 20
1984 16 0 16
1983 12 0 12
1982 23 0 23
1981 29 0 29
1980 33 0 33
1979 30 0 30
1978 20 0 20
1977 24 5 19
1976 25 0 25
1975 21 0 21
1974 22 0 22
1973 11 0 11
1972 10 0 10
1971 18 0 18
1970 16 0 16
1969 16 0 16
1968 16 0 16
1967 9 0 9
1966 12 0 12
1965 17 0 17
1964 19 0 19
1963 16 0 16
1962 12 0 12
1961 18 0 18
1960 7 0 7
1959 12 0 12
1958 12 0 12
1957 8 0 8
1956 6 0 6
1955 7 0 7
1954 9 0 9
1953 10 0 10
1952 6 0 6
1951 11 0 11
1950 7 0 7
1949 7 0 7
1947 7 0 7
1942 6 0 6
1940 6 0 6
1931 8 0 8
1929 6 0 6
1928 10 0 10
1927 5 0 5
1926 9 0 9
1925 10 0 10
1924 7 0 7
1922 5 0 5
1921 9 0 9

Top States for Elly (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 21
33%
FL 11
17%
TX 9
14%
NY 6
10%
MD 6
10%
PA 5
8%
KY 5
8%