Ely Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EE-lee //ˈiːli//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: God is my God; English: noble
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ely has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word "eli," meaning "ascended" or "my God." This term appears in the Hebrew Bible, where Ely is associated with the biblical figure Eli, a priest and judge of Israel, who served during the time of the prophet Samuel. The name transitioned into Greek as "Elias" and then into Latin as "Elias," which further influenced its adoption in various European languages, including Old French and Middle English, before becoming the modern English form, Ely.
Historically, the name Ely has been borne by notable figures, including Eli, who is mentioned in the First Book of Samuel in the Old Testament, dating back to approximately the 11th century BCE. The name's biblical significance contributed to its use in Christian contexts, particularly during the Middle Ages when biblical names were favored.
Ely also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the King James Bible, published in 1611, which helped solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, Ely carries connotations of spiritual elevation and divine connection, reflecting its etymological roots.
The name has been associated with various saints and religious figures throughout history, further enhancing its significance in Christian traditions. Additionally, Ely is linked to the historic city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, known for its cathedral and rich ecclesiastical history, which may have contributed to the name's endurance in certain regions.
The diminutive form "Eli" is also recognized, often used affectionately, though Ely itself retains a distinct identity steeped in historical and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Ely
In this section, you will find notable people named Ely. 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 Ely who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ely 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.
Ely S. Parker was a military officer and engineer best known for serving as the first Native American Commissioner of Indian Affairs and for drafting the surrender documents for General Robert E. Lee.
Fictional characters named Ely
The following list of fictional characters named Ely 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.
Ely is a fictional character from the video game series The Last of Us. They are a member of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group fighting against the oppressive military regime in a post-apocalyptic world.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ely, 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 Ely. 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 Ely was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Ely has ranked as high as #2406 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Missouri.
In the past 5 years the name Ely has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ely 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 Ely 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 Ely.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | 49 | 16 |
| 2024 | 69 | 40 | 29 |
| 2023 | 74 | 46 | 28 |
| 2022 | 69 | 39 | 30 |
| 2021 | 71 | 48 | 23 |
| 2020 | 64 | 48 | 16 |
| 2019 | 98 | 71 | 27 |
| 2018 | 101 | 75 | 26 |
| 2017 | 101 | 73 | 28 |
| 2016 | 120 | 105 | 15 |
| 2015 | 135 | 109 | 26 |
| 2014 | 129 | 104 | 25 |
| 2013 | 142 | 123 | 19 |
| 2012 | 155 | 132 | 23 |
| 2011 | 168 | 150 | 18 |
| 2010 | 158 | 137 | 21 |
| 2009 | 175 | 159 | 16 |
| 2008 | 170 | 153 | 17 |
| 2007 | 164 | 146 | 18 |
| 2006 | 160 | 142 | 18 |
| 2005 | 165 | 152 | 13 |
| 2004 | 160 | 143 | 17 |
| 2003 | 101 | 94 | 7 |
| 2002 | 103 | 88 | 15 |
| 2001 | 99 | 85 | 14 |
| 2000 | 100 | 92 | 8 |
| 1999 | 75 | 62 | 13 |
| 1998 | 62 | 50 | 12 |
| 1997 | 64 | 58 | 6 |
| 1996 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1995 | 49 | 43 | 6 |
| 1994 | 40 | 33 | 7 |
| 1993 | 55 | 49 | 6 |
| 1992 | 53 | 47 | 6 |
| 1991 | 65 | 57 | 8 |
| 1990 | 53 | 42 | 11 |
| 1989 | 49 | 42 | 7 |
| 1988 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1987 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1986 | 39 | 34 | 5 |
| 1985 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1984 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1983 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 1982 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1981 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1980 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1979 | 34 | 28 | 6 |
| 1978 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1977 | 31 | 26 | 5 |
| 1976 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1975 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1974 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1973 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1972 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1971 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1970 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1969 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1968 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1967 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1966 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1965 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1963 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1962 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1961 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1959 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1958 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1957 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1956 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1955 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1954 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1951 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1950 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1949 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1948 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1947 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1945 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1944 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1941 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1940 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1939 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1938 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1937 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1934 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1933 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1932 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1931 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1929 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1928 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1927 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1926 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1925 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1924 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1923 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1922 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1921 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1920 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1919 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1918 | 37 | 32 | 5 |
| 1917 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1916 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1915 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1914 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1913 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1912 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1911 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1910 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1908 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1906 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1903 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1901 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1900 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1899 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1898 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1897 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1896 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1895 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1890 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1888 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1887 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1886 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1882 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1881 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1880 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Ely (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 6 | |
| CA | 5 | |
| NY | 5 | |
| NJ | 5 |