How to say it
EL · lis
ˈɛl.ɪs
Masculine
Ellis
Yahweh is God, or 'benevolent'
What it means
Anglicized Welsh Elisedd (probably 'benevolent') or, separately, a medieval English surname descended from Elias/Elijah. Ellis Island (the New York immigration station, 1892-1954) is the deepest English-language anchor.
Ellis has two roots that converged. The Welsh Elisedd (anglicized to Ellis) probably means 'benevolent' or 'kind', Elis was the name of several medieval Welsh princes. Separately, the English surname Ellis descends from Elias/Elijah (the Hebrew prophet) through medieval Norman French. Ellis Island, the New York harbor immigration station active 1892-1954, processed more than 12 million immigrants and gave the name its strongest American cultural anchor. As a first name Ellis is steady but quiet; it's been in the US top 500 since 2014 and is increasingly unisex. Common short: Eli, Lis, or El.
How to spell Ellis
The standard spelling is Ellis. Common variants include Ellys, but Ellis is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #155 in 1899, currently #243 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Ellis Island is the dominant US cultural anchor, many families have a literal Ellis Island ancestor and use the name as a small reference.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ellis Island New York harbor immigration station, 1892-1954
Spelling variants
- Ellys
Names with the same feeling
See Ellis from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Ellis mean?
- Anglicized Welsh Elisedd (probably 'benevolent') or, separately, a medieval English surname descended from Elias/Elijah. Ellis Island (the New York immigration station, 1892-1954) is the deepest English-language anchor.
- What does Ellis mean in Welsh?
- In Welsh, Ellis means "Yahweh is God, or 'benevolent'." Ellis has two roots that converged. The Welsh Elisedd (anglicized to Ellis) probably means 'benevolent' or 'kind', Elis was the name of several medieval Welsh princes. Separately, the English surname Ellis descends from Elias/Elijah (the Hebrew prophet) through medieval Norman French. Ellis Island, the New York harbor immigration station active 1892-1954, processed more than 12 million immigrants and gave the name its strongest American cultural anchor. As a first name Ellis is steady but quiet; it's been in the US top 500 since 2014 and is increasingly unisex. Common short: Eli, Lis, or El.
- How do you pronounce Ellis?
- Ellis is pronounced ˈɛl.ɪs. Say it as EL-lis, with the stress on the "el" syllable.
- How do you spell Ellis?
- The standard spelling is Ellis. Common spelling variants include Ellys.
- Is Ellis a boy or girl name?
- Ellis is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ellis?
- Ellis ranked #243 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.